Treatment and care of patients may involve administering medicine. This is dependent upon pharmacists, who are experts in the field of drugs and medicine.

Pharmacists need a strong interest and high level of ability in science, particularly chemistry and biology. They also need to care about the welfare of the public. The work must be done methodically, with a high degree of accuracy and a great deal of care.

Pharmacists may have to explain complex medical instructions to members of the public, undertaking basic diagnosing and treatment for 'simple' medical conditions and must also communicate with all levels of health care staff.

All pharmacists take a four-year pharmacy degree course followed by one year's competency-based training in a pharmacy. At the end of this process, all students take a registration examination approved by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

Entry to the degree course requires a minimum of three good A-levels - one in Chemistry and often two others from Biology, Maths, Physics or a vocational A-level in science.

For more information, go to www.rpsgb.org.uk

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