The pharmacy placement is an eight-week internship that must be completed before the first state examination (after the fourth semester). It can be divided into two four-week periods, at least four weeks of which must be spent in a community pharmacy.
The Famulatur is intended to give students an insight into their future profession, although this depends very much on the individual pharmacist with whom they are working as a Famulus. Some students are lucky and are allowed to make full use of all the opportunities a community pharmacy has to offer, whilst others are exploited as cheap labour to sort incoming stock (officially, there’s no pay for the Famulatur, but pharmacists usually give the students at least a little something). Have a look here too, with a view to the practical year (PJ), to see what interns are allowed to do.
As you only have to work in a community pharmacy for four weeks, it makes sense to spend the other four weeks in a hospital pharmacy to get to know this field of work in a relaxed setting. A placement in the pharmaceutical industry is usually not feasible, as companies are already overloaded with interns completing their practical year. You’d probably gain very little from the industry anyway, as you’ll still lack the basic knowledge at this stage of your studies.
In theory, you can undertake a four-week placement in any area of pharmacy; it just has to take place under the supervision of a pharmacist. For anyone who is certain they will go on to work in a community pharmacy, an eight-week placement in a community pharmacy is, of course, also possible.
Have a good look around to see where people are willing to look after you and show you the ropes, and if you’re interested, make the most of the opportunity to see something other than a community pharmacy.
And don’t forget to get your certificates issued at the end – otherwise you won’t be able to register for the first state examination!