Pharmacy Technician Certificate

Overview

Learn to safely and accurately prepare and distribute pharmaceutical products, promote patient health, and communicate with health care professionals in a community or hospital pharmacy.

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John Dow, Music & Dance

What to expect

This program has been awarded Accreditation Status by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029. CCAPP accreditation means that graduates of this program are eligible for direct admission into the Pharmacy Technician Qualifying Examination, which is a requirement to becoming a Registered Pharmacy Technician through the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia.

This program is offered on a full time basis. Each semester must be successfully completed before enrolling in the next semester. A major emphasis of this program is active student participation. Throughout the program the instructor will encourage the students to become increasingly more self directed and responsible for their own learning. Students are expected to come to class well prepared for active participation in classroom and lab activities.

Instructional activities include lectures, guided discussions, group work, audio-visual presentations, demonstrations, dispensing labs, compounding labs, aseptic technique labs, case studies, role rehearsals and field trips.

The lab component of the program provides the learner with the opportunity to integrate practice and theory in a simulated pharmacy setting.

Semester 1 focuses on community and long term care pharmacy practice. Students must successfully complete all courses in Semester 1 before enrolling in Semester 2.

Semester 2 focuses on hospital pharmacy practice, including the preparation of sterile products.  Students must successfully complete all courses in Semester 2 before enrolling in Semester 3.

Semester 3 includes a practicum in a community and hospital pharmacy. 

What you will learn

• Perform the role of a pharmacy technician within current legal, ethical and professional standards.
• Establish professional relationships with patients and healthcare providers in order to optimize pharmaceutical care.
• Prepare pharmaceutical products safely and accurately using a variety of distribution systems.
• Manage the practice setting effectively to ensure safe and efficient pharmacy services.
• Integrate health promotion and public health initiatives into pharmacy practice.
• Demonstrate the ability to access relevant information and apply knowledge to make evidence-informed decisions in pharmacy practice.
• Use effective communication and professionalism when providing to or collaborating with healthcare providers and patients.
• Establish and maintain collaborative intra- and inter-professional relationships.
• Develop, implement and evaluate quality assurance policies, procedures and activities to optimize patient safety.

Program Duration and Maximum Time for Completion

The Pharmacy Technician Program is 37 weeks of full-time study. Students must complete the certificate within three years of starting the program.

Job prospectives

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• Dental Technologist / Dental Technician
• Dental Lab Quality Control Specialist
• Dental Materials Sales Representative
• Dental Equipment Technician or Specialist
• CAD / CAM Designer for Dental Restorations
• Dental Laboratory Manager
• Dental Technology Instructor

Admission Requirement

• Grade 12 graduation or equivalent.
• English Studies 12 with a minimum ‘B’ grade, or equivalent as specified for the Pharmacy Technician program
• One of the following:
  • Foundations of Math 12 with a minimum ‘C+’ grade, or equivalent
  • Pre-Calculus 11 with a minimum ‘C+’ grade, or equivalent
• Chemistry 11 with a minimum ‘C+’ grade, or equivalent 
• Anatomy & Physiology 12 with a minimum ‘C+’ grade, or equivalent 
• VCC Health Sciences Math Assessment with a minimum 80%

Upon acceptance:

• Students must submit a negative tuberculosis (TB) skin test or chest X-ray dated a maximum of six months prior to the program start date. An additional TB test is required after each potential exposure to TB and/or travel to areas with a known prevalence of TB.
• Criminal Record Check (CRC). Students in this program are required to complete a CRC. The CRC must be completed according to VCC’s Criminal Record Check instructions. Students whose CRC results indicate they pose a risk to vulnerable populations will not be able to complete the requirements of the program (e.g. practicums) or graduate. 
• Immunization Record: A School of Health Sciences Student Immunization Record must be completed. Students may be declined placement in a clinical or practicum site if a completed immunization record is not provided. 

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Program-specific

Admission to the Dental Technology Sciences program is on a competitive selection basis.

• Grade 12 graduation, or equivalent
• English Language Proficiency as demonstrated by one of the following:
  • English 12 with a minimum ‘C+’ grade, or equivalent
    or
  • English Language Proficiency at an English 12 ‘C+’ level
• Human Biology 12 with a minimum 'C+' grade, or equivalent
• Knowledge of science and/or mathematics demonstrated through one of the following:
  • Chemistry 11 with a minimum 'C+' grade, or equivalent, or
  • Math 11 with a minimum 'C+' grade, or equivalent, or
  • Physics 11 with a minimum 'C+' grade, or equivalent

Selection Process

• All qualified candidates who meet the admissions requirements will submit a portfolio demonstrating their aptitude for the Dental Technology profession, per the Dental Tech portfolio submission guidelines.
• All qualified candidates whose portfolio submissions are approved by the department’s Applicant Review Panel, will then be required to take part in an interview with the department's Applicant Review Panel by means of face-to-face or videoconferencing.
• The top-ranked qualified applicants are offered seats.

Upon Acceptance

• Current Basic First Aid and CPR-Level C

General

• This program is available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents . See program options for international students at VCC International.
• Applicants who self - identify as Indigenous are strongly encouraged to connect with VCC’s Indigenous Education and Community Engagement team to learn more about VCC’s Indigenous Enrolment policy, application preparation / completion, program advising, and a range of other individualized services .
• Applicants must be 16 years of age or older or a graduate of a secondary school . (Some exceptions may apply . )
• Applicants must submit official transcripts and other documents as required by their course or program . Seats are offered to eligible applicants with completed applications, in order of application completion date( except for programs with competitive admissions ) . A complete application includes an application form, evidence of educational pre - requisites( e . g . transcripts ), any required supporting documents( e . g . language proficiency, audition video ), and the required deposit or fee payment . if you do not meet the requirements for the term applied, your application may be cancelled.

Recommended Characteristics

1. Appropriate manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
2. Ability to give close attention to detail for sustained periods of time.
3. Ability to work accurately and neatly, and manage time effectively.
4. High standards of personal integrity.
5. Ability to take initiative and handle responsibility.

Courses

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Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Some activities may require a variance of these times to accommodate specific needs.

The program must be completed within 3.5 years.

Term 1

Term 2

This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.

Fees and Costs

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Application Process

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Contact us

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Program information

Program head name

janedoe@vcc.ca

Advising

Phone: 604.871.7000, option 2
Email: studentservice@vcc.ca

For International students

study@vcc.ca