What a pharmacist does
A pharmacist is accountable for every prescription that leaves the dispensary. They assess whether each drug is appropriate, counsel patients, catch interactions and dosing errors, and work with prescribers when something does not look right. In Ontario, pharmacists can also prescribe for a list of minor ailments, renew and adapt prescriptions within set limits and give injections, including vaccines. For a pharmacy owner, that expanded scope makes a strong pharmacist both a safety safeguard and a source of clinical services patients return for.
Finding the right pharmacist takes more than confirming a licence. Workflows differ widely between a busy community store, a long-term care dispensing operation and a hospital unit, and pharmacists often have firm views about volume, staffing levels and the clinical work they want to do. Finch learns your prescription volume, technician support, opening hours and services, then looks for pharmacists whose experience and goals match. You meet candidates who already understand what a shift at your pharmacy involves.
Typical responsibilities
- Review prescriptions for appropriateness, interactions, allergies and dosing before release
- Counsel patients on new and changed medications, side effects and adherence
- Prescribe for eligible minor ailments and renew or adapt prescriptions within Ontario's scope of practice
- Administer vaccines and other injections once authorized to do so
- Conduct medication reviews and document clinical interventions
- Supervise pharmacy technicians and assistants and oversee narcotic and controlled drug records
Qualifications and credentials
- Registration as a pharmacist with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP), listed on Part A of the register for roles involving direct patient care
- Certification from the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) as part of the pathway to registration
- OCP-approved injection training registered with the College, plus current first aid and CPR, for pharmacists who will give injections
- Completion of the College's minor ailments prescribing module before prescribing
- Professional liability insurance as required by the College
Who hires a pharmacist
- Independent and chain community pharmacies
- Hospital pharmacy departments
- Long-term care and specialty dispensing pharmacies
- Family health teams and medical clinics with in-house pharmacists
- Compounding and fertility pharmacies
Where we recruit pharmacist candidates
We fill pharmacist roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Check the OCP public register for registration status, register part and any terms, conditions or limitations
- Confirm injection authorization and current first aid and CPR certification
- Discuss the prescription volume and staffing model the candidate is used to working with
- Ask about clinical services delivered, such as medication reviews, minor ailment assessments and vaccination clinics
- Check references from pharmacy managers or owners on accuracy and patient care
Interview questions to ask
- Tell me about a prescription you refused or held. How did you handle the prescriber and the patient?
- How do you balance dispensing workload with counselling and clinical services during a busy shift?
- Which minor ailments have you assessed most often, and how do you decide when to refer instead of prescribe?