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61E Career Guide

Army

61E: Pharmacist

Career transition guide for Army Pharmacist (61E)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 61E veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Clinical Pharmacist

$135K
High matchHigh demand

Pharmacist in a Managed Care Organization

$140K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of health insurance protocolsFamiliarity with formulary management

Medical Science Liaison

$160K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Pharmaceutical sales experienceStrong presentation skills

Pharmaceutical Research Scientist

$105K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Advanced degree in Pharmacology or related fieldResearch experienceData analysis

Poison Control Center Specialist

$80K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Certification as a specialist in poison information (CSPI)Additional toxicology training

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 61E training built — and where they transfer.

Pattern Recognition

As a 61E, you consistently identify subtle patterns in patient symptoms, drug interactions, and responses to therapy to diagnose and treat complex conditions.

This translates to an ability to recognize trends, anomalies, and correlations in data, markets, or customer behavior.

Rapid Prioritization

In a clinical setting, you quickly assess patient needs, prioritize treatment plans, and manage multiple patients with varying levels of acuity, making critical decisions under pressure.

This showcases your capacity to efficiently manage competing priorities, allocate resources effectively, and make sound judgments in high-pressure situations.

System Modeling

You develop and utilize mental models of how drugs interact within the human body, predicting the effects of medications and adjusting treatment plans accordingly to optimize patient outcomes.

This demonstrates your ability to understand complex systems, predict outcomes based on variables, and develop strategies for optimization, crucial in many analytical roles.

Resource Optimization

You adeptly manage limited resources, including medications, equipment, and personnel, to provide the best possible care for your patients within budgetary and logistical constraints.

This skill highlights your ability to maximize efficiency, minimize waste, and make strategic decisions to achieve the best results with available resources.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've been trained to quickly assess complex situations (patient health), diagnose problems (medical conditions), and implement effective solutions (treatment plans). These skills are directly transferable to helping businesses improve their performance and efficiency.

Data Scientist

SOC 15-2051

You've been mastering pattern recognition and system modeling to understand how drugs affect the human body. In data science, you'll use these same skills to analyze large datasets, identify trends, and build predictive models for businesses.

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

SOC 41-3031

You've developed a deep understanding of drug therapies and their effects. You can leverage this knowledge to educate physicians and other healthcare professionals about new medications, effectively communicating their benefits and risks.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Pharmacy Residency Program, Various Army Medical Centers

2,080 training hours52 weeksNo ACE Credit Recommendation

Topics Covered

  • Advanced Pharmacotherapy
  • Anticoagulation Management
  • Infectious Disease Pharmacotherapy
  • Critical Care Pharmacotherapy
  • Oncology Pharmacy
  • Pain Management
  • Psychiatric Pharmacy
  • Internal Medicine Pharmacy

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Pharmacist (PharmD)70% covered

Requires a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). Military experience provides a strong foundation in pharmacology and drug therapy, but formal education and licensure exams are necessary.

Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (CGP)40% covered

Requires specific knowledge of geriatric pharmacology, disease states common in older adults, and principles of geriatric patient care. Military experience provides some exposure to these areas, but specialized training and experience are needed to meet eligibility requirements.

Recommended Next Certifications

Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP)Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP)Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA)Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems like Epic or Cerner
Composite Health Care System (CHCS)Hospital information systems (HIS)
Military Health System (MHS) GENESISNext-generation EHR systems with integrated pharmacy modules
Theater Enterprise-Wide Logistics System (TEWLS)Pharmaceutical supply chain management software
Joint Medical Asset Repository (JMAR)Inventory management systems for pharmaceuticals
Pharmacy Data Transaction Service (PDTS)Pharmacy benefit management (PBM) systems

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