Are you planning to become a pharmacist? In order to become a certified pharmacist, you will need to put in a lot of hard work. The responsibilities of pharmacists are not limited to counting pills. After becoming a pharmacist, you will be responsible for varied tasks, including dispensing medications, ensuring the safe use of dispensed medications, consulting patients, checking inventory, and much more.
A lot of people interested in this field often wonder whether they can have tattoos as a pharmacist.
So can a pharmacist have tattoos?
Pharmacists can have tattoos however, it is best to keep them covered if at all possible. Especially try to keep covered for your job interview if it isn’t possible that is okay just be yourself and maybe have a good story to go with the tattoo if it comes up. It is best to get a tattoo where it can be hidden like an arm, leg, or around the waistline.
We have seen many pharmacists with tattoos, and they have never face any difficulty in their career just because of a single tattoo. You are not going to get fired due to it. So don’t worry much about it although I don’t have any tattoos myself my husband and in laws all do they have never had issues getting jobs. Worst case you can put some cover up on maybe the day of the interview.
Can pharmacists have piercings?
Pharmacists can have ear piercings just not facial or other ones that are showing most of the time. They just need to be taken out while at the work place. So if you want to get a piercing make sure you get it awhile before accepting or applying for jobs since you will need to keep it in for awhile before you are able to remove.
No, pharmacists can’t have other piercings, whether it’s nose piercings or any facial piercings. If you already have piercings, make sure to take it out once you complete your education and get the job. As we have seen, you may have a tattoo, but it may not be able to be visible.
As a pharmacist, you will be a healthcare professional working in the pharmacy. Being a professional, it is not advisable to have any piercings or tattoos on your body. This will of course come down to the company or specialized career path you choose.
Can pharmacists have nose piercings?
Depending on the pharmacy company, policies for tattoos, piercings, etc. could differ. With some companies, you will not have any problem with having a tattoo or piercings, while some companies have strict rules regarding it.
As a pharmacist, you need to be well-dressed and look professional. Most companies don’t allow pharmacists with visible tattoos and piercings. As nose piercings are clearly visible, you may get into trouble.
Can you have tattoos as a pharmacy tech?
Whether you can have tattoos as a pharmacy tech or not may differ based on your company, whether it is Walgreens Pharmacy, CVS Health, or any other. You can have tattoos as a pharmacy technician, but make sure they are not visible. Get tattoos somewhere on your body where you can cover it easily, on your arm or waistline area.
Being a pharmacy technician, you need to portray yourself professionally; you cannot have tattoos or piercings that are visible.
Depending on the company, they have their own rules for visible tattoos, piercings, tongue rings, etc.
Does Walgreens allow facial piercings?
When we talk about pharmacy, Walgreens is one of the famous names. It is an American company that operates the second-largest pharmacy store chain in the United States. Walgreens Pharmacy specializes in filling prescriptions, health and wellness products, health information, and photo services. At present, the company runs its operations in around 9277 locations.
If you are planning to work in Walgreens after completing your pharmacy education and getting licensure, it is good to know all the company’s rules and policies. The rules and policies of companies for their employees can differ from one company to another.
If we talk about tattoos and piercings at Walgreens, it differs from one region/location to another. In some locations, you will not get into trouble by having visible piercings and tattoos, while in some locations, you have to take out your piercings and cover your tattoos. In short, it all comes down to your district or store manager. In most cases, tattoos, piercings, and bright hair colors would be fine.
Although most locations of Walgreens Pharmacy don’t mind if their employees have piercings and tattoos, it is still advisable to cover your tattoos and take off your piercings when going for an interview. It is essential to deliver an excellent first impression.
What is the dress code at Walgreens?
Are you planning to get a job at Walgreens Pharmacy? Walgreens can be an excellent place to work because it is the second-largest pharmacy retail chain store after CVS Health. The dress code at Walgreens is different for different job positions. It is different for cashiers, assistant managers, pharmacists, pharmacy techs, beauty advisors, etc.
The cashiers and direct hitters wear a light blue polo shirt, short-sleeved or long-sleeved, with black pants (no jeans) and black shoes. The beauty advisors wear a pink shirt with a black smock over it. The assistant managers and shift leads wear a grey vest. The pharmacy techs wear light blue scrubs. The pharmacists wear a white coat, usually with short sleeves.
Tattoos And Piercings According to Real Pharmacist
We didn’t want you to only take our word for it so we went out and gathered information from actual Pharmacists. These Pharmacists are either active/past students or active/retired Pharmacists.
We curated this information from several different forums and only changed where spelling/grammar needed to be corrected.
Real Pharmacist Opinions
1. Kthxbai “Not Acceptable if showing” – Totally, completely, utterly unacceptable. I have a good friend who was dismissed from her hospital job (she’s a nurse) over visible tattoos. Med schools are very socially conservative – your body art isn’t going to make it easy for you to do you job.
2. Trancelucnt1 “Take out and put back in” – I have my nose pierced. I’ve kept it all throughout school but I know I’ll have to either take it out or cover it up during rotations. More than likely I’m going to take it out and put it back in after work. It’s also a really small stud so it’s not too noticeable but I definately wouldn’t show up with it in to work.
3. SDN1977 “No piercings outside of ears” – I can only speak for my employers – they only allow ear piercings only – on men & women – no discrimination there.
No other piercings allowed – for cultural or religious reasons ever.
4. Astevens “Nose ring seems okay” – hey I have a nose ring- and I wear it to my rotations and work and no-one has said anything about it.
I also had an industrial in my ear, but I took that out before I got to school because I lost the bar in the process of moving and just haven’t gone out to get a new one- but I never had problems with that either.
I would imagine that lip rings and more prominent facial piercings would have to be covered, but things are getting more laxed. (I work for Walgreens, and they only forbid eyebrow and lip rings and pierced ears for guys in their dress code)
5. ChasinRabbits “Take it out” – I’ve been working as a pharmacist for 3 years. I have my eyebrow and labret pierced (I am a female) and I just take mine out for work every morning. If I work 3 days in a row sometimes I’ll leave them out that long, but then I always put them back in on my days off. I’ve sort of “trained” them to be left out for days and not close up.
I wish society was different and I could just leave them in. But I completely understand that customers wouldn’t respond well if I had them in, not to mention it’s simply not allowed.
I also have many tattoos that would be visible if I didn’t wear a button up shirt and lab coat (on my arms and chest).
At least I can still be me on the weekends!
6. Jeddevil “Haven’t seen issues” – I know some pharmacists and students with visible tatoos all over their arms. I don’t think they have had a hard time getting a job since there is such a shortage. I have to believe that when the time comes when it isn’t as easy to get a job, they will get passed over just like they do today in the business world. If you want a professional job, look like a professional.
7. Tussionex “Keep tats covered” – i keep the one on my shoulder covered…but we’re also not supposed to wear sleeveless tops [so it’s kinda because of that, too]
i have two on my ankle, and several of my techs have multiple visible tattoos…and none of us have gotten reprimanded or otherwise…no actually seems to notice
of course, it doesn’t hurt that one of my tats says “rx”
8. ClarrKKent “Depends on the specific situation” – In my work experience at two hospitals(non pharmaceutical) I’ve seen all levels of employees with tattoos; some exposed and some hidden. It will largely depend on your specific workplace policies which are usually outlined in employee manuals.
Personally, I find nothing wrong with self expression as long as it does not hinder a person’s ability to perform their job. It’s perfectly possible for someone to conduct themselves in a professional manner regardless of tattoos. I find that more and more workplaces are accepting of tattoos as our culture stops perpetuating the stereotype that people with tattoos are irresponsible, lazy, dirty, unethical, unintelligent people.
However, I would err on the side of caution and cover as many up as possible in interviews(both pharmacy school and job). This is simply because you don’t want to take the chance one of the interviewers still believes the stereotypes associated with tattoos. First impressions are important.
It is always possible to ask a potential employer what their policies are before applying for a job. In my experience though, it is not expected that ankle, wrist, or arm tattoos be covered. I mean you’ll be wearing clothes so it’s not as though a large area of your body will be exposed other than arms and legs.
9. Imperial Frog “Beauty in the eye of the beholder” – Unfortunately in the medical profession it does hinder a person’s ability to perform their job because of the impact it has on the patient’s perception of the caregiver which plays a vital role in health management. Personally, I believe that it’s much more important to conform to the medical professional image even if it means subverting your own desires of self-expression because otherwise you are choosing your superficial desires over the risk of not being able to fully help the people who do have the image of a tattooed person as a freak. Healthcare is not the appropriate field to try to change social views on this because people’s lives are ultimately at stake.
10. Sdn1977 “Depends on the setting” – Actually, I think it depends upon your practice setting. Do you want to practice in a quiet, conservative, button-down pharmacy in Sun City West, AZ (not meant to disparage the community or the folks living/working there….) – if so…perhaps your tats might not be welcome. However, if you want to work in a large urban area – retail or institutional, I really don’t think anyone will care. I’ve only worked in very urban areas and I’ve worked with button-down folks and guys with pony-tails & tats & gals with biker pants & tats. The only time I have every felt out of place was when I was in school in SF (the 70’s – end of the hippie era). I wore miniskirts & tie dye – we all did, but I was not really a hippie. I had to do a rotation at the Haight-Asbury Free Medical Clinic and I was so totally out of place!!! I was way too neat & tidy for that environment. My classmate went on to be the director there for a long time and he for years had a pony tail, wore ratty jeans to work & was married & had a couple of kids, joined the PTA, but sat on a number of state committees on drug abuse – all with his long hair (& maybe a few tats). Don’t worry – I’d keep them covered for interviews – no need to get on someone’s bad side right off, but for the long term – no big deal.
Sandals – well – employer specific, but usually no for most job situations.
Final Thoughts
Having tattoos, piercings, nose rings, etc. is something that is not considered professional by some companies especially when looking for a job or interview. In pharmacy, different companies have their own set of rules and policies for tattoos, piercings, etc.
Having a tattoo on your body that can’t be covered, and that is visible may not get you in trouble unless it is a big one. Still, it is good to have tattoos somewhere you can cover easily, like arms or near waistlines. Most people don’t have anything against tattoos and piercings and it is becoming more acceptable in the work place.
