Pharmacy Assistant

How to Become a Pharmacy Assistant: A Comprehensive Guide

January 19, 2024

A pharmacy assistant course student's view of the Medix College Pharmacy Lab sign during training.

Are you a responsible, detail-oriented worker interested in the pharmaceutical industry? Has the question, how do I become a pharmacy assistant in Canada crossed your mind before? A pharmacy assistant career could be an excellent fit for you.  These professionals work under the supervision of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, performing a wide range of essential tasks to provide patients with the medications they need.

If you’re curious about this career path, keep reading! We’ve created a comprehensive guide to becoming a pharmacy assistant with the tools you need to get started. 

What Do Pharmacy Assistants Do? 

Pharmacy assistants are essential to the pharmaceutical team, completing various clerical and customer service tasks. Their duties include filling prescriptions, packing and labeling pharmaceutical products, compounding medications, maintaining prescription records, overseeing medication inventory, handling sales transactions, and providing customer service. To thrive in this role, a pharmacy assistant must possess the following soft skills:

  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Conscientiousness and alertness
  • Strong collaborative skills 
  • A strong desire to help others 
  • Customer service skills 

Does that sound like you? If so, you can enjoy a pharmacy assistant position in a variety of healthcare settings, including: 

  • Retail pharmacies
  • Community pharmacies
  • Home healthcare facilities 
  • Pharmaceutical manufacturers
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Public health service centers like Methadone clinics
  • Hospitals

Discover how to become a pharmacy assistant in Canada to start getting the sought-after industry skills you need to get started.

A pharmacy assistant course grad counting out medication before packaging it up for a customer.
Put your new skills to work in a variety of settings after our pharmacy assistant course.

How to Become a Pharmacy Assistant

Now that you have a fundamental understanding of the role, what level of education do you need to be a pharmacy assistant, and how long does it take to become a pharmacy assistant in Ontario? Let’s explore the process of pursuing this career path, discover the answers to these questions, and more.

As with most professional positions, pharmacy assistants should start their careers with a college diploma that equips them with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to comprehend the pharmaceutical industry.

In addition, employers value relevant experience, so gaining skills for a pharmacy assistant in a program that provides a  practical component is an excellent career move. Our pharmacy assistant course prepares graduates to easily enter the working world.

A stacked medication shelf seen by pharmacy assistant course grad after training.
Our pharmacy assistant course gives students the skills to thrive in any pharmaceutical setting.

Start With a Reputable Career Training Program

The 44-week pharmacy assistant diploma program at Medix College is designed to endow students with the theoretical and practical skills they need to become significant assets to pharmaceutical teams.

Along with the history and legislation of pharmacy in Canada, you will learn about pharmaceutical and dispensing medical terminology, interpreting prescriptions, abbreviations, various dosage forms, the classifications of drugs, and much more.

A solid understanding of bodily systems through our anatomy and physiology courses will further strengthen your ability to provide a superior service. You will get hands-on training in labs on industry-specific software and practice various everyday pharmacy assistant tasks. Upon completing our program, you will be fully equipped to meet the demands of a pharmacy assistant position.

Are you ready to start our pharmacy assistant course?

Contact Medix College to learn more!

 

FAQ

Q: How do I become a pharmacy assistant in Canada?

As with most professional positions, pharmacy assistants should start their careers with a college diploma that equips them with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to comprehend the pharmaceutical industry.

In addition, employers value relevant experience so gaining skills for a pharmacy assistant in a program that provides a  practical component is an excellent career move. Our pharmacy assistant course prepares graduates to easily enter the working world.

Q: What level of education do you need to be a pharmacy assistant?

Pharmacy assistants should start their careers with a college diploma that equips them with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to comprehend the pharmaceutical industry.

Q: How long does it take to become a pharmacy assistant in Ontario?

The 44-week pharmacy assistant diploma program at Medix College is designed to endow students with the theoretical and practical skills they need to become major assets to pharmaceutical teams.

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