Pharmacy Support Staff
| Study Level | Level 2 |
| Duration | 1 Academic Year |
| Study Mode | Part-time |
| Start Date | Year round enrolment |
Pharmacy Technician
Study LevelLevel 3 Course TypeApprenticeships Duration2 Academic Years Start DateYear round enrolment Study ModePart-time LocationDavid Hockney BuildingOverview
This course is for learners who are employed in the role of pre-registration trainee pharmacy technician. Pharmacy technicians are registered professionals working within the regulatory standards for pharmacy, as set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Pharmacy Order 2010.
Pharmacy technicians work in a wide range of settings, including (but not exclusively): registered pharmacies, community services, justice (the Prison Service), GP practices, dispensing doctors’ practices, care homes and clinical commissioning groups, hospitals, mental health, defence (Her Majesty’s Armed Forces) and in the pharmaceutical industry. They manage the supply of medicines and devices in a pharmacy, and assist pharmacists with advisory services. The actual work setting will determine the specific areas of activity that the pharmacy technician undertakes, but typically their role will include the following:
- providing safe and effective pharmacy services
- supplying medicines and devices to patients, whether on prescription or over the counter
- achieving the best outcomes through a patient’s medicines
- assembling medicines for prescriptions
- providing information to patients and other healthcare professionals.
- managing areas of medicines supply such as dispensaries
- supervising other pharmacy staff
- answering customers’ questions face to face or by phone
- pre-packing, assembling and labelling medicines
- referring problems or queries to the pharmacist.
Key Info
You will:
- develop the technical skills, knowledge and understanding to become competent in the job role
- develop appropriate professional attitudes and behaviours that will support personal success
- develop a range of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills to support progression to, and success in, further study and career advancement
- achieve a nationally-recognised Level 3 qualification, recognised by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). GPhC accreditation/recognition reports and the accreditation/recognition period can be viewed on the GPhC website
- register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a pharmacy technician, and therefore be allowed to practice as a pharmacy technician in England and Wales. However, successful completion of this qualification is not a guarantee of registration or annotation with the GPhC, or of future employment.
- Medicinal and Non-medicinal Treatments for Gastrointestinal and Nutritional Conditions
- Medicinal Treatments for Cardio-respiratory Conditions
- Medicinal and Non-medicinal Treatments for Malignant Diseases and Musculoskeletal Conditions
- Microbiology for Pharmacy Technicians
- Actions and Uses of Medicines
- Medicinal and Non-medicinal Treatments for Central Nervous System Conditions
- Medicinal Methods for the Prevention, Protection from and Treatment of Infections
- Medicinal Treatments for Endocrine, Gynaecological and Genitourinary Conditions
- Medicinal Treatments for Sensory Organ Conditions
- Principles of Safe Manufacture of Quality Medicines in the Pharmaceutical Environment
In order to register for this qualification, learners must be working in a pharmacy environment, having secured a placement as a pre-registration trainee pharmacy technician, and have GCSE pass grades (C or above) or equivalent qualifications in English, mathematics and science, an acceptable reference for good character and an acceptable self-declaration for health.
The units in this qualification are assessed through an internally- and externally quality-assured Portfolio of Evidence, made up of evidence gathered during the course of the learner’s work.
Each unit has specified learning outcomes and assessment criteria. To pass each unit the learner must:
● achieve all the specified learning outcomes
● satisfy all the assessment criteria by providing sufficient and valid evidence for each criterion
● prove that the evidence is their own.
Learners must have an assessment record that identifies the assessment criteria that have been met. The assessment record should be cross-referenced to the evidence provided. The assessment record should include details of the type of evidence and the date of assessment. Suitable centre documentation should be used to form an assessment record.
As this is an apprenticeship, work experience is embedded into the course programme.
Although not guaranteed, progression from the apprenticeship can involve secured employment within the NHS, on an NHS Band 4 or 5 role. Once qualified you will become a Qualified Pharmacy Technician which is a protected characteristic for only those who pass the course and they are then eligible to join the GPhC register. You can also carry on to a number of courses such as the BTEC Level 4 Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy Services and Therapeutics or the Pharmacy Accredited Checking Training (ACT) or the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement or the Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practices.
FE Tuition: £3,000.00 per academic year
This is representative of the most common fees scenario, but actual fees can vary depending on a number of factors. Please contact us if you need more guidance.
If you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact [email protected]
Disclaimer: Our prospectus, college documents and website are simply here to offer a guide. We accept no liability for any inaccurate statements and are not responsible for any negative outcomes if you rely on an inaccurate statement. We reserve the right to withdraw any programmes or service at any time.
