Pharmacy Assistant

Program Description

As our population grows and ages, there is a vital need for trained professionals to provide pharmacy-related assistance. This program trains students to become knowledgeable and skilled pharmacy assistants. Theory is taught in class and practiced in the laboratory. A 160-hour retail fieldwork practicum completes the training. The pharmacy assistant is responsible for receiving prescriptions, preparing drugs, undertaking clerical and computer duties, managing inventory and providing customer service.

Pharmacy assistants must always work directly under the supervision and guidance of the pharmacist and/or pharmacy technician. They allow the pharmacist to spend more time with the client in his or her care.

In this five-month certificate program, students spend approximately 16 hours per week on campus in theory-based courses and laboratory practice. Course content in the first semester includes pharmacy concepts, pharmaceutical calculations, body systems and pharmaceutical implications and order processing, as well as professional standards and workplace communications. In the second semester, students complete their practicum in a community retail pharmacy to gain competency integrating theoretical knowledge with dispensing practice and customer service.

Students must have a personal computer and access to the Internet. Most classes are taught at SAIT, but some require online access. All courses require additional self-study.

Program Overview

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Admission Requirements

Completion of the following courses or equivalents with an overall average of at least 60%:

• Math 30-1 or Math 30-2 or Pure Math 30 or Applied Math 30, AND,
• English Language Arts 30-1 or English Language Arts 30-2.
• All applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.

Program Outline

Total Credits 22.5

Program Overview-Part-Time Blended Stream

The Pharmacy Assistant program also offers a part-time blended stream that is targeted towards students outside of Calgary and the surrounding area. In this stream, students will attend their lectures online, laboratories on-campus, and subsequently complete a practicum placement. In order to accommodate students with significant distance to travel, on-campus lab days will be scheduled in groups of four to five consecutive days, and occur approximately once per month.

Practicums will be arranged outside of the Calgary area, in collaboration with SAIT’s partner pharmacies. Though location is not guaranteed, students are encouraged to consider an ideal practicum location, and should consider that there is a high demand for pharmacy assistants in Edmonton and the surrounding area.

Please note that the pharmacy software used in this program is not compatible with Apple products.

Program Offering Information-Part-Time Blended Stream

The Pharmacy Assistant part-time blended stream is five months in length, and has intakes during the Spring semester.