This study aimed to assess the pharmacist’s knowledge of the concept of pharmaceutical care and verify their practice in relation to this service. It involved a cross-sectional study carried out on community pharmacies in four Brazilian cities and involved pharmacists who work in community pharmacies. The pharmacists' knowledge of the concept of pharmaceutical care and their practice in respect of the service was measured. 486 pharmacies were visited and 112 pharmacists participated in the study. Of these professionals, 41% correctly identified the concept of pharmaceutical care and 70.5% said they perform it in pharmacies. The majority (n = 62) of the professionals followed standard operating procedures and four recorded data on the service offered (patient information, interventions and results). There is evidence that only 2.5% of the professionals effectively carry out the level of pharmaceutical care recommended by the Brazilian guidelines. Pharmacists are not yet ready to perform pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies. It is necessary to review the pharmacists’ training and enable the professionals to properly perform this service.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade de São Paulo (USP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Parana, BrazilUniversidade Federal de Alfenas (UNIFAL), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, BrazilUniversidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara, Araraquara, Rodovia Araraquara/Jaú Km 1, Campus, CEP 14801902, SP, BrasilUniversidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Departamento de Fármacos e Medicamentos, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Araraquara, Araraquara, Rodovia Araraquara/Jaú Km 1, Campus, CEP 14801902, SP, Brasil