An internship or volunteering program can give prospective pharmacy graduates worthwhile hands-on experience and a better picture of the day-to-day role they will perform. Kamrey McNutt said that taking part in a four-week career explorers' program run by her local pharmacy college has convinced her to pursue a degree and career in the profession, the South Side Journal reports. She said "knowing I can positively help those in need" had inspired her to explore working as a pharmacist, but it was the "hands-on" learning provided by filling prescriptions, entering information onto a computer system and liaising with doctors' offices that had sealed its place as her career of choice. Ms McNutt now plans to pursue a pharmacy degree in order to become fully qualified in the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in addition to a Pharm.D degree, which replaced the bachelor's level qualification, pharmacists also require a license to work in the United States. In 2006, the profession employed 243,000 people, 62% of whom worked in local community pharmacies. Future job prospects for pharmacists are expected to be excellent, the BLS said, as the occupation is expected to grow by 22% between 2006 and 2016.  |