Pharmacy Technician

11-Month Certificate at Castlegar

Delivered with the following methods: On Campus, Online

Career Potential

Pharmacy Technicians work under the supervision of a licensed Pharmacist pharmacy-related functions, in compliance with policies and procedures that provide optimal pharmaceutical care.

Pharmacy technicians assist in a variety of technical tasks. Qualifications desired are:

• strong organization and communication skills
• respect and confidentiality of patient information
• computer literacy/proficiency in pharmacy software programs

Duties may include:

• compounding pharmaceuticals
• sterile product preparation (hospital)
• preparing medication for dispensing
• third party billing
• purchasing, merchandising, inventory control and records maintenance

As a member of the healthcare team, qualified graduates find employment in hospitals, clinics and retail pharmacies. New and expanding opportunities are becoming available for careers with insurance companies, pharmacy software vendors, pharmaceutical manufacturing and clinical research. As healthcare organizations restructure to decrease healthcare costs, it is anticipated that a well-trained Pharmacy Technician will have increased opportunities for employment.

When considering the Pharmacy Technician Program, you may wish to do some research regarding traditional and non-traditional career opportunities. This could involve visiting your local hospital and retail pharmacies to talk to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians about the requirements and expectations this career choice can have for you.