Overview
Pharmacy technical assistants perform technical tasks related to preparing medications under a pharmacist's supervision. They also assist in filling prescriptions and managing patient files. Pharmacy assistants perform clerical functions and assists pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with drug dispensing tasks. Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants are employed in retail and hospital pharmacies, long-term care facilities and by pharmaceutical manufacturers.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Assess prescriptions for completeness
Enter clients' information and prescription details in databases
Help pharmacists and other pharmacy staff with preparing, packaging and labelling of pharmaceutical products
Assist in maintaining inventories of medications and pharmaceutical products
Compound oral solutions, ointments and creams
May process medical billing information
May price and stock items on shelves.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$36,289
$43,276
$62,568
Job openings
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British Columbia
812expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Pharmacy technical assistants usually require completion of up to two-years of a Pharmacy Technical Assistance vocational program.
Pharmacy assistants usually require completion of a Pharmacy Assistant college program, ranging from six to twelve months or completion of secondary school and several months of on-the-job training.
Certification requirements
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
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