If you're thinking of heading a startup, owning a local pharmacy could be an incredibly lucrative opportunity. When you set up a business in the healthcare
sector, it's important to ensure that you operate with transparency to keep yourself and your patients safe.
Whether you've acquired pharmacies before or you're turning to a new venture with different partners, learning the relevant steps before getting involved is
imperative. Successful pharmacies rely on medical expertise, professional knowledge, and an excellent quality of service.
Step 1: Do you need qualifications to be a pharmacist?
No matter if you already have a background in pharmacy or you're entering the field from an entrepreneurial perspective, you'll need to have the right qualifications.
You can become a pharmacist by completing a Master of Pharmacy degree at a university. Your chosen course needs to be approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council
and will take at least four years to complete. After your degree, you'll also need to take the one-year pharmacist foundation training scheme.
To access these courses, you'll usually need two or three A levels, including Chemistry. Alternatively, you could do a pharmacy foundation degree if you only have one
A level or equivalent.