Pharmacy Assistant
Community and Health Services 5M4468
What is the pharmacy assistant course?
This new one-year course will equip learners with the relevant knowledge and experience to work as a pharmacy counter assistant or pursue a pharmacy technician qualification in the future. From dispensing over-the-counter medications, helping clients choose medical aids and appliances to demonstrating and selling products, this course covers the most relevant skills. This course will also focus on a range of health related subjects relevant to employment as a pharmacy assistant. Work experience is within a retail pharmacy where, as a pharmacy assistant, you can work as part of a team of health professionals in order to help customers achieve the best possible health outcome.
Course content
The following modules will be offered in 2019 subject to availability and demand:
• Pharmacy Studies - theory and practice
• Communications
• Over-the-Counter Medicines
• Biology
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Work Experience
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Word Processing
• Nursing Theory and Practice
• Nutrition
• Mathematics
• Care of the older person
• Safety & Health at Work
• Retail
• Medical terminology
• Customer service
Certification
QQI Level 5 in Community and Health Services 5M4468
Career Opportunities
Graduates may pursue pharmacy work, or work as sales assistants in health stores etc. This course is aimed at those interested in working in a community pharmacy or for those wishing to progress to a year two (part-time) Pharmacy Technician course. Students may also progress to participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through the QQI Higher Education Links Scheme to (for example) DCU, UCD, Maynooth University (incl. Kilkenny Campus), DIT, Dundalk IT, University of Limerick, Blanchardstown IT, Athlone IT, UCC, NUIG, Carlow IT, Carlow College, Marino Institute of Education, Dun Laoghaire IADT, St. Angela’s College Sligo, University of Limerick, Tralee IT, Letterkenny IT, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.or on the Carlow IT Pharmacy Technician courses or to health or arts courses in UCD, Maynooth University, DIT or UCC. Alternatively students may seek immediate employment in a range of companies and projects that seek graduates with a health, science or pharmacy aptitude.
Higher Education Progression
DIT: DT425 Pharmacy Technician (Level 6, 2 Years) Waterford:WD175 Pharmaceutical Science (Level 7, 3 years) IT Tralee:TL855 Pharmaceutical Science (Level 8, 4 Years)
Entry Requirements
• Leaving Cert, LCVP or LCA
• Mature Students of all backgrounds
• Other equivalent qualification
All applicants will be interviewed regardless of previous qualifications.