Both pharmacists and doctors play critical roles in healthcare. When considering a career in the medical field, many wonder if they should become a pharmacist or pursue the long path to becoming a physician. While the timeline and training differ significantly, both careers offer the chance to help patients and be part of the healthcare team. This article will explore key factors to weigh when deciding between these two career options.
What is the role of a pharmacist?
Pharmacists are medication experts who fill prescriptions, check for interactions, advise patients on side effects, and ensure proper dosing. Their responsibilities include:
- Filling and dispensing prescriptions accurately
- Counseling patients on proper medication use
- Monitoring drug interactions and advising doctors on medication choice
- Making recommendations based on a patient’s health history
- Staying up to date on new medications and formulations
- Advising patients on over-the-counter medication selection
- Promoting public health such as through immunizations
Many pharmacists go beyond the dispensing role to provide clinical services within healthcare settings. Clinical pharmacists round with medical teams in hospitals, optimize medication regimens, monitor patient progress, and make dosage adjustments. Pharmacists in community settings also offer medication management services to help patients understand and take their medications appropriately.
What is the role of a physician?
Physicians diagnose, treat, and prevent illness and injury. Their responsibilities include:
- Ordering diagnostic tests and interpreting results
- Diagnosing conditions based on patient history, exam findings, and test results
- Developing treatment plans which may include medication, therapy, or surgery
- Prescribing medications and explaining proper use to patients
- Performing procedures like surgery, biopsies, or wound care
- Educating patients on wellness, prevention, and disease self-management
- Referring patients to specialists as needed
- Working as part of an interdisciplinary team to coordinate patient care
There are two main categories of physicians. Primary care providers like family medicine doctors provide comprehensive preventive and chronic care. Specialists like cardiologists focus their practice on a particular disease or body system.
How long is the training?
One key difference between pharmacists and physicians is the length of training required.
To become a pharmacist:
- Complete a 4 year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree
- Complete post-grad training (1-2 years) for clinical roles
- Pass licensing exams
Total time in school is 4-6 years.
To become a physician:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree (4 years)
- Complete medical school and earn an MD (4 years)
- Complete a residency program (3-7 years depending on specialty)
- Obtain state medical license and board certification
Total time in school is 11-15 years. The lengthy training time required to become a physician is a major factor students weigh when considering their career path.
What is the difference in salary potential?
When evaluating careers, salary potential is often an important factor. On average, physicians earn a higher salary than pharmacists.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for pharmacists is $125,510. The average annual salary for physicians and surgeons is $208,000.
However, salaries vary across work settings. For example, pharmacists can earn more in certain retail and clinical settings. Primary care physicians tend to earn less than specialists. Geographic region also impacts salaries.
While physicians have higher earning potential, pharmacists also earn relatively high salaries with less training time required. The following table compares key salary data:
| Career | Average Annual Salary | Salary Range |
| Pharmacist | $125,510 | $98,860 – $159,410 |
| Physician | $208,000 | $142,310 – $242,190 |
What are the education costs?
The cost of education also differs substantially between pharmacists and physicians.
Pharmacy school tuition generally ranges from $20,000-$40,000 per year for state residents. The total cost of a PharmD can range from $80,000-$160,000.
Medical school tuition averages around $50,000 per year for state residents. Over four years, plus room and board, the total costs can exceed $250,000.
Then, to become a licensed physician, there are additional costs of residency training. Residents earn modest salaries during training, but also forego higher income they would otherwise earn working.
In terms of lifetime educational costs, becoming a physician requires a much higher financial investment. Students interested in medicine should be prepared for the long-term commitment and high costs involved in training.
What types of degrees are required?
The educational pathways to becoming a pharmacist versus physician also differ.
To become a pharmacist, students must:
- Earn an undergraduate bachelor’s degree (2-4 years)
- Graduate from a Doctor of Pharmacy program (PharmD)
To become a physician, students must:
- Earn an undergraduate bachelor’s degree (4 years)
- Graduate from medical school and earn an MD or DO (4 years)
- Complete residency training in a specialty (3-7 years)
While an undergraduate degree is required for both careers, pharmacists complete a PharmD while physicians must complete medical school and residency. The medical residency requirement is a major differentiator and results in the lengthy physician training pathway.
What are admission requirements?
Gaining admission to pharmacy and medical school can both be highly competitive.
Typical requirements for pharmacy school include:
- Bachelor’s degree
- GPA >3.0
- PCAT scores >40th percentile
- Letters of recommendation
- Pharmacy or healthcare experience
Typical requirements for medical school include:
- Bachelor’s degree
- GPA >3.6
- MCAT scores >90th percentile
- Letters of recommendation
- Research or clinical volunteering
- Course requirements including biology, chemistry, physics, etc.
While physicians complete more training, admission to medical school tends to be more competitive than pharmacy programs. Applicants should be prepared to devote substantial time to studying for entrance exams and gaining healthcare experience. Having research experience and a very high GPA are also essential for medical school admission.
Conclusion
When weighing a career as a pharmacist or physician, there are several key considerations:
- Length of training: Becoming a pharmacist requires 4-6 years while physicians complete 11-15 years
- Cost: Medical school costs around 4 times more than a PharmD program
- Earning potential: Physicians earn nearly twice as much as pharmacists on average
- Admissions competitiveness: Gaining medical school admission is more difficult than pharmacy school
- Job outlook: Pharmacist and physician jobs are both projected to grow over the next decade
For students interested in working directly with patients, becoming part of a medical team, and managing medication therapies, a pharmacy career offers excellent opportunities without the long training time and cost of a medical degree.
However, for students who specifically wish to diagnose, treat the full spectrum of conditions, perform surgery, and become primary care providers or specialists, medical school is the right choice. This path allows for the highest level of responsibility and care provision for patients.
Both pharmacists and physicians improve health through different means. Understanding role differences, time and cost considerations, and weighing personal career goals enables students to choose the doctoral degree that best fits their passions, interests, and aptitude to provide meaningful patient care.