Do you want to help people and contribute to healthcare services that make a real difference to patients’ lives? Take the next step in your professional development with our online pharmacy assistant training courses.
Whether you are already working in a health and fitness role or you want to take your career in a new direction, our flexible learning programmes will give you the skill set you need.
Explore our course breakdown below or enrol now to get started.
-
Course Outline
When you enrol on our pharmacy assistant course, you will complete the following modules of study:
1 Medical Terminology - Medical definitions, prefixes & glossary
- Abbreviations and acronyms
- Using medical terminology
- Human systems and anatomical divisions
- Pharmacology
- Health and safety
2 Human Anatomy & Physiology - The nervous system
- The muscular system
- The skeletal system
- The digestive system
- Blood and blood pressure
- The skeletal system
- Cells and tissue
- Physiology of pulmonary ventilation
3 Nutrition - Vitamins and minerals
- Diet and food processing
4 Risk Management - Developing and managing risk prevention measures – diet and food processing
5 Common Illnesses - Medical information ranging from illnesses and conditions such as asthma and acne to erectile dysfunction and the common cold – diet and food processing
6 History of Pharmacy - Evolution and future of pharmacy
- Origins of the pharmacy store
- Patient care era
- The modern dispensary
7 Customer Service in a Retail Pharmacy - Interacting with customers
- Face-to-face customer service
- Telephone customer service
- The difficult / angry customer
8 Sales in Retail Pharmacy - Communication and conversational selling
- Knowing your product
- How to close a sale
- Dispensing assistants sales skills
- Service skills
Regulation within the UK
The ICI pharmacy assistant course is NOT designed to meet the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPHC) requirements for practising as a pharmacy technician or dispenser. The training programme is, however, intended as a foundation course for those aspiring to work in a retail pharmacy and for those already working as a pharmacy technician or dispenser who wish to further their training and professional development.
-
How Will You Benefit?
There are many benefits associated with studying our online pharmacy assistant course. For example, you will:
- Expedite your career as a pharmacy services assistant
- Study a course that has been developed in consultation with senior members of the pharmacy profession
- Complete your learning at your own pace, allowing you to fit your pharmacy assistant training around work, family and other commitments
- Have your own personal tutor to provide advice and answer questions
- Save time and money by eliminating the need to travel to classes
- Pay upfront for a 10% reduction in the course fee, or choose our interest-free weekly payment plan
-
Career Prospects
If you have a passion for patient care and customer service and excellent organizational skills, a career as a pharmacy assistant could be ideal for you.
People always need access to medicines, which is increasingly the case as the population ages and people rely more heavily on prescription drugs. There is also a rising awareness of the importance of physical well-being in general, which is contributing to the growing demand for pharmacy services. Healthcare assistants play an important ancillary role in the community.
This means there are strong career prospects in this field. Indeed, the Bureau of Statistics predicts that the number of pharmacy assistants will increase by nearly 5% over the next decade, resulting in the creation of thousands of new positions. The pharmacy sector is also forecast to continue growing well into the future.
What does a pharmacy assistant do?
As a pharmacy assistant, you will help pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to order, prepare and dispense a variety of medications. You’ll work as part of a wider pharmacy support staff under the leadership of a registered pharmacist.
Your tasks may include everything from receiving and unloading deliveries to checking stock levels and, if you are working in a health centre or hospital, delivering medicines to wards and healthcare professionals.
Opportunities to advance your career
Learners also have the opportunity to advance their career’s further. For example, you can undertake additional training to become a pharmacy technician.
-
Course Levels Explained
Certificate
Our pharmacy assistant course leads to the awarding of a Certificate of Completion. This represents an introductory level of operational and general knowledge.
-
Prerequisites
There are no previous work or education entry requirements for our pharmacy assistant course. However, a good level of English is required to complete our courses successfully. A GCSE is not required.
So, if you want to launch your career as a pharmacy assistant, register for our learning programme today.
-
Course Length
The average time within which students complete this Certificate is 24 weeks.
You are in charge of how quickly you complete your pharmacy assistant training course. Work through the course material and submit your assignments whenever you are ready, meaning you can finish the learning programme at your own pace.
If you want to fast-track your studies, you could graduate in a matter of months. Or, if you prefer, you can take much longer. We allow a maximum of three years to complete our pharmacy assistant course.
-
Study Mode: Online Learning
The entire pharmacy assistant course is completed online via distance learning. Also referred to as correspondence learning, this format is perfect if you need to adapt your studies to fit around commitments such as family or work. It is also ideal if you want to dictate your own timetable. You can learn, access tutorial assistance and submit assessments whenever and wherever you wish.
You can complete our pharmacy assistance training programme from anywhere in the world, and there’s no need to attend classes in person – saving you time and money.
These courses have been specifically developed to be highly engaging and relevant to this important area of healthcare.
-
Recognition & Accreditation
Our pharmacy assistant course is recognised and accredited by the International Association of Private Career Colleges (IAPCC).Like all ICI courses, it takes a practical approach. The content is written and delivered by industry professionals and it goes far beyond the theory involved in being a pharmacy assistant. It equips you with real-world knowledge and skills that will help you to thrive in these roles.
-
Already in the Profession or Industry?
Are you already working as a community pharmacy, pharmacy technician, or dispenser? This course is for you. It gives you the chance to further your professional development, increase your knowledge and skills, and enhance your confidence in your role. It is one of the most practical steps you can take to advance your career and gain a promotion.
Course fees can be claimed as a tax deduction if the course is sufficiently connected to your work activities.
-
What Do I Get?
All the materials you need to complete our pharmacy assistance course are included in the course fee. When you enrol, you will receive:
- All required study materials and course notes
- Assignment projects with constructive tutor support
- A tutor who will answer all your course and career questions and provide guidance.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive:
- A graduation certificate officially recognising your completion of the pharmacy assistant course
- Transcripts indicating the units completed
- A letter of recommendation and validation for current and future employers
- Post-nominal letters placed after your name which indicate that you hold the relevant qualification (for example: John Smith, DipPhrmcyA)
- Job search assistance: discover more about our Graduate Career Services Programme.
-
Cut Off Date
Friday, 6th December 2024 is the next enrolment cut off date. Places are limited, in demand and entry into the course is on a first come first served basis.
Your enrolment is processed and acknowledged within 24 hours of the Institute receiving your application. You can expect to receive your course within days of enrolling. When you start your ICI course it’s at your own pace and you determine when you finish.
Don’t miss out. Enrol today!