Pharmacist Resume Example

How to write a pharmacist resume summary

Write 3 or 4 sentences. Start with your title, your degree, and your years of experience. Name the setting (retail, hospital, clinic, or specialty), the volume or the patient type, and one patient care result. End with your licenses and certificates, such as immunization training or board certification.

1. 1Title and years of experience
2. 2Setting and scope
3. 3One result with a number
4. 4Certifications or licenses

Pharmacist resume bullet points

Start each bullet with a verb, and add one number: prescriptions per shift, vaccines, reviews, an adherence rate, or a dollar amount. Write the clinical result, not only the task. A pharmacy manager knows that every pharmacist verifies prescriptions, so show how many and how accurately.

Use only numbers that are true. If you do not know an exact number, give a range or a frequency, such as “10–15 per day”. Do not put the names or private details of patients, clients, or students in a bullet.

Skills for a pharmacist resume

Certifications and licenses

Write the license type and each state where you hold a license. You do not need the license number, because employers check it on the state board of pharmacy website. List certificates, such as immunization training, with the issuer and the date. Licensure rules differ by state, so check the rules in your state.

State pharmacist license

Every state requires it. Write each state where you hold a license. A pharmacist who can cover stores in two states is useful to a chain near a state line.

NAPLEX

The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) tests general pharmacy practice knowledge. A new graduate writes "NAPLEX passed" with the month, or the test date if it is in the future.

Pharmacy law exam

Most states use a law exam from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP): the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) or its uniform version (UMPJE). A few states use their own law exam, and a few require none. Write the exam and the state.

Immunization certification

Most states require training before a pharmacist gives vaccines. The Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery certificate from the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is a common program. Retail jobs ask for it, together with current Basic Life Support (BLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.

Board certification

Optional. The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) gives certifications such as Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) and Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP). Most need a residency or work experience, and an exam. Hospital and clinic jobs ask for them more often than retail jobs.

Residency

Optional for retail jobs, but many hospital clinical jobs ask for a postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) residency. A PGY2 residency gives training in a specialty, such as cardiology or oncology. Write the program type, the site, and the years.

ATS keywords for a pharmacist resume

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is the software that employers use to collect and sort applications. Recruiters search it for words from the job posting. Job postings for this role often use the words below. Use a word only when it is true for you.

• prescription verification
• drug utilization review
• patient counseling
• immunizations
• medication therapy management
• comprehensive medication review
• medication adherence
• controlled substances
• DEA compliance
• inventory management
• third-party billing
• prior authorization
• compounding
• pharmacist in charge
• HIPAA
• state board of pharmacy
• clinical interventions
• Epic
• PharmD
• BCPS

Tips for a pharmacist resume

1. 1

   Name your setting and your level

   Retail, hospital, clinic, long-term care, and specialty pharmacy jobs use different skills. Write the setting in your title line. Write your exact title, such as "Pharmacist in Charge" or "Staff Pharmacist", because each title tells the reader a different level of responsibility.

2. 2

   Show volume and accuracy together

   In retail, write how many prescriptions you verify per shift or how many the store fills per week. Add an accuracy fact, such as an error rate or an audit result. Speed alone is not enough, because accuracy is the first duty of a pharmacist.

3. 3

   Write patient care results

   Vaccines, medication reviews, and adherence rates show clinical work outside the verification station. In a hospital, write your clinical interventions, dosing services, or rounds. Give a number for each result.

4. 4

   Show the business side if you lead a store

   A pharmacist in charge is responsible for the inventory, the controlled substance records, and the board inspections. Write the inventory value, a cost result, and the inspection result. A district manager uses these facts to decide if you can run a store.

5. 5

   Explain a move from retail to hospital

   If you apply for a hospital job from retail, write the clinical skills that you can use there. Examples are dose checks, interaction checks, and anticoagulation counseling. Add any hospital rotations from your Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE), certificate programs, or board certification. Some hospital jobs require a residency, so read the posting before you apply.

Frequently asked questions