Pharmacy Technicians work in hospital and community pharmacies. You will work with pharmacists to perform activities such as dispensing, compounding, repackaging, managing inventory, preparing sterile products and handle monetary transactions. You communicate extensively with patients, health care professionals and third-party insurance agents.
Pharmacy Technicians are detail-oriented and able to problem solve and multi-task. Various duties require proficient manual dexterity.
Demand for employees in the pharmacy field is growing:
• The Bow Valley College Pharmacy Technician Diploma program has been awarded the status of Provisional Accreditation by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) for a three-year term 2009-2011, allowing graduates to write national certification exams, which will become the standard for entry to practice.
• Alberta Human Resources and Employment forecasts an above average demand for Pharmacy Technicians in hospital, community and long-term care. More pharmacies, increased pharmacy hours, an aging population, and a significant shortage of pharmacists across Canada all contribute to a positive growth outlook for Pharmacy Technicians.
NOTE: Every effort is made to accommodate students in hospital placements within the time frame of the program. In some cases, students may be required to complete hospital placements by travelling to locations outside of Calgary. In rare instances, the College may need to delay the date of completion until a hospital placement can be arranged.
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Learn more about the Pharmacy Technician Diploma by watching the video below
Learn what it takes to become a pharmacy technician and the nature of work you can expect once you've completed the diploma program at Bow Valley College.
Courses in program (Subject to change)
Semester 1
• English Composition
• Pharmacy Theory
• Pharmacotherapeutics I
• Prescription Processing I
• Pharmacy Calculations
• Pharmacy Jurisprudence & Ethics
• Pharmacotherapeutics II
• Medical Terminology
Semester 2
• Community Dispensing Lab
• Pharmacotherapeutics III
• Pharmacotherapeutics IV
• Non-Prescription Self-Care
• Pharmacy Management & Inventory Control
• Community Pharmacy Practice
• Interpersonal Relationships & Communication Skills
Semester 3
• Extemporaneous Compounding
• Hospital Pharmacy Practice
• Hospital Dispensing Lab
• Institutional Procedures
• Health Education: Personal Health and Wellness
• Prescription Processing II
Semester 4
• Sterile Production
• Community Pharmacy Practicum
• Hospital Pharmacy Practicum
• Entry to Practice Preparation
Admission requirements
Academic Requirements*
• Minimum final mark of 60% in English 30-1 or 30-2 or equivalent
• Minimum final mark of 60% in Pure or Applied Math 30 or equivalent
• Minimum final mark of 60% in Biology 30 or equivalent
• Minimum final mark of 60% in Chemistry 30 or equivalent
Additional Admission Requirements
• Minimum of 35 wpm on the Bow Valley College keyboarding assessmentPre-Program Requirements*
• Ability to work with computer word processing, spreadsheets, and database programs is an asset
• A current valid immunization report
• Current Police Information Check (PIC)
English Language Proficiency Requirement
In addition to the academic requirements, applicants whose first language is NOT English must demonstrate ONE of the following:
In addition to the academic requirements, applicants whose first language is NOT English must demonstrate ONE of the following:
• Achievement of a valid TOEFL score of 557-560 on the paper-based test or a score of 83 on the internet-based test (iBT)International students please note: academic, additional admission preprogram, and English language proficiency requirements must be met for entrance into this program.
• Achieveing a valid Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5
• Complete the Bow Valley College EAP program with a grade of “B”
• Transcripts demonstrating successful completion of three years of full-time secondary education at a school where English was the language of instruction
• Transcripts demonstrating successful completion of one year of full-time post-secondary education at a school where English was the language of instruction
• Where applicable, a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) standard as determined by the Career program
• Successful completion of an Alberta Education English Language Arts (ELA) course that is consistent with the specified academic admission requirements for the program
• Satisfactory results on the BVC Admissions test
Transferability
Some transfer credit may be available on a case by case basis
* Requirements will change in January 2011
Fees & dates
Dates: Aug. 30, 2010, & Jan. 5, 2011
Program length: Four semesters
Fees: For a complete list of full- and parttime fees online, please visit www.bowvalleycollege.ca/fees or follow this link to the fees page.
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