Taking a Career-Focused Look at Pharmacy Assistant Diplomas

If you are looking for a new career that involves working in a team, caring for others, and working in a clean, professional working environment, then you may want to look at a career as a pharmacy assistant. And, as you might have guessed, a Pharmacy Assistant Diploma is your way in.

What Is a Pharmacy Assistant?

We’ve all met a pharmacy assistant. They’re often the primary customer service staff who help you look for a particular over-the-counter medicine, cold remedy, or upset stomach product. They are usually very helpful and try to understand exactly what it is you need, eager to assist you to make sure you find and choose the right medication – and do so with a smile on their face.

What Do Pharmacy Assistants Do?

Pharmacy assistants play a critical role in supporting the smooth operation of pharmacies, working in a team of colleagues to take the pressure off pharmacists. Whether it’s out in the aisles with customers, behind the tills processing your claims and collecting payment, or working behind the scenes with the pharmacists, an assistant fulfills a key role at your local community pharmacy.

In addition to patient care and customer service, pharmacy assistants also prepare medications, manage inventory and carry out administrative duties. A typical day ranges in activities, but will commonly include:

• Processing Prescriptions – Pharmacy assistants ensure that prescriptions received from suppliers are correctly entered into the pharmacy’s database. They perform quality control checks and communicate with patients, or healthcare professionals, with any required information about prescriptions.
• Dispensing Medication – At times, pharmacy assistants will provide additional information – such as the dosage levels – to the patient when providing their medication to them. 
• Pharmaceutical Software – Pharmacy assistants must master specialized software, such as KROLL, to efficiently track and manage supplies, finances, patient data, and general management of the pharmacy. 
• Updating patient and doctor information. 
• Compounding Support – Compounding in a pharmacy means making special medications that you can’t find already made in stores. Pharmacy assistants support senior colleagues through  preparation, packaging, and labelling these medications. They may also compound medications under a pharmacist’s supervision.
• Multitasking – Pharmacy Assistants have a broad scope of practice, and often will have more than one task to do at once.  Additionally, they must be able to handle the workload during busy periods. 

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Pharmacy Assistant?

You should possess several key skills to effectively perform your duty as a pharmacy assistant.  

• Pharmaceutical Knowledge – A knowledge of medications is essential, along with attention to detail to ensure each patient receives the correct prescription.  
• Attention to Detail – Even a small error can have significant consequences in the world of pharmaceuticals. A pharmacy assistant must pay close attention while labelling, packaging, or counting medications to ensure patient safety.
• Organization and Numeracy Skills – You will need to ensure you provide the right dosages, while confidence in customer service will be required when a patient requires your expertise to answer their questions. 
• Strong written and verbal communication – Pharmacy assistants frequently interact with patients, healthcare professionals, and other customers. Providing excellent customer service, answering questions, and addressing concerns with empathy and professionalism is crucial for building trust and maintaining positive relationships. 
• Ethics & Confidentiality – Pharmacy assistants handle sensitive patient information, so you’d be expected to maintain strict confidentiality. They should also adhere to ethical guidelines and legal regulations related to pharmacy practice.  
• Technical competence – Pharmacy Assistants use computers on the daily for medication searches, insurance claims, patient information, etc. Technological fluency is particularly important when using the KROLL system. 
• Multitasking – Pharmacy Assistants have a broad scope of practice, and often will have more than one task to do at once.  Additionally, they must be able to handle the workload during busy periods. 

How Much Do Pharmacy Assistants Make in Canada?

Salaries differ from province to province, and factors such as experience are also taken into account by employers. There is more to consider than the highest-paying province too. 

For example, a pharmacy assistant in British Columbia can earn $25 per hour, equivalent to $48,000 per year working a 40-hour week. That’s $5 per hour more than Manitoba ($38,400). However, the latter does not have a provincial sales tax, so you may need to do some research on salaries and the cost of living before deciding where in the country you would like to bring your skills.

As you continue in your career and build upon your foundation with experience, you may be eligible for promotion into supervisory or lead pharmacy assistant roles. 

Why You Should Get a Pharmacy Assistant Diploma

Canada is home to approximately 42,500 licensed pharmacists working in more than 10,000 pharmacies. Among these, about 70% work in community pharmacies, where pharmacists rely on multiple pharmacy assistants for support.

What Pharmacy Assistant Courses To Look For In A Program  

College Pharmacy Assistant diploma programs should include key courses, such as:  

• Anatomy & Physiology – In this course, students will explore topics such as structure, function, and terminology.  

• Pharmacology – This course introduces students to the basics of pharmacology. Topics of interest include pharmaceutical relationships between musculoskeletal, integumentary, and digestive systems. 
• Pharmacy Calculations – In this course, students will develop calculation skills used in both community and institutional pharmacy practice, including: interpreting medication dosages, ratio-proportion methods, and conversions. 
• Community & Institutional Procedures – Students will learn about community pharmacy procedures such as current technology, monitoring, and drug administration.  
• Compounding – In this course, students will also explore techniques to perform critical dosage and compounding calculations. Topics of interest include weighing, leveling, trituration, and geometric dilution.
• Pharmaceutical Software – Students will learn how to effectively and efficiently use computer software specific to pharmacies, such as the KROLL pharmacy software. 

In addition, you will want your program to include basic technology skills, such as Microsoft software. Moreover, a diploma should include courses that train students on soft skills, which include many communication and interpersonal skills.  

Why You Should Look For A Program With A Practicum  

Practicums complete your diploma education. When researching colleges, focus on ones that offer a hands-on work practicum experience.  

Work experience in a pharmacy provides students with a real-life understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a pharmacy assistant, as well as actual work experience to add to their resume before they graduate! Sundance College offers exactly that, giving you an advantage over others through your work experience. 

How To Enrol In A Pharmacy Assistant Program 

After learning more about a career as a pharmacy assistant and thinking it may be a good fit for you, what do you need to get into a program?  

The entrance requirements for getting into a college Pharmacy Assistant program are straightforward, and for many college programs, the biggest requirement is to write and pass the college entrance assessment. 

Regardless of whether or not you were an “A” student in high school, you can get on the path to becoming a pharmacy assistant in just a few simple steps. Sundance College provides expert support throughout your diploma, from your first inquiry right up until your graduation. 

How Many Years Does it Take to Complete Your Pharmacy Assistant Courses?

College or university pharmacy assistant programs can range from a few weeks to two long years. The short programs will not provide you with the comprehensive skills and education that employers are looking for. In addition, you will be eligible for less Student Aid funding and won’t have the benefit of a practicum experience. At the other extreme, the two-year program includes courses that are not related to your new career as a pharmacy assistant. 

Sundance College’s Pharmacy Assistant Diploma program is completed 43 weeks and includes a workplace practicum in a pharmacy. Additionally, our Career Services team prepares students for the work world with mock interviews, resume preparation, job search skills and more. With a Sundance College diploma as a solid foundation, you will have the edge over other students in a highly competitive job market – and you will be trained and job-ready in less than a year. 

Start Your Pharmacy Assistant Career With Sundance College  

The role of a pharmacy assistant is a unique and rewarding career path in healthcare, that offers numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth. If you are considering a career in the healthcare field, becoming a pharmacy assistant may be the perfect choice for you. You will play a vital role in supporting pharmacists, ensuring the safe and efficient dispensing of medications, and providing exceptional customer service to patients. 

Start your journey today and find out more information on our Pharmacy Assistant Program.