How to Work Abroad as a Pharmacist
Pharmacy laws and the duties of a pharmacist differ among states in this country. Now imagine how vastly different pharmacy practice is globally. Each country has its distinct pharmacy laws, healthcare systems, and pharmacist roles, along with its own cultures and languages.
Working abroad, whether for short-term assignments or over the long term, gives pharmacists an opportunity of a lifetime to experience different healthcare systems and societies. Depending on the country, pharmacy setting, or position you want to take, it may be as easy as booking a one-way flight to work abroad without much preparation, or it could require more effort involving getting a work visa, examinations, and licensure.
Advantages of working abroad
Even if there are extra steps in a bureaucratic process, there are many benefits to working abroad, whether it is from several months to an extended period of a few years. It provides an opportunity to see different health systems and gain perspective into what being a pharmacist is like in other parts of the world. You can broaden your clinical knowledge, skill sets, experience, and maybe even learn a new language.
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In addition, you have the opportunity to travel, meet new people, and immerse yourself in a different society. This fosters both personal and professional growth. Some employers may even provide free or low-cost accommodations and assist with organizing work visas, paperwork, and licensure.
Qualifications
Now that we have enticed you with the pluses of being a pharmacist abroad, how do you go about doing so? The qualifications and criteria for pharmacists vary across borders. You will have to check what each country’s pharmacist qualifications are.
Here are some items you’re likely to consider:
Examinations: Many nations have their own examinations to become licensed as a pharmacist, such as Australia and the United Kingdom.
Language requirements: Some countries require fluency in the native language, so more preparation may be necessary on top of getting licensed locally, unless you are already proficient in that language. Germany, for example, requires a language examination to test that you are proficient in German to be able to process prescriptions, counsel patients, and consult with healthcare professionals.
Licenses: After meeting the required training and examinations, you will have to apply for a pharmacist license in that country.
Training hours: Due to the different pharmacy practices between nations, some may require completing additional training hours prior to being able to take the pharmacist licensure examination. However, countries like Canada reciprocate the pharmacy degree and training hours from the United States, so no additional training hours are required there in the licensing process.
Vaccinations: Check the required vaccinations for the country you will be working in to ensure they are up to date.
Work visa: Before being able to work in another country, a visa is often required. Many times a job will have to be secured prior to applying for a work visa.
Opportunities abroad
The duties of a pharmacist and pharmacy laws differ in each country; the same goes for salaries. Based on Salary Expert, the United States has the highest average pharmacist salary at $134,175 in comparison with countries like Jamaica at $25,000. Therefore, the salary and cost of living are factors to consider when deciding whether to work abroad and where.
The role and responsibilities of a pharmacist in some countries, such as Australia, are similar to the United States, with hospital pharmacists working in multidisciplinary teams, providing medication reconciliations, and counseling patients. Community pharmacists in many European countries provide chronic disease management, health screenings, and vaccinations. Yet there are many countries where the role of a pharmacist differs significantly.
Community pharmacists in Canada can renew medications already written by a physician, and hospital pharmacists in England and Ireland, among other locales, have prescribing authorities. Though the role of a pharmacist has evolved and expanded over the years, in many parts of the world, such as Asia, being a pharmacist is solely about filling and dispensing medications.
Besides physically working in a community or hospital pharmacy, pharmacists who are in remote roles can work abroad almost essentially anywhere in the world, as long as they have access to the internet. Since the pandemic, many people with office roles, including pharmacists in managed care, industry, and drug information, have gone remote indefinitely. This provides flexibility in being able to work abroad anywhere and opens the door of opportunity to be able to live in different places. The dream for a subset of pharmacists who are eager to travel the world while working can now become a reality.
Finally, joining the military is another option if you would like to get paid, have student loans forgiven, and have the opportunity to work abroad if deployed.
Volunteering across the globe
If you are not ready to commit to working abroad, there are many volunteer programs that are in need of pharmacist volunteers. Inquire with each individual program, as they have different requirements and time commitments. Some programs provide volunteers a monthly stipend or salary for living expenses that cover housing, food, and transportation.
Doctors Without Borders, for example, is a 9- to 12-month commitment where pharmacists manage ordering and distribution of drugs and medical supplies to clinics and hospitals. The Peace Corps has a response program, Advancing Health Professions, that has pharmacists teaching pharmacy students abroad to help develop and strengthen their programs and curriculum. These programs provide pharmacists the chance to experience the role of a pharmacist in underserved areas, and to be able to fully immerse themselves in a new culture.
Ready to take off?
There are many options for working or volunteering as a pharmacist abroad. You can get paid while being able to travel and learn about pharmacy practice in another country and culture. The world is your oyster!
