Pharmacy Technician

Program: PHRM
Credential: Ontario College Diploma
Delivery: Full-time
Work Integrated Learning: 2 Field Placements
Length: 4 Semesters
Duration: 2 Years
Effective: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Location: Barrie

Description

Students prepare to work collaboratively with pharmacy teams and other health care professionals to achieve patients’ health goals, and ensure continuity of care. Experiential learning practices such as simulation experiences, and placements in community, hospital, or other pharmacy sites actively engage students in the learning process. Students enjoy the benefits of learning from expert faculty who are also practicing pharmacy professionals. Students develop knowledge, skills, and abilities in key competency areas of legal and ethical responsibilities, professionalism, patient care, product preparation, health promotion, knowledge application, communication, intra- and inter-professionalism and safety. 

Career Opportunities

Registered pharmacy technicians are qualified to work in a variety of settings, including community pharmacies, home health care companies, hospital pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, pharmacy software vendors, third party insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers.

Licensing as a Pharmacy Technician

The Ontario College of Pharmacists is responsible for regulating the profession of pharmacy in Ontario which includes the issuance of certificates of registration for pharmacy students, interns, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Graduates must preregister with the Ontario College of Pharmacists and start the process of becoming licensed to practice as regulated pharmacy technician in Ontario. In order to practice as a pharmacy technician in Ontario, graduates must complete the registration requirements as outlined on the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) website. Graduates will be eligible to complete the practice based training requirement called Structured Practical Training (SPT), the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada Qualifying Exam (www.pebc.ca) and the OCP jurisprudence examination (www.ocpinfo.com). Click on the links to access timelines and fees for registration and exams. The final application for the Certificate of Registration as a Pharmacy Technician includes obtaining personal professional liability insurance, completing the Declaration of Good Character, a police background check and paying the final application fees. Registration with the Ontario College of Pharmacists is a legal requirement to practice and is subject to the regulations and restrictions established by this governing body.

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. process prescriptions with accuracy and completeness within the pharmacy technician’s scope of practice, in accordance with current and relevant legislation, code of ethics, established standards, policies, and procedures in practice settings;

2. prepare pharmaceutical products and documentation for dispensing and releasing pharmaceutical products within the pharmacy technician’s scope of practice, in accordance with current and relevant legislation, code of ethics, established standards, policies, and procedures in practice settings;

3. collaborate with the pharmacist and other health care providers to optimize the patient’s health and well-being;

4. promote quality assurance in practice settings by performing effective and efficient pharmacy operating procedures;

5. optimize medication therapy management and product distribution using current technologies in practice settings;

6. develop, implement, and maintain effective strategies for ongoing personal and professional development that support competence and currency;

7. communicate using correct terminology with patients, the pharmacy team, other health professionals and stakeholders for patient safety.

External Recognition

The Pharmacy Technician Program of Georgian College has been awarded Accreditation Status by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs for a five year term - January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2024. 

Program Progression 

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake

  • Sem 1: Fall 2024
  • Sem 2: Winter 2025
  • Sem 3: Fall 2025
  • Sem 4: Winter 2026

Winter Intake 

  • Sem 1: Winter 2025
  • Sem 2: Summer 2025
  • Sem 3: Winter 2026
  • Sem 4: Summer 2026

Articulation

A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program co-ordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option. Additional information can be found on our website at https://www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Admission Requirements

OSSD or equivalent with a minimum grade of 60% in each pre-requisite subject is required:

  • Grade 12 English (C or U)
  • Grade 12 Mathematics (C or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry (C or U)

Language Proficiency Requirement

The Pharmacy Technician Program is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). 

The English proficiency requirement can be met through:

For further information, refer to Georgian’s English Language Proficiency policy 2.5 at: https://georgiancollege.ca/admissions/policies-procedures 

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Selection Process

  • Applicants will be assessed and ranked based on academic grades.

Criminal Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

Placement agencies require an up-to-date clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check prior to going out on placement. Students should obtain their criminal reference three months prior to placement; checks conducted earlier may not be considered current. As some jurisdictions require longer lead-time for processing, please check with the program coordinator to ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. It is the student's responsibility to provide the completed document prior to placement start.

NOTE: Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not pardoned will be prohibited from proceeding to a clinical or work placement.

Additional Information

Certain clinical placements may require students to have updated flu shots, TB testing and Hepatitis B vaccination, Mask Fit Test (click for requirements), as well as a Police Record Check (including Vulnerable Sector Screening and a check of the Pardoned Sex Offender Data Base). It is the student's responsibility to ensure he or she is eligible to participate in clinical placements. The College assumes no responsibility for these matters and students should be aware that tuition will not be refunded in the event that access to a placement is denied. In addition to these requirements, applicants must also provide proof of a current First Aid and C.P.R. 'HCP' or 'BLS' certification, prior to the commencement of practicum courses. Registration with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) is mandatory to practice as a Pharmacy Technician in Ontario.

Applicants are advised that the physical requirements of the program and future employment require good vision (with or without corrective lenses), manual dexterity with repetitive motion and working on your feet for multiple hours.

Graduation Requirements

21 Program Courses
2 Communications Courses
2 Practicum Placements
3 General Education Courses

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, from year to year, and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline.

Program Tracking 

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Hours
Program Courses  
BIOL 1014 The Essential Body 42
COMP 1063 Community Pharmacy Computer Systems 42
MATH 1025 Pharmaceutical Calculations 28
PHRM 1000 Pharmacology Fundamentals 42
PHRM 1002 Community Pharmacy Dispensing Introductory Theory 42
PHRM 1007 Community Pharmacy Dispensing Introductory Lab 42
Communications Course  
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration. 42
General Education Course  
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration. 42
 Hours322
Semester 2
Program Courses  
BIOL 1012 Drug Therapy and Pathophysiology 1 56
PHRM 1009 Community Pharmacy Inventory Control 28
PHRM 1010 Non-Sterile Compounding Practice Lab 42
PHRM 1017 Community Pharmacy Dispensing Advanced Theory/Lab 70
PHRM 2004 Legal Foundations and Professional Practice 42
Practicum Placement  
PHRM 1016 Practicum 1 200
General Education Course  
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration. 42
 Hours480
Semester 3
Program Courses  
BIOL 2010 Drug Therapy and Pathophysiology 2 42
MATH 2009 Pharmaceutical Calculations Advanced 28
PHRM 2009 Hospital Inventory Control 28
PHRM 2011 Sterile Techniques Lab 42
PHRM 2016 Hospital Dispensing Introductory Theory/Lab 84
Communications Course  
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration. 42
General Education Course  
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration. 42
 Hours308
Semester 4
Program Courses  
BIOL 2011 Drug Therapy and Pathophysiology 3 42
PHRM 2006 Natural Health Products and Complementary Care 42
PHRM 2012 Advanced Compounding 28
PHRM 2013 Hospital Dispensing Advanced Theory/Lab 56
PHRM 2014 Pharmacy Practice and the Interprofessional Team 42
Practicum Placement  
PHRM 2015 Practicum 2 160
 Hours370
 Total Hours1480

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of two years (as stated above) may take a maximum of four years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.


 

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