Pharmacy Technician

CampusStart DateTuition/Fees
Saint JohnSeptember 2025 (Blended Delivery) Offered every other year / Application opens Fall 2024 Domestic | International
MonctonSeptember 2024 (Blended Delivery) Domestic | International
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Program Overview

Front line healthcare workers are in demand; find your place supporting healthcare in our community as a pharmacy technician.   Pharmacy practice helps people manage everything from chronic illness to mild health conditions to vaccinations.  Pharmacy technicians work collaboratively with pharmacists and healthcare professionals to achieve optimal pharmaceutical outcomes for patients. Every day, pharmacy technicians work to prepare prescriptions and verify that what was prescribed is dispensed properly and safely to patients. As our population ages, the demand for medication and other pharmaceutical services will also increase, creating a growing demand for pharmacy technicians. If you are a caring person who has been thinking about a career in the healthcare industry, becoming a pharmacy technician could be a prescription for success.
 
The practice of pharmacy is evolving.  Pharmacists spend increasing amounts of time in direct patient care and pharmacy technicians’ responsibility in patient care and product distribution is increasing.  This means the need for pharmacy technicians is growing.  Registration with the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists assures that our profession is well supported.  Our Pharmacy Technician program is nationally accredited by the Canadian Council of Accreditation for Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP).  Through an exciting blend of classroom, laboratory, simulation activities, and applied workplace experiences in hospital and community pharmacies, you will learn the technical aspects of pharmacy practices that will ensure a high standard of patient care and the safe distribution of pharmaceutical products. The ever-changing, fast-paced pharmacy profession is an exciting road to travel. Enroll today in the Pharmacy Technician program and pursue a rewarding career that helps people enjoy the best quality of life possible.

Vision
The Pharmacy Technician Program is committed to the education of pharmacy technicians who will fulfill the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) professional competencies for entry to practice and pursue certification by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) to provide patient-focused pharmaceutical care while working alongside pharmacists as a member of the integrated health care team.

Mission
Transforming lives and communities by striving for excellence in education to provide competent pharmacy technicians for the pharmacy profession.

Duration

The requirements for this certificate program may be achieved within two academic years of full-time study.
 

Admission Requirements

    Profile K

  • High School Diploma or Adult High School Diploma or GED Diploma of High School Equivalency or Essential Skills Achievement Pathway: Post-Secondary Entry High School Diploma
    • Foundations of Mathematics 110
      or
      Geometry and Applications in Mathematics 112 and Functions and Relations 112
      • Biology 112 or 122
        • Chemistry 112 or 122

          NB Francophone High School Math Equivalencies
          International Student Admission Equivalencies

          Career Possibilities

          Health services are one of the largest and most important industries in Canada. A rising amount of middle-aged and older people in our country will drive the need for technicians in a variety of surroundings, including hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies, and nursing homes. 

          As graduates gain experience, they can progress to supervisory roles. Graduates can also work toward special certifications such as administration of injections training and sterile compounding.

          Find career possibilities related to this program in Career Coach.

          Specific Considerations

          The Pharmacy Technician Program is committed to the education of pharmacy technicians who will fulfill the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) professional competencies for entry to practice and who will pursue certification by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. Those skills will provide patient-focused pharmaceutical care while working alongside pharmacists as a member of the integrated health care team. The mission of NAPRA is to provide national leadership in pharmacy regulatory practices that enhance patient care and public protection.

          For information regarding these competencies and standards, including the language proficiency requirements to practice, please refer to the NAPRA website.

          For information regarding relevant accreditation standards, see The Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). CCAPP is responsible for the accreditation of pharmacy technician programs in the college-level system.

          For information regarding the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada, see www.pebc.ca.

          For further information regarding Pharmacy Technician, please refer to Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians.

          For details on the process of regulation, scope of practice and benefits to the health care system, refer to the "Pharmacy Technician Regulations and Licensure Pathway" document that can be found on the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists website. Upon starting the program, students must register with the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists by the end of the first term of studies. Details on the student license fee and required personal liability insurance will also be found on this site.

          Good health and a good level of physical fitness and stamina are essential. Individuals with vision impairment and individuals with limited motor skills will find difficulty with certain aspects of required work and should contact the program directly. Pharmacy technicians must have a strong attention to detail, critical and analytical skills are essential. The ability to multi-task, prioritize and communication skills are also essential. Good motor skills, manual dexterity, hand eye coordination, and the ability to work in a rapidly changing environment are needed. In addition to analytical work, students are required to interact with clients while performing pharmacy tasks. Prior to the beginning of the applied workplace experience, host facilities throughout the province may require the completion of an Immunization and Medical Form (pdf), and specific immunizations. Please note: The New Brunswick College of Pharmacists requires an up-to-date (less than 6 months old) criminal record check before a student can participate in the practicum. Individuals who have been convicted criminally and not pardoned may be prohibited from proceeding to a work placement. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they have met these requirements.

          There is a strong possibility due to the number of clinical placements available, to complete your practicum, you will be required to travel to clinical sites outside the campus area for a six-month period. Practicum is required to graduate from the Pharmacy Technician Program. Costs incurred for travel and accommodation are at your own expense.

          Mandatory Clearance Requirements

          To protect the health and safety of students during their clinical/practicum placements, as well as anyone they may encounter, students will be obligated to complete mandatory clearance requirements as a part of the process of being assigned a placement. There will be a cost associated with completing these requirements, which has been calculated as part of the Material Cost of this program. Students who do not complete the requirements will be unable to attend their clinical/practicum placements, which could impact eligibility for the required courses or industry facility visits needed to complete their program. See Clinical/Practicum Placement Requirements for more details.

          You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the practicum settings. You must also assume costs of accommodations if part, or all, of the practicum placement is outside your hometown or campus location.

          International applicants, or those that present with international credentials, must provide proof of English proficiency, as per the benchmarks listed here. Please note that this is a higher standard than most other programs at NBCC.

          Technology Requirements
          NBCC is a connected learning environment. All programs require a minimum specification, including access to the internet and a laptop. Your computer should meet your program technology requirements to ensure the software required for your program operates effectively. Free wifi is provided on all campuses.

          Areas of Study

          • Communication
          • Calculations
          • Health and Safety
          • Pharmacology and Therapeutics
          • Pharmaceutical Fundamentals
          • Pharmacy Computer Software
          • Inventory Management
          • Community Pharmacy Practice
          • Hospital and Institutional Pharmacy Practice
          • Sterile and Non-sterile Compounding
          • Community Practicum
          • Hospital Practicum

          Program Courses

          Course curriculum for this program is still under development. Once the courses have been finalized, they will be posted here. Courses are subject to change.

          Disclaimer: This web copy provides guidance to prospective students, applicants, current students, faculty and staff. Although advice is readily available on request, the responsibility for program selection ultimately rests with the student. Programs, admission requirements and other related information is subject to change.

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