Industrial Pharmacist (ANZSCO 251512)

    Updated

    What an Industrial Pharmacist does

    Undertakes research, testing and analysis related to the development, production, storage, quality control and distribution of drugs and related supplies. Registration or licensing is required.

    Key facts

    ANZSCO code
    251512
    Skill level
    1Bachelor degree or higher
    Visas that list it
    190491482186494
    Assessing authority
    VETASSESS
    National shortage
    No shortage

    Visa options

    Occupation eligibility is one requirement; each visa page links to the rest.

    Main tasks

    • receiving prescriptions, checking patients' medicine histories, and ensuring optimal dosage and methods of administration and drug compatibility before dispensing
    • preparing or supervising the preparation and labelling of liquid medicines, ointments, powders, tablets and other medications to fill prescriptions
    • advising prescribers on drug incompatibility and contra-indications
    • reviewing and monitoring the medicine therapy of individual patients, and assessing the effectiveness of the total medicine therapy
    • maintaining prescription files and recording issue of narcotics, poisons and habit-forming drugs
    • storing and preserving vaccines, serums and other drugs subject to deterioration
    • supplying non-prescription medicines, and diagnostic and therapeutic aids
    • supervising and coordinating the work of Pharmacy Technicians, pharmacy interns and Pharmacy Sales Assistants
    • conducting research to develop and improve pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and related chemical products
    • conferring with Chemists, Engineering Professionals and other professionals about manufacturing techniques and ingredients
    • testing and analysing drugs to determine their identity, purity and strength in relation to specified standards
    • developing standards for drugs used in pharmaceuticals

    Shortage by state

    • NationalNo shortage
    • ACTNo shortage
    • NSWNo shortage
    • NTNo shortage
    • QLDNo shortage
    • SANo shortage
    • TASNo shortage
    • VICNo shortage
    • WANo shortage

    State and territory nomination

    For the 190 and 491, each state and territory also has its own occupation list.

    Common questions

    What does an Industrial Pharmacist do?

    Undertakes research, testing and analysis related to the development, production, storage, quality control and distribution of drugs and related supplies. Registration or licensing is required. (ABS ANZSCO description.)

    Is Industrial Pharmacist on the skilled occupation list?

    Yes. Industrial Pharmacist (ANZSCO 251512) is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and Regional Occupation List (ROL) (lists in force from 14 December 2024). It is listed for the 186, 190, 482, 491 and 494 visas.

    What is the ANZSCO code for Industrial Pharmacist?

    251512. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO codes for skilled visas.

    How can an Industrial Pharmacist migrate to Australia?

    The occupation lists Home Affairs publishes include Industrial Pharmacist for the Subclass 186, Subclass 190, Subclass 482, Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visas. Being on a list is one requirement among several; each visa's page links to Home Affairs for the rest.

    Who assesses Industrial Pharmacist for an Australian visa?

    VETASSESS, the skills assessing authority listed for 251512.

    Is Industrial Pharmacist in demand in Australia?

    Jobs and Skills Australia rated it "No shortage" nationally in its 2025 Occupation Shortage List, with ratings for each state and territory shown above.

    Sources

    1. 1Department of Home Affairs, skilled occupation listimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au
    2. 2Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANZSCO – Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2022, CC BY 4.0abs.gov.au
    3. 3Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List, 2025 listjobsandskills.gov.au