Pharmacy Technician
| Study location | Canada, Ontario, Brampton |
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| Type | Diploma, College |
| Nominal duration | 2 years, includes one field placement |
| Study language | English |
| Course code | PPHTO |
| Tuition fee | CA$18,115 per year The fee is for the 2022–2023 academic year and includes tuition (CA$16,206), health insurance and ancillary charges. The fees displayed are estimates only for two semesters and are subject to change. |
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| Registration fee | CA$400 one-time The registration fee includes the non-refundable application fee (CA$100) and the refundable deposit fee (CA$300). Please REVIEW the EdviseCanada`s fee policy. |
| Entry qualification | High School / Secondary Education (or higher) To be eligible for admission, you must possess a high school diploma including these required courses (or equivalents):
The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. |
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| Language requirements | English If English is not your first language, you must provide one of the English language proficiency tests below:
Note: No other tests can be accepted. |
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| More information |
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Overview
This diploma program gives you the specialized training you need to practice as a registered pharmacy technician.
Critical training
This program is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs. You’ll learn in state-of-the-art facilities designed to replicate the drug distribution systems used in today’s pharmacy settings, and will receive the specialized training you need to work as a pharmacy technician in a community, hospital or other pharmacy practice site.
Things you’ll learn to do
- Read and interpret drug orders.
- Process prescriptions using industry software.
- Complete third-party (insurance) billing.
- Prepare, package, label, and dispense medications.
- Perform sterile and non-sterile compounding.
- Think critically and identify problems pertaining to drug therapy.
Hands-on experience
You’ll complete two four-week field placements (160 hours each) – one in a retail pharmacy and one in a hospital pharmacy. Prior to your placements, you must obtain (at your own expense) a valid CPR + AED certificate (Level C) with standard First Aid, and present an up-to-date immunization record approved by the Sheridan College Health Centre.
Sharpen your skills
Through this program, you’ll also learn to:
- Communicate with patients and health care professionals in a professional manner.
- Conduct inventory management and front store marketing.
The program will help you sharpen your skills by providing you with a comprehensive knowledge base in core subjects such as English, pharmacy math, pharmacy legislation, human anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology.
Innovative learning
The Sheridan Pharmacy Technician program presents innovative delivery methods to suit many learning styles. Courses are delivered through a combination of traditional in-class lectures, practical hands-on labs and online and hybrid courses. Case studies, individual and group assignments, discussions, student presentations, bell-ringer circuits, critical reflections and e-journals are only a few examples of the ways that students demonstrate their evolving competencies.
Some field placement sites may require a police record check for criminal offences, or a vulnerable sector check. You’ll be required to provide this documentation directly to your placement site prior to the start of the placement. Students who cannot meet these requirements may have limited field placement opportunities.
Sheridan’s Pharmacy Technician program delivers the most current knowledge and practices (as outlined by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA)) in classrooms and labs, and through community and hospital placements.
Additional certification
As a graduate of Sheridan’s Pharmacy Technician diploma program, you’ll be eligible to write the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada – PEBC Qualifying Exam. Once you’ve completed the PEBC Qualifying Exam and other requirements such as the Ontario College of Pharmacists – OCP Jurisprudence exam and Structure Practical Training (SPT), you can apply to become a Registered Pharmacy Technician.
Graduates from Sheridan’s Pharmacy Technician program are not entitled to use the designation “Pharmacy Technician” until they are registered with OCP or other provincial regulatory authorities. Note that some practice sites may only hire registered pharmacy technicians. We strongly encourage our graduates to pursue registration so that they can achieve their full potential.
Program duration for September starts is two academic years (September–April x 2).
Career opportunities
Sheridan graduates are in high demand. When you complete the Pharmacy Technician diploma program, you’ll be ready to take a position at one of the locations listed below.
Here are some places you might work:
- Community pharmacies
- Hospital pharmacies
- Insurance companies
- Long-term care pharmacies
- Pharmacy software providers
- Specialized pharmacy settings