Pharmacy Assistant
Patients rely on pharmaceutical guidance to correctly take their medications. As a Pharmacy Assistant you'll make a real difference in the day-to-day health of patients.
The 30-week Pharmacy Assistant diploma program at Vancouver Career College prepares students to work under the supervision of a pharmacist. Students learn about dispensing, pharmacology, transcribing prescriptions, medical terminology, and administrative skills such as billing. Students will then put these skills into practice as part of a supervised work placement in a pharmacy setting.
In addition to the Pharmacy Assistant Diploma, graduates of this program will also be certified in CPR and First Aid.
"With the help of Vancouver Career College, I found a good job and a good career." - Vidhya K., Vancouver Career College Graduate
Program Courses
The program outline below is for British Columbia.
| COURSE CODE | COURSE NAME | CREDITS |
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- Students are introduced to the fundamentals of double entrybookkeeping including debits and credits, assets, liabilities,equities, journalizing transactions, posting of accounts toledgers and preparing a trial balance. Stock and inventorycontrol is also addressed in this module.
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- Students will examine the necessities required for operating a smooth and efficient office environment. Topics covered include basic filing techniques, telecommunications, time management and organizational skills, and the use of general office equipment.
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- The first component of this course is designed to introduce students to basic computer literacy through familiarization with the components that make up a computer. Students will also look at the Windows operating system to learn how to manage a computer on a regular basis. The second component of this course will teach the basic to intermediate skills required to work with a variety of business documents including the following Microsoft Office products: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. The third and final component is designed to introduce students to considerations for living online. Students will look at what the Internet is and how e-mail has made a huge impact on communicating with others, as well as look at how to find information on the Internet and avoid risk to personal security while online.
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- Students will gain a better understanding of themselves through an exploration of their personal attributes, transferable skills and learning styles. This course will introduce techniques for time, conflict, and stressmanagement and develop interpersonal communication skills. Fundamental study and motivation skills will be covered, preparing students to excel in their program of choice. Students will also prepare a professional resume andlearn how to write effective cover letters.
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- Students will have the use of our Job Search lab which has unlimited Internet access, a job search resource library and a fax machine and phone for contacting prospective employers. Facilitators will also be made available to advise on job finding resources, interview skills and techniques, and to carry out mock interviews. Students review core program concepts and learning in order to market their skills effectively.
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- Medicine, like other professions, has its own language.Students will learn to work with the specialized terminologyof medicine, including the pronunciation and spelling ofterms to describe medical circumstances and situations.
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- This subject provides basic drug information including thebasic pharmacological nature and effects of a range ofpsychoactive chemicals. Students will build knowledgerelating drug treatments/usage to various body systems andassociated states of disease.
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- This module is for course credits but has no grade.Students will be placed in actual work places related to theirfield of study and will be expected to act as a regularemployee for the five-week period in order to gain valuable“real-world” experience that so many employers seek.Students have a five-week practicum after the PAT portion to directly apply what they have learned. Students are encouraged to find their own workexperience placement; however, once placed, continuation in that placement is mandatory.
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- Students will learn about ratios, fractions, and other mathrelated topics and how they play a major part in calculatingdifferent prescription and medication dosages. Studentsalso learn about math calculations routinely used in IVpreparation, a requisite skill for employment in a hospitalpharmacy.
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- Students will learn how to process prescriptions, byunderstanding how to enter patient information, prescriptionusage directions, drug information, doctor information, andother pertinent information relating to the drug in question.
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- Students will be provided an overview of several differentpharmacy billing practices used in BC today, including MSA.
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- Students cover several aspects of pharmacy law, drug laws and regulations, as well as policies and procedures set by The College of Pharmacists of BC. Students will study over 200 brand and generic drugs, complete dispensing and blister packing procedures, compounding labels and filling prescriptions using a pharmacy computer system. Students will be trained in how to use blood glucose testing machines.
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- Students will be introduced to the responsibilities of apharmacy technician working in a hospital. Procedures andstructures specific to hospital pharmacies will be highlightedincluding methods of drug distribution, proceduressurrounding medication administration, and areas that meritspecial control or methodology. The basic principles ofaseptic technique will be explored through theory andpractice. Students will learn about parenteral drugadministration and precautions necessary for establishingand maintaining an aseptic environment. Students will alsolearn about TPN preparation, the principles of working withcytotoxic / hazardous drugs and CIVA programs. Theimportance of quality control checks is emphasized.
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- Sustainability means meeting humanity’s needs withoutharming future generations. In this course, students willexplore the pillars of sustainability, sustainability’s relation tothe environmental movement, climate change and its effects,the Canadian and other governments’ actions, and how toincorporate sustainable practices into any workplace. Acombination of instructor presentations and timely, hands-onprojects will culminate in a student portfolio touching on thecourse’s key points.