Pharmacist Jobs in China: Work & Immigration

China has become a popular immigration destination for students and skilled workers. The strong economy and job opportunities attract everyone. This Visa Library article explains how to immigrate to China as a pharmacist. You learn about the requirements, eligibility, process, and salary and get answers to all of your FAQs.

Table of Contents

Requirements to immigrate to China as a pharmacist

You need these items to immigrate to China as a pharmacist. They are the general required items, but you might need further items by your nationality and the country you got your degree. These are the requirements to immigrate to China as a pharmacist:

Chinese language fluency

You need Chinese language fluency to immigrate to China as a pharmacist. If you get your degree in a foreign country, you must pass an exam to overcome the recognition process.

The exam is in Chinese, so you need it to pass the exam.

A valid pharmacy degree

Having a pharmacy degree is needed to become a pharmacist in China. You can get your degree in China or a foreign one. But if you get it in a foreign country, you must pass the recognition.

Chinese officials must approve your degree so you can work as a pharmacist there.

A license from the Chinese officials

If you study in a foreign country and not in China, you need a license to work as a pharmacist there. It’s one of the steps you must pass to immigrate to China as a pharmacist.

You must send your degree and other supporting documents to Chinese officials. They decide whether you can become a dentist in China or not.

A work permit and a visa

Every foreign person who wants to work in China needs a work permit. It’s true for people who want to immigrate to China as a pharmacist.

Only a Chinese employer can apply for a work permit, so you must find a job offer with him/her. After the work permit is issued, you can apply for a work visa.

Registration with local officials

After you pass the recognition and get your license, you must register with the local Bureau of Food and drug administration to begin practicing as a pharmacist in China.

You should reach the local officials and complete the registration with them. They might ask for different supporting documents, or the process might vary. You should find out all of it.

Required certificate to immigrate to China as a pharmacist

The first certificate you need is a valid educational degree. You must get it from an approved university in China or a foreign country. You can also study and get it in your home country.

The second certificate is the Chinese language fluency certificate. You must send it with the other documents to Chinese officials to pass the recognition process.

The third certificate to immigrate to China as a pharmacist is a license from Chinese officials. You need it to work as a pharmacist there, as this job title is protected. Everyone who wants to work in China as a pharmacist must get it.

How to immigrate to China as a pharmacist?

If you want to immigrate to China as a pharmacist, you should follow these steps. It depends on your nationality and the country in which you got your degree; you might have to follow another stage.

Step 1. Determine whether you are eligible

You’d better read this section at least once and determine if you can handle it. Also, you’d better read the above section to know if you can gather the requirements or not.

If yes, you can continue the process, and if not, what can you do about it? You’d better not waste your time and effort if you are not eligible.

Step 2. Recognition of foreign degree

If you get your degree in a foreign country and not in China, you must pass the recognition process. You must send your degree and supporting documents to the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association. They assess them and determine whether you can work as a pharmacist in China.

You must send them your degree, transcripts, and other relevant supporting documents. You’d better contact them to know the complete list of supporting documents.

One of the essential requirements is a Chinese language fluency certificate. You must submit the certificate besides the other documents. So you’d better begin learning and mastering Chinese as soon as possible.

Step 3. Pass the Licensing Examination

If you get your degree in a foreign country, you must pass the National Pharmacist Qualification Examination (NPQE) to immigrate to China as a pharmacist. This is to verify that you meet the eligibility principles and are qualified.

The exam evaluates your knowledge and skills in pharmacy-related subjects. You should find more information about the exam and learn how to pass it. You must get a passing score to immigrate to China as a pharmacist.

Also, you might have to pass a training period. The decision is with the Chinese officials. They will inform you about it.

Step 4. Find a job and get a work permit notice

After you get the pharmacy license to work in China, you must look for a job offer there. Every foreign person who wants to work in China needs a work permit notice.

Only the Chinese employer can apply for a work permit notice, so you must find an employer willing to hire you as a pharmacist.

Every foreigner who wants to immigrate to China as a pharmacist needs a work permit and a work visa.

You can find more information about China work visa and China work permit from the Visa Library article or watch the video we have prepared on our YouTube channel.

Step 5. Register with the local authorities

After you get the license, work permit, and work visa to move to China, you should register with the local provincial-level health authority or the local Bureau of Food and drug administration to begin practicing as a pharmacist in China.

You should reach them and follow their guidelines to complete the registration. You should submit the supporting documents and complete the application forms.

Also, you should know that the process could vary by the province or region you will work in. You’d better consult the local authority to know the exact requirements and procedure.

How long does it take to immigrate and work in China as a pharmacist?

The process to immigrate to China as a pharmacist is up to various factors:

Your circumstances
Special requirements
The process you follow

It takes you 4 years to study for a pharmacy degree in China. Then you must pass the exam and complete the process.

If you study for a degree abroad, you must pass the recognition, which could take 1-2 years. You should also consider the required time to learn Chinese. It could take you time as Chinese is different from other languages, and you must master it to pass the licensing exam.

Then you must pass the National Pharmacist Qualification Examination (NPQE). You must study and prepare yourself for it. It is held once a year in China, so check the deadline not to miss it.

After passing the exam and getting your license, you must look for a job offer, as you will need a work permit to work in China as a foreign person. Only the Chinese employer can apply for a work permit. So you must find an employer willing to hire you.

It could take time to find a job, and a work permit application takes one to a few months.

All in all, the process could take from a few months to a few years. It’s up to your conditions and items that might not be in your control.

You’d better study and read this article and get a clear understanding of the stages you have to follow and a rough processing time estimate.

Related jobs for pharmacists in China

After you immigrate to China as a pharmacist, you might end up working in different positions. The job market is huge, and so many job titles. You’d better know and prepare yourself for them.

If you know them, you can prepare yourself for them and gather the knowledge, qualifications, or work experience to get them. The more knowledge you gather, the merrier.

These are some of the related jobs for pharmacists in China:

Clinical Data Manager
Drug Safety Specialist
Medical Advisor
Medical/Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Pharmacist assistant
Pharmaceutical Products Manager
Regulatory Affairs Manager
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Pharmaceutical Laboratory Technician
Head Pharmacist
Clinical Research Associate

The above job titles are only samples. You can find other job titles, so keep looking and stick with the hard work.

Salary of pharmacists in China

Your salary as a pharmacist in China is up to various factors:

Education
Work experience
The city you work in
The company you work with.
Language fluency
Hard/soft skills
Job title
Position
Etc

According to Salary Explorer, the average salary of a pharmacist in China is about 38,800 CNY. It says the salary range is from 21,000 CNY, which is the lowest and goes up to 58,600 CNY, which is the highest.

According to the World Salaries website, a pharmacist who immigrates to China earns about 464,900 CNY, the average annual salary. It says the lowest annual salary is about 253,400 CNY, while the highest annual salary is about 704,300 CNY.

Economic Research Institute says the average income is about CNY 369,535 per year. While Glassdoor says the average earning is about $43,280 per year, the Average Salary Survey says that the average income is about $50,000 per year.

Where to Work as an immigrant pharmacist in China

You can work in various positions and so many companies or centers. The center you end up working is up to various factors;

The demand
Work experience
Education
Language fluency
Chance (yes)
Skills and abilities
Etc.

These are some of the places where you can work as a pharmacist in China.

Offices of Physicians
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
Medication distribution center
Homecare and hospice pharmacy
Retail pharmacy
Hospital pharmacy
Pharmacy informatics
Supermarkets and Grocery Stores
Ambulatory care pharmacy
Pharmacies and Drug Stores

The above items are just samples, and you can find a job in different companies. You should keep looking and try to find other options.

You can find ways to find a job in China as a pharmacist in the below section. Try to recognize the type of companies or places that you can work in your research.

Are pharmacists in demand in China?

The answer is yes. Pharmacists are in demand in China. The pharmaceutical industry is increasing and has grown a lot due to the emphasis on improving healthcare services, the aging population, and increasing healthcare expenditures. This sector has developed like the other Chinese economy due to the demand in China and foreign customers.

The healthcare system is an essential part of every country, and the Chinese government has understood it. So they have improved and want to enhance the quality and quantity of pharmaceutical products and services. So there is a demand for skilled pharmacists.

Moreover, e-commerce and online pharmacies are rising in China. So there is a demand for pharmacists who can work in this section and provide guidance and quality assurance for online medication purchases.

All in all, the need for pharmacists in China is high and is expected to develop as its healthcare industry continues to expand and evolve.

Best cities to immigrate and work in China as a pharmacist

The decision is with you to pick the city where you want to immigrate and work in China as a pharmacist. You might often have no choice over the city as the job market is tough and there are so many applicants. You will have to compete with them.

But you’d better know about Chinese cities and have some information about them the first list is the largest cities in China.

There are always better and higher job opportunities in large cities; large companies are located in these cities. So you can find a job in them easier.

Shanghai
Beijing
Tianjin
Shenzhen
Guangzhou
Chengdu
Chongqing

You should also know about another list. It’s the most popular city in China. People like to visit or live in them for various reasons. These are the tourist cities, and you’d better know about them.

You might be able to find a job in them better. The more people visit them, the larger the required services and industries. So try your chance in searching for a job in these popular Chinese cities:

Beijing
Shanghai
Hong Kong
Canton (Guangzhou)
Taipei (Taibei)

How to find a job in China as a pharmacist?

You need a work permit to work in China as a foreign person. It’s the Chinese employer who can apply for a work permit, so you must find an employer that needs your skills as a pharmacist and apply for a work permit. If you want to immigrate to China as a pharmacist, you must find a job.

The way to find a job is up to your conditions as there are different ways. One way is to look for a position through websites that advertise job positions in China. This is a list of them:

Chinajob.com
Chinasemester.com
foreignhr.com
Echinacities.com
jobsitechina.com
Hiredchina.com
Jobleadchina.com
Chinaexpat.cn

The other way is to get help from employment agencies or recruiters in China. You can ask them to match you with employers. This is a list of these recruiters companies in China:

3-Step Foreign Work Services Co., Ltd.
Access People.
Acropolis Associates.
Adrem Group.
ALS International.
Antal International.

You can use other ways to find a job in China as a pharmacist. It’s up to your creativity and hard work to find other ways and try your chance. For instance, you can reach pharmaceutical companies in various ways; visiting their websites, reaching the people who work there, taking part in their events, exhibitions, etc. This is a list of large and famous pharmaceutical companies in China:

Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd.
Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co Ltd.
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.
Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products Co Ltd. China.
Yunnan Baiyao Group Co Ltd. China.
BeiGene Ltd Headquarters. China.

Pharmaceutical degree types in China

One way to immigrate to China as a pharmacist is to study for a pharmaceutical degree there. You do not need to pass the recognition process if you are studying for a degree in China.

There are various pharmaceutical degrees in China you can study. But you must know them, get admission from the university and then apply for a China student visa.

These are some of the courses you can study for:

Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm.)
Master’s Degree in Pharmacy (M.Pharm.)
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences

You should know that the degree titles, curriculum, and duration might vary in Chinese universities. You’d better visit the university’s website and find verified information. You can also contact them to know the requirements or job opportunities after you study for this degree.

Language fluency to immigrate to China as a pharmacist

You need Chinese language fluency to immigrate to China as a pharmacist. If you get your degree abroad, you must pass the recognition process and the licensing exam. It is in Chinese, and you need language fluency to pass it. You must master it and learn the medical terms to pass the licensing exam.

If you want to study for a degree in China, Mandarin language fluency is often one of the requirements. But you might be able to find a degree in English. However, you need Chinese fluency to pass the licensing exam and work with people.

Your co-workers and people you work with speak Chinese, so you need it to understand and communicate with them.

Is it hard to immigrate and work in China as a pharmacist?

It can be difficult to immigrate and work in China as a pharmacist. The process is long and tedious and needs a lot of hard work. You need a few requirements and eligibility principles for it. You should consider the steps, requirements, and eligibility principles before the beginning to get a clear understanding of its hardships.

First, you need a degree, and it must be valid in your home country. Then you must send it for recognition. If Chinese officials approve and recognize it, you can continue the process.

You also need Chinese language fluency. It can take a few years to learn and master it so you can become a pharmacist in China.

There is also an exam that you must pass, which is in Chinese. It can be hard for you as a foreign person compared with a Chinese national. Preparation and studying can be hard and take a bit long time.

After getting your license, you must find a job offer. Every foreign person who wants to work in China needs a work permit. It’s the employer who can apply for a work permit, so you must persuade him/her. It can be difficult to convince a Chinee employer to hire a foreign person.

The process needs a lot of hard work and time. You must be determined and put in the effort and grit to pass all of the stages. The answer is up to you whether it is hard to immigrate to China as a pharmacist.

Working conditions for Pharmacists in China

The working conditions for pharmacists in China are generally good. But you should know that the Chinese are very hard work and easygoing with their lifestyles. So you might find it a bit harder to keep up with their working style. The working conditions can vary by employer, location, type of job you have, and work settings.

The working conditions are different in a hospital, research institution, pharmaceutical company, or regulatory body. You should determine the shifts and working hours.

People usually work 40 hours per week, but you might have to work for longer hours in your working setting, like in a hospital.

The salary and benefits vary and depend on various factors. You can read the above section to learn about the average salary of a pharmacist in China. But benefits may include health insurance, retirement plans, paid leave, and professional development opportunities. The compensation is competitive.

Your job might include direct interaction with people and clients. Strong Chinese language fluency and comprehension are helpful.

You might experience a high workload in busy work settings like hospitals. It might be required to handle a few tasks and responsibilities simultaneously. This could increase work pressure.

Employers encourage pharmacists to keep up with the latest developments and updates.

Working culture, atmosphere, and people are different. You should try to understand them in your new working conditions and with the new people.

China Visa options for pharmacists

The first visa you need is a China work visa. After you complete the recognition process and get your license, you need a work visa to work in China as a pharmacist. Every foreign person who wants to work in China needs a work visa. But before a work visa, they need a work permit.

It’s the employer who can apply for a China work permit. So you must find a job offer with a Chinese employer.

After you receive the work permit, you must apply for a work visa to enter China.

You can find more information about China work visa and China work permit from the Visa Library article or watch the video we have prepared on our YouTube channel.

If you want to study for a pharmacy degree in China, you need a China student visa.

Is it worth getting a job in China as a pharmacist?

The answer is up to whether it’s worth immigrating to China as a pharmacist. You should define what you want and what your purpose is. The one question that helps you is whether your conditions will be improved after immigration. If yes, then it might be worth putting in the hard work and time to immigrate to China as a pharmacist.

You’d better read the above stage to know how the process is and the requirements.

People have different purposes. You should define yours and determine why you want to do it.

China has become the second-largest economy and is developing faster than before. You can build the future you want and have great opportunities there. But the process can be hard; learning Chinese, getting recognition, and passing the exams.

So you are the best person to answer this question.

How to increase your income as a pharmacist in China?

This section brings you tactics, strategies, and plans to improve your income as a pharmacist in China.

The first way is to get specialization. Obtaining skills and certificates related to your job makes you a valuable part of the company. You will stand out in the job market, and employers will want to hire you. Oncology, geriatrics, or critical care are some specializations you can get.

The second way is to pursue higher education. Getting a MA or Ph.D. degree might improve your income and conditions. But you should determine whether the employer will consider it or not. They might value skills, work experience, or another factor.

The third way to get certificates. Determine which certificates help you with this position and are related: Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy, Ambulatory Care Pharmacy, etc.

The one other inevitable way is to expand your work experience. You can work in different positions and gain knowledge, skills, and work experience to improve your income.

What are you responsible for in your current job? Determine whether you can take more responsibility or a higher position. A management position holds more responsibilities but it will increase your income.

You can also expand your network and research to know about high-paid job positions. You should take them in the right place and right moment.

Cost of immigration to China as a pharmacist

How much you have to spend to immigrate to China as a pharmacist is up to your conditions and nationality.

You must have your documents translated into Chinese or English. Determining the cost in your home country.

Then you must send your documents to Chinese officials for recognition. They will inform you of the cost.

You need Chinese language fluency and must take classes to master it. The classes and teachers cost you a bit, and you should find the costs in your home country.

Then you must apply for a work permit and a work visa. It’s up to the Chinese embassy and its services in your home country.

You should also consider the ticket and relocation costs which vary by your home country.

It’s essential to consider that the specific costs can vary significantly depending on your circumstances and the immigration route you pursue.

How to become a pharmacist in China?

If you get your degree in a foreign country, you must pass the recognition process. You have to send your degree and other documents to Chinese officials. They assess them and tell whether they can work as a pharmacist in China.

Then you must pass the licensing exam, get your certificate and find a job after that comes the work permit and visa application.

You can find more about the process and requirements to become a pharmacist in China in the above section.

Let’s sum up…

This Visa Library article explained how to immigrate to China as a pharmacist. It explains the requirements, eligibility, and process and answers so many of your FAQs. this is your guideline to immigrate and work in China as a pharmacist.

If you have questions, write them down in the comment section. The Visa Library team will answer them.