Working in a pharmacy takes an interest in science, people skills... and qualifications

As the new services for treating minor ailments continue rolling out, pharmacies are playing an ever growing role in community healthcare. With this in mind, they're exciting places to work and offer a rewarding career in helping improve peoples' lives through medicine.

But working in a pharmacy isn't simply a case of filling out a form and putting in the years before being promoted to pharmacist. It takes an interest in pharmaceutical science, excellent communication skills and years of study.

Training to become a pharmacist is a much more serious undertaking. Firstly, you'll need an A level pass in chemistry and two passes out of biology, maths or physics. You can then apply to study for an MPharm pharmaceutical degree. The qualification takes four years of study before a year's hands on training in a pharmacy. After that there's one more hurdle to clear in the form of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) entrance exam. Once that has been passed you can register as a fully qualified pharmacist and be able to manage a pharmacy.

Since 2005 it has been an obligation for pharmacy staff involved in the sale of over the counter medicines or providing advice to customers to be studying towards an NVQ in pharmacy services. There are three levels of the NVQ to be obtained, which normally take two years to complete. You can, however, fit your studies around working in a pharmacy and gain your qualifications part-time.

Working in a pharmacy is certainly an interesting and rewarding vocation. You get to advise and help people cure common ailments, improve people's health and be at the forefront of the changes taking place in community healthcare.