What's the difference between pharmacist and chemist?

[facecatwt]

in Australia or any countries?

 

[bhaisahab]

in Australia or any countries?

Have you looked the words up in a dictionary?

 

[emsr2d2]

My ex-boyfriend was a chemist. He certainly wasn't a pharmacist. Take bhaisahab's advice and check several dictionaries then come back to us if you are unclear about the definitions.

 

[Barb_D]

In the US, you have your prescriptions (provided by a doctor) made up for you at the pharmacy. The pharmacist must be licensed (it's a very rigorous academic program) to provide the prescriptions. We do not use the word "chemist" for this.

In the US, chemist is someone who works with chemistry - in a lab, in a factory, etc. It is NOT related to prescription drugs.

 

[Raymott]

in Australia or any countries?

Since you ask about Australia, and are living in Australia, you will need to know. A chemist is a scientist with a BSc and PhD in chemistry.
A pharmacist has a BPharm or MPharm (or Cert/Dip. Pharm - but these lower qualifications are being phased out). A pharmacist is very commonly called a chemist in Australia, and a pharmacy is a chemist's [shop].

"I need to go to the chemist's" and "I need to go to the pharmacy" mean the same thing in vernacular AusE.
Non-pharmaceutical chemists generally refer to themselves as "industrial chemists" or even more specific terms, like "polymer chemist".

Note that doing a Google search in Australia for "chemist" gives you lists pharmacies and pharmacists.
https://www.google.com.au/search?source=ig&rlz=1G1ASUT_ENAU421&q=chemist
The Yellow Pages has caught up a little. Under "Chemist shops" it says "See Pharmacies".

PS: Chemist shops in Brisbane
https://www.google.com.au/search?rl...Q&biw=1366&bih=643&sei=VdkHUtW-HIyFiAftoYCABQ

 

[facecatwt]

Sorry everyone. My title was meant to be 'pharmacy and chemist'.

 

[5jj]

Since you ask about Australia, and are living in Australia, you will need to know. A chemist is a scientist with a BSc and PhD in chemistry.
A pharmacist has a BPharm or MPharm (or Cert/Dip. Pharm - but these lower qualifications are being phased out). A pharmacist is very commonly called a chemist in Australia, and a pharmacy is a chemist's [shop].

"I need to go to the chemist's" and "I need to go to the pharmacy" mean the same thing in vernacular AusE.
Non-pharmaceutical chemists generally refer to themselves as "industrial chemists" or even more specific terms, like "polymer chemist".

The words are used in a similar way in BrE, though the chemist will not necessarily have a PhD, and the layman has no idea what qualifications the pharmacist has.

In our larger chemist's chain stores such as Boots the pharmacy (department) is often not easy to find because the shops sell so many different products.