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How do I become a pharmacy technician?

I've passed 9 GCSEs. Im studying Bio chrm maths a levels in year 12 rn. I want to study pharmacy and work as a pharmacy technician while studying. can someone please give advice on how to become a pharmacy technician and what courses to do?
Original post
by brave-barrage
I've passed 9 GCSEs. Im studying Bio chrm maths a levels in year 12 rn. I want to study pharmacy and work as a pharmacy technician while studying. can someone please give advice on how to become a pharmacy technician and what courses to do?

See the following job profiles for pharamcy technicians:
https://careersinpharmacy.uk/job-roles/pharmacy-technician/
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/pharmacy-technician
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/pharmacy/roles-pharmacy/pharmacy-technician
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/customer-services/job-profile/pharmacy-technician
https://life-pilot.co.uk/job-sectors/stem/job-profile/pharmacy-technician

Good news: if you have 4 GCSEs above grade 4 including Maths and English Language, you're more or less set
Bad news: it's usually a full on thing where you need to do 2 year courses and apprenticeship full time i.e. if you intend to do your A Levels and progress onto a pharmacy degree, you're out of luck.

Technically, people become pharmacy technicians because they don't meet the requirements of the MPharm degree directly: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/pharmacist. After your 2 year course as a pharmacy technician, you are then presented with the option of doing the full MPharm degree. It's an unconventional path if you are academically qualified to do the full MPharm degree from the outset.

Reply 2

Original post
by MindMax2000
See the following job profiles for pharamcy technicians:
https://careersinpharmacy.uk/job-roles/pharmacy-technician/
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/pharmacy-technician
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/pharmacy/roles-pharmacy/pharmacy-technician
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/customer-services/job-profile/pharmacy-technician
https://life-pilot.co.uk/job-sectors/stem/job-profile/pharmacy-technician
Good news: if you have 4 GCSEs above grade 4 including Maths and English Language, you're more or less set
Bad news: it's usually a full on thing where you need to do 2 year courses and apprenticeship full time i.e. if you intend to do your A Levels and progress onto a pharmacy degree, you're out of luck.
Technically, people become pharmacy technicians because they don't meet the requirements of the MPharm degree directly: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/pharmacist. After your 2 year course as a pharmacy technician, you are then presented with the option of doing the full MPharm degree. It's an unconventional path if you are academically qualified to do the full MPharm degree from the outset.


Thank you but I've heard there are online courses. can you tell about the online courses?
Original post
by brave-barrage
Thank you but I've heard there are online courses. can you tell about the online courses?

I am not too sure about the online courses.

Normally, if it's for something to apply for a job at the NHS, you would typically need a course accredited by some central professional body e.g. General Pharmaceutical Council, The Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council

I would recommend speaking to HR people at the NHS or to a pharmacist to double check. There is no point in doing an unaccredited course if you intend to go into a specific job that requires accredited courses.

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