Certificate in Retail Pharmacy Assistant L3

One year, full-time
February
Windermere Campus

This programme is highly regarded by the retail pharmacy industry and prepares you to advise and sell customers a wide range of pharmacy products and services. Our programme incorporates the National Certificate in Pharmacy (Assistant) Level 3. You’ll gain skills in customer service, retail and merchandising, stock maintenance, legislation, safety and hazardous goods, customer advice on health care, eyecare, nutrition and diet, minor injuries, wounds and infectious diseases, complementary medicines and first aid.

Our graduates are highly regarded by the pharmacy industry and with hands-on learning and integrated workplace practicum, you’ll gain work ready-skills necessary for employment.

Entry

Open entry. However, to succeed on this programme, it is recommended that recent school leavers have achieved:

• at least 12 credits in literacy (English) and 8 credits in numeracy (Maths) towards the NCEA Level 1
• OR unit standard credits towards the National Certificate in Pharmacy (Assistant) Level 3 or the retail service sector area.

Preferred school subjects: NCEA Level 1 or 2 combinations of English/Maori, Science including Biology, Maths and Computing all provide appropriate academic preparation.

The work experience component of this programme requires confidentiality and handling pharmaceuticals. All applicants must therefore submit a Police Clearance Check (INCIS) form. Students also enter a confidentiality agreement with the work experience employer.

English Language Requirements
If you are an overseas student or a new resident and English is not your first language, please note that study at tertiary level requires both written and oral participation. You may be required to have an IELTS score of 5.5 or a TOEFL score of 500.

Qualifications Gained

• Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Certificate in Retail Pharmacy Assistant Level 3
• National Certificate in Pharmacy (Assistant) Level 3
• Comprehensive First Aid Certificate
• Product knowledge certificates
• Relevant New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) units

Career Opportunities

Pharmacy assistant, cosmetic counter manager, company technician or demonstrator, health store assistant, sales representative.

Kathryn Kilgour

Graduate - 2007 Certificate in Pharmacy and Cosmetology Level 3
Employed - Pharmacy Assistant at Unichem Pharmacy, Tauranga City

Having worked in various retail roles all her life, and after her second child was old enough, Kathryn decided to up-skill into a retail industry she hadn’t yet explored.

"I’d always wanted to work in a pharmacy and knew people in the job who really enjoyed it. I also knew the hours could suit my home life as a mother of two children, so I decided to retrain."

Going back to study after many years and as a mature student was, at first, a bit daunting for Kathryn. Once the good grades started coming in, she realised she was doing the right thing.

She believes the programme set her in good stead for a job in a pharmacy. “The tutors were fantastic; very supportive. Plus the Polytechnic has a good reputation within the pharmacy industry.

"Now that I’m working as a Pharmacy Assistant I have realised just how much the course prepared me for this environment. It was really relevant.

"The highlight of doing the course was definitely the work experience component. So many students gained jobs from that.

I was also awarded the Exemplary Practice Award in work experience which was a real bonus!”

Profile written: 2009