OPT Pharmacist Jobs
Pharmacist roles on OPT require employer sponsorship for H-1B visa or green card after your work authorization period ends. Most positions are in retail chains, hospital systems, and specialty pharmacy, with STEM OPT extension available if your pharmacy degree qualifies under CIP code 51.2001.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Create an outstanding customer experience by embracing the Customer 1st strategy and inspire associates to deliver excellent customer service. Establish and maintain a safe, clean environment that encourages our customers to return. Achieve sales and profit goals established for the department, control all established quality assurance standards and expenses and properly schedule and staff technicians to meet the needs of the business. Monitor all functions, duties and activities for the department. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety. From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we've grown into what today is the nation's largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America's grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all.
Here, people matter. That's why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you're caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.
Whether you're seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we've got a fresh opportunity for you. Apply today to become part of our Kroger family!
WHAT YOU'LL RECEIVE FROM US:
The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:
- A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
- Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
- Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching with Goldman Sachs Ayco.
- Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
- Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
- Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree pharmacy
- Current state pharmacist licensure in good standing
- Ability to handle stressful situations
- Knowledge of basic math (counting, addition, and subtraction)
- Effective oral/written communication skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 1 year of retail experience
- Second language (speaking, reading, and/or writing)
Responsibilities
- Fulfill customers' prescription needs while concentrating on the accuracy of every prescription filled
- Provide patient counseling and pharmaceutical care to customers
- Ensure pharmacies comply with all local, state and federal laws (including HIPAA)
- Maintain a professional image through personal appearance, conduct and attitude and the physical condition of the pharmacy. Adhere to pharmacy standards and enforce company dress standards
- Achieve a thorough knowledge of the trade area, its customers and its competition
- Create a positive pharmacy department image through strong service, friendliness and cooperativeness with customers, associates and outside vendors
- Monitor stock replenishment, inventory levels, policies/procedures, record keeping, security, sanitation, scheduling, proper operation of all equipment, pricing, planograms, returns, budgets, reports to management, and product recalls per company policy
- Maintain proper records, inventory and security on all scheduled drugs (i.e., controlled substances-narcotics)
- Follow procedures for handling pharmacy products from authorized sources
- Ensure all accuracy tools, including the accuracy scanner and 24-hour post dispensing audit report, are utilized appropriately
- Establish/maintain all record keeping practices necessary for legal compliance, Kroger policies, accounting policies and other requested reports
- Maintain a clean, neat work area, including work counters, shelves, floors and the customer counter to present a professional, sanitary, organized image to customers.
- Ensure all product returns are handled in a timely fashion and per company policy
- Maintain all equipment (e.g., computers, printers, accuracy scanners and cash registers) to ensure it remains in working condition
- Maintain and organize all policy manuals, reference books, state laws and required equipment and verify that all staff is knowledgeable of their use
- Maintain proper signage (e.g., store hours, counseling sign, services signs, pharmacists' photographs and names, and all other signs requested) in all areas necessary
- Make a strong and continuous effort to broaden personal knowledge and pharmacy skills
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
INTRODUCTION
Create an outstanding customer experience by embracing the Customer 1st strategy and inspire associates to deliver excellent customer service. Establish and maintain a safe, clean environment that encourages our customers to return. Achieve sales and profit goals established for the department, control all established quality assurance standards and expenses and properly schedule and staff technicians to meet the needs of the business. Monitor all functions, duties and activities for the department. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety. From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we've grown into what today is the nation's largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America's grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all.
Here, people matter. That's why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you're caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited.
Whether you're seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we've got a fresh opportunity for you. Apply today to become part of our Kroger family!
WHAT YOU'LL RECEIVE FROM US:
The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:
- A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
- Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
- Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching with Goldman Sachs Ayco.
- Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
- Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
- Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree pharmacy
- Current state pharmacist licensure in good standing
- Ability to handle stressful situations
- Knowledge of basic math (counting, addition, and subtraction)
- Effective oral/written communication skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 1 year of retail experience
- Second language (speaking, reading, and/or writing)
Responsibilities
- Fulfill customers' prescription needs while concentrating on the accuracy of every prescription filled
- Provide patient counseling and pharmaceutical care to customers
- Ensure pharmacies comply with all local, state and federal laws (including HIPAA)
- Maintain a professional image through personal appearance, conduct and attitude and the physical condition of the pharmacy. Adhere to pharmacy standards and enforce company dress standards
- Achieve a thorough knowledge of the trade area, its customers and its competition
- Create a positive pharmacy department image through strong service, friendliness and cooperativeness with customers, associates and outside vendors
- Monitor stock replenishment, inventory levels, policies/procedures, record keeping, security, sanitation, scheduling, proper operation of all equipment, pricing, planograms, returns, budgets, reports to management, and product recalls per company policy
- Maintain proper records, inventory and security on all scheduled drugs (i.e., controlled substances-narcotics)
- Follow procedures for handling pharmacy products from authorized sources
- Ensure all accuracy tools, including the accuracy scanner and 24-hour post dispensing audit report, are utilized appropriately
- Establish/maintain all record keeping practices necessary for legal compliance, Kroger policies, accounting policies and other requested reports
- Maintain a clean, neat work area, including work counters, shelves, floors and the customer counter to present a professional, sanitary, organized image to customers.
- Ensure all product returns are handled in a timely fashion and per company policy
- Maintain all equipment (e.g., computers, printers, accuracy scanners and cash registers) to ensure it remains in working condition
- Maintain and organize all policy manuals, reference books, state laws and required equipment and verify that all staff is knowledgeable of their use
- Maintain proper signage (e.g., store hours, counseling sign, services signs, pharmacists' photographs and names, and all other signs requested) in all areas necessary
- Make a strong and continuous effort to broaden personal knowledge and pharmacy skills
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
See all 2,651+ OPT Pharmacist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Pharmacist
Target health systems over retail chains
Large hospital systems like Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, and VA Medical Centers have dedicated HR infrastructure for visa sponsorship. Retail pharmacy chains often have blanket no-sponsorship policies, making health system roles a more reliable path for OPT students.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Pharm.D. programs classified under CIP code 51.2001 qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you 36 months total. Verify your school's DSO has this CIP code listed before assuming you qualify. This extra time dramatically improves your H-1B lottery odds.
Apply before your OPT EAD arrives
Submit pharmacy license applications to your state board as early as possible. Many states allow you to apply before your EAD is issued using your OPT approval notice. Licensing delays are the most common reason OPT pharmacists lose job offers.
Disclose your OPT status early in conversations
Bring up work authorization in the first recruiter call, not after an offer. Pharmacy employers need time to assess sponsorship feasibility. Early disclosure filters out non-sponsors quickly and shows professionalism, which hiring managers in clinical settings genuinely appreciate.
Focus your search on states with pharmacy shortages
Rural states and underserved urban areas face persistent pharmacist shortages, which increases employer willingness to sponsor. States like North Dakota, Wyoming, and parts of Appalachia consistently have open roles where sponsors are more flexible than in saturated markets.
Understand the H-1B cap and plan your timeline
H-1B registration opens in March each year, with a 50% selection rate for advanced degree holders. If you graduate in May and start OPT immediately, you have roughly two lottery cycles before your 36-month STEM OPT period ends. Plan employer conversations accordingly.
Pharmacist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a pharmacist on OPT without H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, for the duration of your OPT period. Standard OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization after graduation, and STEM OPT extension adds 24 more months if your Pharm.D. qualifies under CIP code 51.2001. Sponsorship only becomes required when your OPT expires, so securing an employer willing to sponsor before that point is critical.
Do pharmacist roles commonly offer H-1B sponsorship?
Hospital systems and specialty pharmacy employers sponsor more consistently than retail chains. Large health systems, academic medical centers, and federal employers like the VA regularly file H-1B petitions for pharmacists. You can browse OPT-friendly pharmacist roles on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for employers open to sponsoring F-1 students.
Does a Pharm.D. qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most Pharm.D. programs qualify under CIP code 51.2001, which is on the DHS STEM designated degree list. To confirm, check with your Designated School Official before graduation. If your program qualifies, you can apply for the 24-month STEM extension before your initial 12-month OPT expires, giving you 36 months total.
Do I need a state pharmacy license before starting OPT employment?
Yes. You must hold an active pharmacist license in the state where you'll work before you can legally practice. Many states allow you to submit your license application using your OPT approval notice before your EAD card arrives. Start the licensing process immediately after passing your NAPLEX and MPJE to avoid gaps between graduation and your start date.
Can I switch pharmacy employers while on OPT?
Yes, but the job must be directly related to your pharmacy degree and within your authorized OPT field. You must report employer changes to your DSO within 10 days, and they update your SEVIS record accordingly. If you're on STEM OPT, your new employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify, which is a federal requirement for all STEM OPT employers.