Pharmacy Assistant Diploma
Program
Length: 34 weeks
Admission Requirements | Career
Opportunities | Course Outline
| Job Search / Placement |
Web Resources
This full time diploma program was developed using the “Pharmacy Assistant
Competency Profile” and the “Pharmacy Assistant Skill Set”
documents published by the Ontario College of Pharmacists.
The program is 34 weeks (900 hours) in length, and consists of 450 hours of
pharmacy assistant related theory, 250 hours of practical skills in the school’s
well-equipped pharmacy assistant classroom and 200 hours of full time clinical
work placement in a pharmacy setting. During the clinical work placement students
participate in both a community pharmacy placement in a drug store and an institutional
pharmacy placement in a hospital, long-term care facility, rehab center or similar
organization. Ideally each placement will be 4 weeks in length.
- Grade 12 (OSSD @ the General level or better; or Mature Student (19 years
of age or older and out of school for 1 year or more)
- Good general health, negative police check,
- Medical Certificate (free of communicable disease with up to date immunization
status),
- Good oral and written English skills.
- Hepatitis B immunization is strongly recommended.
- Admissions interview to determine suitability for the program
Employment may be found in:
- Retail Pharmacies
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Rehab centers
- Introduction to Pharmacy Practice
- Human Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology with Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Computers, Applications and Keyboarding
- Interpersonal Skills, Communication, Problem Solving and Client Services
- Pharmaceutical Calculations
- Pharmaceutical Law and Ethics
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Fundamentals
- Compounding
- Sterile Products (including aseptic techniques, infection control, microbiology
and handling of bio-hazardous materials)
- Introduction to Pharmacy Management Software
- Retail Pharmacy Practice
- Hospital Pharmacy Practice (including long term care pharmacy practice)
- CPR and First Aid Certifications
- Employment and Career Management
- Clinical Placement
Near the conclusion of the program, students are required to complete 300 hours
of full time clinical work placement in a pharmacy setting. During the clinical
work placement students participate in both a community pharmacy placement in
a drug store and an institutional pharmacy placement in a hospital, long-term
care facility, rehab center or similar organization. Ideally each placement
will be 4 weeks in length.
