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 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
This program is 30 weeks in length.
Job Opportunities
- Drug Stores
- Department Store Pharmacies
- Grocery Store Pharmacies
- Health Clinics
Program Courses
The program outline below is for British Columbia.
-
| SSSE |
Student Success Strategies |
25 |
-
- This course will introduce students to skills and concepts that will help them achieve personal, academic, and career success.
-
| FCME |
Fundamentals of Computers |
50 |
-
- This course presents an introductory look at Windows 7 and its interface, tools and features. Students will learn about the fundamentals of navigating and personalizing the interface, organizing files and folders, using media devices, and searching for information. This course relies heavily on practical hands-on activities that allow the student to learn the concepts by practicing them on a regular basis.
-
| B1045 |
Bookkeeping Basics |
25 |
-
- Students are introduced to the fundamentals of double entry bookkeeping including debits and credits, assets, liabilities, equities, journalizing transactions, posting of accounts to ledgers and preparing a trial balance. Stock and inventory ontrol is also addressed in this module.
-
| HCCE |
Health Care Communication & Interpersonal Skills |
25 |
-
- In business, as in other interpersonal contact, the impression formed in the first 10 to 15 seconds is crucial to the success of the relationship. The importance of the customer, and of customer relations, to business success is examined through case studies and role-playing. Students will learn relevant theories of human behaviour and how they may be applied to improve customer relations in a medical office setting.
-
| M3010 |
Medical Terminology |
75 |
-
- Medicine, like other professions, has its own language. Students will learn to work with the specialized terminology of medicine, including the pronunciation and spelling ofterms to describe medical circumstances and situations.
-
-
- This subject provides basic drug information including the basic pharmacological nature and effects of a range of psychoactive chemicals. Students will build knowledge relating drug treatments/usage to various body systems and associated states of disease.
-
-
- Students will learn about ratios, fractions, and other math related topics and how they play a major part in calculating different prescription and medication dosages. Students also learn about math calculations routinely used in IV preparation, a requisite skill for employment in a hospital pharmacy.
-
| M4020 |
Prescription Transcription |
25 |
-
- Students will learn how to process prescriptions, by understanding how to enter patient information, prescription usage directions, drug information, doctor information, and other pertinent information relating to the drug in question.
-
| M4025 |
Pharmacy Billing |
25 |
-
- Students will be provided an overview of several different pharmacy billing practices used in BC today, including MSA.
-
| M4030 |
Pharmacy Practice |
150 |
-
- 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.
-
| M4050 |
Hospital Pharmacy and Aseptic Techniques |
50 |
-
- Students will be introduced to the responsibilities of a pharmacy assistant working in a hospital. Procedures and structures specific to hospital pharmacies will be highlighted including methods of drug distribution, procedures surrounding medication administration, and areas that merit special control or methodology. The basic principles of aseptic technique will be explored through theory and practice. Students will learn about parenteral drug administration and precautions necessary for establishing and maintaining an aseptic environment. Students will also learn about TPN preparation, the principles of working with cytotoxic / hazardous drugs and CIVA programs. The importance of quality control checks is emphasized.
-
-
- This module is for course credits but has no grade. Students will be placed in actual work places related to their field of study and will be expected to act as a regular employee 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 work experience placement; however, once placed, continuation in that placement is mandatory.
-
| CESE |
Career and Employment Strategies |
25 |
-
- 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 with your resume. 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.