Pharmacy Technical Assistance

Code	5894
Diploma	DVS
Sector	Health Services
Length of training	1590 hours
Approximate duration in months	15 months
Number of credits	106
Status	Program approved in 2022.

This program is offered in French:
5394 - Assistance technique en pharmacie

Training

Admission conditions and prerequisites

Organizations
offering
the program

At a glance

Useful links
and videos

Program Objectives

The Pharmacy Technical Assistance program prepares students to practise the occupation of pharmacy technical assistant. Pharmacy technical assistants (PTAs) may work in community pharmacies or pharmacies in health care institutions.

PTAs support pharmacists in tasks related to the medication circuit and assist them in patient management. Under the responsibility of pharmacists, they process prescriptions and requests in various work environments, package medications, prepare sterile and non-sterile preparations, and carry out activities related to the dispensing and distribution of medications. They also perform activities related to inventory maintenance and control as well as related tasks such as document production and participation in special projects. In addition, they may collaborate in risk management activities and the training of peers. Finally, the task of performing container/content verification of medications may be delegated to PTAs.

PTAs use computer equipment, pharmacy software, automated and specialized equipment, and various technologies to perform the various tasks associated with the steps in the medication circuit. Their work requires communication and teamwork skills in an interprofessional setting. PTAs must also ensure that they prevent infection and contamination as well as health, safety and environmental hazards. To do so, they must comply with current laws, regulations and standards.

Program Content

Code	Statement of Competency	Hours	Credits
746-202	Determine their suitability for the occupation and the training process	30	2
746-213	Comply with the laws, regulations, standards and ethics governing pharmacies	45	3
746-222	Interpret prescription information	30	2
746-236	Establish connections between non-parenteral drugs and therapeutic indications	90	6
746-244	Use digital tools in a pharmacy setting	60	4
746-253	Perform calculations related to prescriptions	45	3
746-262	Prevent damage to health and safety at work and to the environment	30	2
746-274	Prevent infections and contamination	60	4
746-283	Perform calculations related to preparations	45	3
746-292	Communicate in the workplace	30	2
746-304	Establish connections between parenteral drugs and therapeutic indications	60	4
746-317	Perform activities related to assisting with patient management	105	7
746-325	Operate pharmacy equipment	75	5
746-337	Fill prescriptions in community pharmacies	105	7
746-347	Fill prescriptions and process requests in health care institutions	105	7
746-354	Carry out operations related to packaging	60	4
746-363	Perform operations related to maintaining and controlling inventory	45	3
746-373	Make non-sterile extemporaneous preparations	45	3
746-387	Make non-hazardous sterile preparations	105	7
746-392	Make hazardous sterile preparations	30	2
746-403	Carry out operations related to medication reconciliation (MR)	45	3
746-413	Perform container/content verification and dispense drugs	45	3
746-424	Carry out operations related to the distribution of drugs	60	4
746-438	Integrate into the workplace of health care institutions	120	8
746-448	Integrate into the workplace of community pharmacies	120	8
		1590	106

Admission Conditions and Prerequisites

To be eligible for admission to this program, candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

Persons holding a Secondary School Diploma or its recognized equivalent, for example, an Attestation of Equivalence of Secondary V studies, or a postsecondary diploma such as the Diploma of College Studies or a Bachelor's degree
OR
Persons who are at least 16 years of age on September 30 of the school year in which their training is to begin and have earned the Secondary IV credits in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in the programs of study established by the Minister, or have been granted recognition for equivalent learning
OR
Persons who are at least 18 years of age upon entry into the program and have the following functional prerequisites: the successful completion of the General Development Test (see the following table), or recognition of equivalent learning
OR
Persons who have obtained Secondary III credits in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in programs established by the Minister are required to pursue general education courses, concurrently with their vocational training, in order to obtain the Secondary IV credits they lack in language of instruction, second language and mathematics in programs established by the Minister.

Functional Prerequisites

A person who has reached the age of 18 can be admitted to a program of study leading to a Diploma of vocational studies (DVS) based on functional prerequisites. These prerequisites, in place for those aged at least 18 years at the start date declared for the vocational training program, are: successful completion of the general development test (GDT) and obtaining and passing the tests relative to the specific prerequisites in the language of instruction and mathematics, if applicable.

This table indicates the new course codes for common core basic education (CCBE) and diversified basic education (DBE) required for the specific prerequisites in language of instruction and mathematics for the targeted program of study. In the cases where the new course codes for the CCBE and the DBE are in progressive implementation, the old codes are indicated in parenthesis and are still valid. The equivalent course codes in basic education in the youth sector are also indicated in the table. When a DVS does not require any specific prerequisites in language of instruction or in mathematics, a (-) will be displayed in the appropriate field. Please note that the functional prerequisites do not apply to attestation of vocational specialty (AVS) programs.

Specific Prerequisites

Language of instruction		Second language		Mathematics
Adults	Youth	Adults	Youth	Adults	Youth
ENG-2102-4 ou (ENG-2061-3)	632-206 or (632-212)	-	-	MTH-2101-3 ou (MTH-2006-2)	563-226 ou (563-206)

Educational Organizations Offering the Program

Region

Region:

Schedule:

All

Day

Evening

Specifics:

Montérégie

Legend

Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full

Riverside SB

Vocational Training Centre	Group	D/E	Start Date
ACCESS Career Centre	RAC- PTA	D	Periodic entry
	PTA2509	D	To be determined
	PTA241021	D	Oct. 21st, 2024

Montréal

Legend

Places available
Admission by waiting list
Course full

English-Montréal SB

Vocational Training Centre	Group	Status	D/E	Start Date
Shadd Health and Business Centre/Centre d'études commerciales Shadd	J5124		D	Oct. 28th, 2024

Lester-B.-Pearson SB

Vocational Training Centre	Group	Status	D/E	Start Date
Pearson Adult and Career Centre	PHAPR25		D	Apr. 1st, 2025

Pharmacy Technical Assistance

Pharmacy technical assistants greet clients and answer their inquiries. Under pharmacist supervision, they fill prescriptions. They keep client files up to date in databases, perform transactions at the register and maintain inventory. They may also work in medical clinics. This is an essential trade in high demand. A job as a pharmacy technical assistant requires discretion, respect and honesty. It is suitable for people with good listening skills who like to work in a team.