Level 3 -
Pharmacy Technician

Overview

Our Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship will develop the role of the apprentice so they can deal with routine queries and enable the learner to be involved in professional discussions with the pharmacist regarding more complex issues.

What this course includes

Throughout this apprenticeship, learners will develop technical expertise, professionalism, and an understanding of regulatory requirements. Upon successful completion of KSBs and our Skills4Pharmacy GPhC Accredited Pharmacy Technician Training Programme, apprentices will be eligible to register as a Pharmacy Technician.  Pharmacy Technicians are highly skilled, registered professionals who work within the regulatory standards set by the GPhC under the Pharmacy Order 2010. 

Our GPhC Accredited Pharmacy Technician Training Programme is suitable to be completed in a diverse range of settings, including registered pharmacies, community services, the Prison Service, GP practices, dispensing doctors’ practices, care homes, integrated care boards, hospitals, mental health settings, HM Armed Services, and the pharmaceutical industry.  Apprentices learn 10 duties, such as ensure patient safety, by promoting safe practices, the effective use of systems and providing specialist services in response to local and national needs and initiatives. 

Our curriculum content meets the requirements of the 2017 GPhC Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacy Technicians. This includes medicines management and accuracy checking.

Entry requirements

Our Level 3 Curriculum has been enhanced to seamlessly integrate English and Maths, ensuring they are contextualised within the subject matter. English and Maths delivery and training will now be a standardised offering throughout the apprenticeship. This provision will be primarily targeted and completed within the first six months of the programme.

To enrol on this course, learners must meet one of the following entry criteria:

Option 1: Hold GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above (or an equivalent qualification).
Or
Option 2: If these qualifications are not already held:

• Apprentices aged 16 to 18 at the start of their apprenticeship will be automatically enrolled to receive additional Functional Skills support sessions. 
• Apprentices aged 19+ are not required to attend additional Functional Skills sessions however, this decision should be made between the employer, learner and Skills4Pharmacy and if these are needed, their tutor can make a referral to the Functional Skills team. These learners are expected to sit exams. Tutors will also review progress regularly and refer if necessary to ensure learners are able to achieve.
• Apprentices who achieve an in initial assessment of 1.5 to 1.9 have to complete Functional Skills Level 2 as this is mandated by GPhC. 
• For learners with an initial assessment of 2 and above, where employers decide to exercise their right to remove the functional skills requirements, these learners will not be required to complete the exams however, they will still receive the training throughout the apprenticeship as part of the embedded curriculum. Employers should be encouraged to engage and support learners in achieving these qualifications.
• Learners who do not have prior exemptions are auto-enrolled to this model of delivery.