OPT Pharmacy Intern Jobs
Pharmacy Intern jobs on OPT are available at retail chains, hospital systems, and specialty pharmacies. Most roles require active state pharmacy intern licensure alongside your F-1 status. STEM OPT extension is not available for this role, so your 12-month OPT timeline applies.
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Avera McKennan Hospital
Worker Type:
PRN
Work Shift:
Rotating days/evenings/nights/weekends/holidays (United States of America)
Position Highlights
Varied Shifts
Open for Pre Enrolled-Pharmacy freshman students entering the pharmacy program Fall 2027
You Belong at Avera
Be part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of Moving Health Forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter.
A Brief Overview
Assists in drug preparation, storage, distribution, inventory management, and patient education within a variety of pharmacy environments. This position works under direct supervision of a registered pharmacist.
What you will do
- Under pharmacist supervision, accurately inputs and/or prepares labels and packages inpatient or outpatient medication orders and prescriptions to maintain an efficient, accurate, and high-quality medication delivery system.
- Successfully communicates with nursing staff, physicians, customers, co-workers, supervisors, and management and participates in interdepartmental work groups and committees as assigned to promote high-quality communication and prevent patient harm.
- Demonstrates proficient knowledge of medications, calculations, regulations, and regulation limitations, personal protective equipment and promotes patient safety to ensure high-quality patient care and compliance.
- Performs clerical functions such as, but not limited to, billing and pharmacy inventory to promote an efficient medication distribution system.
- Assists with the collection and maintenance of records as needed by the Pharmacy Department and applicable accreditations such as Utilization Review Accreditation Commission, Joint Commission, NIOSH, OSHA, or other accreditations as may be required by law, practice standards, or departmental policy to maintain compliance with accreditation entities.
- Under pharmacist supervision, obtains patient medication histories and provides education in order to improve medication adherence and patient outcomes.
Essential Qualifications
The individual must be able to work the hours specified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds. These requirements and those listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.
Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:
- High School or GED Equivalent
- Pharmacy Tech in Training - Board of Pharmacy for Pre-Pharmacy students within 30 Days or
- Pharmacy Intern - Board of Pharmacy for Pharmacy Interns (P1 - P4) within 30 Days
Preferred Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:
- Bachelor's
- Master's Pre-admitted or officially accepted into an accredited College of Pharmacy program
Expectations and Standards
- Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
- Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship.
- Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
- Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.
Avera is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, Veteran Status, or other categories protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-605-504-4444 or send an email to talent@avera.org.
Location:
Avera McKennan Hospital
Worker Type:
PRN
Work Shift:
Rotating days/evenings/nights/weekends/holidays (United States of America)
Position Highlights
Varied Shifts
Open for Pre Enrolled-Pharmacy freshman students entering the pharmacy program Fall 2027
You Belong at Avera
Be part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of Moving Health Forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter.
A Brief Overview
Assists in drug preparation, storage, distribution, inventory management, and patient education within a variety of pharmacy environments. This position works under direct supervision of a registered pharmacist.
What you will do
- Under pharmacist supervision, accurately inputs and/or prepares labels and packages inpatient or outpatient medication orders and prescriptions to maintain an efficient, accurate, and high-quality medication delivery system.
- Successfully communicates with nursing staff, physicians, customers, co-workers, supervisors, and management and participates in interdepartmental work groups and committees as assigned to promote high-quality communication and prevent patient harm.
- Demonstrates proficient knowledge of medications, calculations, regulations, and regulation limitations, personal protective equipment and promotes patient safety to ensure high-quality patient care and compliance.
- Performs clerical functions such as, but not limited to, billing and pharmacy inventory to promote an efficient medication distribution system.
- Assists with the collection and maintenance of records as needed by the Pharmacy Department and applicable accreditations such as Utilization Review Accreditation Commission, Joint Commission, NIOSH, OSHA, or other accreditations as may be required by law, practice standards, or departmental policy to maintain compliance with accreditation entities.
- Under pharmacist supervision, obtains patient medication histories and provides education in order to improve medication adherence and patient outcomes.
Essential Qualifications
The individual must be able to work the hours specified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds. These requirements and those listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer.
Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:
- High School or GED Equivalent
- Pharmacy Tech in Training - Board of Pharmacy for Pre-Pharmacy students within 30 Days or
- Pharmacy Intern - Board of Pharmacy for Pharmacy Interns (P1 - P4) within 30 Days
Preferred Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience:
- Bachelor's
- Master's Pre-admitted or officially accepted into an accredited College of Pharmacy program
Expectations and Standards
- Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
- Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship.
- Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
- Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.
Avera is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, Veteran Status, or other categories protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-605-504-4444 or send an email to talent@avera.org.
See all 74+ OPT Pharmacy Intern Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Pharmacy Intern
Confirm your state intern license before applying
Most states require a separate pharmacy intern license tied to your current enrollment or graduation status. Apply for it before you start job searching. Employers expect this paperwork to be in order before your first day.
Target employers already familiar with OPT
Large hospital systems and retail pharmacy chains like CVS Health and Walgreens hire OPT students regularly. These employers have HR infrastructure for work authorization verification, making the process smoother than smaller independent pharmacies.
Be upfront about your OPT end date
Pharmacy internships often align with licensing timelines, so employers need to plan around your availability. Disclosing your OPT expiration date early builds trust and avoids miscommunication once an offer is extended.
Understand that STEM OPT does not apply here
Pharmacy is not a STEM-designated field under the current DHS CIP code list. Your standard 12-month OPT window applies. Plan your job search and H-1B visa or other visa transition well before that window closes.
Ask about post-graduation sponsorship intentions early
If your goal is an H-1B or other work visa after pharmacist licensure, raise it during the offer stage. Knowing whether an employer sponsors pharmacists helps you evaluate whether an internship is a viable long-term path.
Align your OPT start date with your internship offer
OPT authorization must be active before your first day of paid work. Coordinate your EAD card arrival and OPT start date carefully with your DSO to avoid any gap between your offer acceptance and your authorized start date.
Pharmacy Intern OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Pharmacy Intern on OPT?
Yes, F-1 OPT students can work as Pharmacy Interns as long as the role is directly related to your degree field, typically pharmacy or pharmaceutical sciences. Your EAD card must be valid before your start date, and the role must align with the field of study listed on your SEVIS record.
Does a Pharmacy Intern role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
No. Pharmacy programs are classified under CIP code 51.2001, which is not on the DHS STEM-designated degree programs list. This means you are limited to the standard 12-month OPT period. If you need additional time to work in the U.S., you will need to explore visa options like H-1B before your OPT expires.
Do I need a state pharmacy intern license to work on OPT?
Yes. Nearly every state requires pharmacy interns to hold an active state-issued intern license, separate from your F-1 or OPT authorization. Requirements vary by state, but most require proof of enrollment or graduation from an accredited pharmacy program. Confirm your state board's requirements and apply for licensure before your job search.
Where can I find Pharmacy Intern jobs that accept OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and lists pharmacy internship openings at employers open to work authorization. Filtering by OPT eligibility saves you time compared to applying broadly and discovering authorization issues late in the process.
Can a Pharmacy Intern position lead to H-1B sponsorship?
It depends on the employer. Large health systems and retail pharmacy chains do sponsor pharmacists for H-1B visas after full licensure, but intern-level sponsorship during OPT is uncommon. The internship can be a pipeline opportunity. Ask directly during the hiring process whether the organization has a history of sponsoring pharmacists for long-term work visas.