Healthcare
Pharmacy Assistant
Become part of a leading workforce with an education in pharmacy.
About The Program
The Pharmacy Assistant diploma program provides the opportunity for students to pursue a 6-week field placement for hands-on experience.
Career Opportunities
As a Pharmacy Assistant, you’ll work as part of a health care team to ensure that consumers receive the best possible pharmaceutical care. Graduates of the Eastern Pharmacy Assistant program may work for Pharmacists in retail pharmacies, home healthcare divisions/companies, insurance companies, institutional settings and pharmaceutical distribution wholesalers/manufacturers.
Employers Who Have Hired Eastern Grads
- Costco Pharmacy
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- Pharmachoice
- Jean Coutu Pharmacy
- Walmart Pharmacy
- Medicine Shoppe
Salary
100
%
Employment Rate*
$
22
Average Wage/hr**
$
27
High Wage/hr**
*Employment Rate based on 2018 contactable Eastern graduates employed in a related field.
Source: workingincanada.gc.ca
NOC Code: 3414 - **Wage data is for employees in all ranges of experience in the field, rounded down to the nearest dollar, and based on New Brunswick data. Local (or regional) income may vary.
Program Details
The purpose of the program is to prepare students with the necessary skills and academic knowledge for entry-level positions in retail pharmacies, as well as pharmaceutical companies.
This program provides an overview of the theory, principles and practices of the Pharmacy Assistant. Areas of study include prescription intake, pharmacy software practice, proper extemporaneous compounding techniques, controlling inventory, keeping accurate and confidential records, third party billing, acting within relevant legislation, and effectively communicating verbally and in writing. Graduates will be prepared to work as members of an interdependent health-care team.
The Pharmacy Assistant diploma program at Eastern College combines instructor led training with a work placement designed to prepare students for a successful career in healthcare. As a pharmacy assistant, you’ll provides services and assistance to pharmacists by compounding, packaging and labeling pharmaceutical products and by maintaining prescription records and inventories of medications and pharmaceutical products.
Graduates typically find employment opportunities in retail pharmacies and other environments such as mail order pharmacies, and in areas such as patient education within pharmaceutical companies.
Students enrolled in the program will receive:
- Classrooms that stimulate real-world pharmacy settings, including relevant equipment;
- Microsoft Office, Microsoft Imagine Standard, and Windows are included in the program fees.
Course Listings: New Brunswick 
Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology
This course will introduce the foundations of the language of medicine and will develop medical vocabulary through the
study of the structures and functions of the major body systems. Topics include medical terminology; general body
organization; and the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, urinary, nervous
(including special senses and psychiatric disorders), integumentary, endocrine, and reproductive systems.
Pharmacy Compounding
This course is an introduction to drug preparation and dosage forms. Students will gain an understanding of ingredients
used in preparing pharmaceutical products. Students will gain knowledge and hands-on experience in non-sterile
compounding. This course involves the application of both pharmacy math and pharmaceutical abbreviations in the
compounding and dispensing of medications.
Community Pharmacy for Pharmacy Assistant
This course will introduce students to the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists and pharmacy assistants. It will also teach students the procedures to prepare and dispense medications, which include prescription interpretation skills, billing and inventory, as well as medication safety. This course also addresses professionalism, work ethics and communication in the workplace. Students will train with Telus Health Solutions' Kroll computerized dispensary system. Using Kroll, students will enter patient and doctor information, generate labels, fill medical prescriptions, and generate pharmacy reports.
Career Planning & Preparation - Level I
This module will introduce you to and provide practice in using the tools required for a successful job search. The concepts covered in this module will help you maintain a career-focused approach throughout your studies so that you are better prepared to conduct a job search after graduating. Specifically, you will learn how to identify your soft and hard skills and how to articulate your abilities in a clear and concise Elevator Pitch that will appeal to employers and resonate with industry contacts. You will learn about the job search resources available to you including using career websites, creating Linked In profiles, accessing the “hidden” job market, and networking. You will examine sample resumes and cover letters and begin the process of creating your own professional resumes and cover letters that align with current conventions for content, organization, and formatting. You will also learn about the role of references, thank you letters, workplace philosophies, and strategies for success including maintaining a professional image and using proper etiquette when communicating with potential employers and industry contacts.
An introduction to Occupational Health and Safety is also provided with specific focus on employees’ rights and responsibilities, workplace health and safety policy and programs, hazard identification and control, and safety training options such as WHIMIS and First Aid.
Career Planning & Preparation - Level II
This module builds on concepts and skills introduced in the Career Planning and Preparation Level 1 prerequisite module. In this subsequent module, you will update and refine your resume and Linked In Profile. You will continue writing cover letters and learn the value of customizing cover letters to specific job postings. You will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge as you conduct a job search and write a cover letter tailored to an ideal job post. Through research, you will create a list of top employers and target current industry opportunities. You will learn about current methods for applying to job postings using technology. You will also gain an understanding of the job interview process, typical interview questions and possible responses, and expectations of both the interviewer and interviewee. In addition, you will engage in practical application of the interview process through role-plays. Topics such as negotiating salary, self-management, and on-the-job success for placements and post-graduate employment will be also covered.
St. John Ambulance Enhanced First Aid with Level C CPR
The CPR component provides comprehensive CPR training to students. It includes the latest first aid and CPR guidelines and meets federal and provincial regulations for Standard First Aid and CPR. Topics include: preparing to respond; the EMS system; check, call, care; airway emergencies; breathing and circulation emergencies; first aid for respiratory and cardiac arrest; wound care; head and spine injuries; bone, muscle and joint injuries; sudden medical emergencies; environmental emergencies; and poisons. The WHMIS component teaches students the basic elements of WHMIS 2015 and the Global Harmonization System. This covers the safety measures and guidelines to be followed when exposed to or working with hazardous materials.
Digital Literacy for Professionals
This course has four units that introduces you to the fundamental concepts and principles of learning and working in a digital environment. The first unit introduces you to using devices and handling information with topics on operating systems (Windows, MAC, and Linux), computer organization (folder management and naming conventions), cloud storage (including Microsoft OneDrive), types of web browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari), and fundamental troubleshooting. In the second unit, you will become familiar with creating and editing information through learning about file formats (pdf, mp4, docx), productivity (including iWork and Microsoft Office Suite) and creativity (Adobe, Canva, iMovie) platforms, and basic introduction to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The third unit on communicating and collaborating will introduce you to web conferencing applications (Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams), mail applications (including Microsoft Outlook and Gmail,), project management tools (Trello, Asana), and time management tools (including Todoist, Outlook Calendar, and iCal), and building rapport virtually. In the final unit, you will gain an understanding on etiquette, cybersecurity, and digital wellness. After completing this course, you will have enhanced digital literacy skills as a professional in the working and learning environment.
Pharmacy Assistant Field Placement
The field placement component of the program is the practical application of a student’s knowledge and skills in an
industry environment. The focus of the field placement is within a retail pharmacy to emphasize a customer-centered
approach; therefore, the field placement is not within a hospital setting. The duration of the field placement is 6 weeks,
during which the student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 200 hours of work experience.
Pharmacy Mathematics
This course begins with a review of basic mathematics and its application to pharmacy calculations. Mathematics used in
retail pharmacies, namely: business math; prescription pricing; and calculating medication dosages, are studied in this
course. In order to prepare the student for a wide range of pharmacy settings, calculations used in specialized and
institutional pharmacies are also discussed.
Pharmacology
This course will introduce the basics of pharmacology and include a review of physiology and the basic mechanisms of
action involved in diseases/disorders of body systems. Students will learn to distinguish between the trade names and
generic names of drugs and identify classifications of drugs used in the treatment of diseases and disorders.
Pharmacy Law and Ethics
This course offers students the opportunity to learn about both Federal and Provincial legislation that governs pharmacy
in Canada today. A solid understanding of jurisprudence (pharmacy law) is essential for Pharmacy Assistants to perform
well in the field of pharmacy. The New Brunswick Pharmacy Act as it relates to pharmacy and third party billings will be
discussed in detail. This course will also introduce students to ethical concerns that are becoming increasingly important
in pharmacy and health care in general.
Course Listings: Nova Scotia
Student Success Strategies
In this orientation module, you will focus on achieving success from day one. You will develop non-technical skills to enhance your personal, academic, and career success. You will explore learning styles, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning. You will also enhance your practical study skills, such as memory, reading, note- and test-taking techniques. Personal exercises will focus on teamwork, decision-making and problem-solving skills, setting SMART goals, and maintaining a positive attitude. You will also explore techniques for managing change, stress, and conflict.
Course Listings: Nova Scotia
CPR and First Aid/WHMIS
In this module, you will complete several certifications/trainings. The CPR component provides you with comprehensive CPR training. It includes the latest first aid and CPR guidelines and meets federal and provincial regulations for Standard First Aid and CPR. Topics include: preparing to respond; the EMS system; check, call, care; airway emergencies; breathing and circulation emergencies; first aid for respiratory and cardiac arrest; wound care; head and spine injuries; bone, muscle and joint injuries; sudden medical emergencies; environmental emergencies; and poisons. The WHMIS component teaches you the basic elements of WHMIS 2015 and the Global Harmonization System. This covers the safety measures and guidelines to be followed when exposed to or working with hazardous materials.
Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology
This course will introduce the foundations of the language of medicine and will develop medical vocabulary through the
study of the structures and functions of the major body systems. Topics include medical terminology; general body
organization; and the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, urinary, nervous
(including special senses and psychiatric disorders), integumentary, endocrine, and reproductive systems.
Pharmacy Compounding
This course is an introduction to drug preparation and dosage forms. Students will gain an understanding of ingredients
used in preparing pharmaceutical products. Students will gain knowledge and hands-on experience in non-sterile
compounding. This course involves the application of both pharmacy math and pharmaceutical abbreviations in the
compounding and dispensing of medications.
Career Planning & Preparation - Level I
This module will introduce you to and provide practice in using the tools required for a successful job search. The concepts covered in this module will help you maintain a career-focused approach throughout your studies so that you are better prepared to conduct a job search after graduating. Specifically, you will learn how to identify your soft and hard skills and how to articulate your abilities in a clear and concise Elevator Pitch that will appeal to employers and resonate with industry contacts. You will learn about the job search resources available to you including using career websites, creating Linked In profiles, accessing the “hidden” job market, and networking. You will examine sample resumes and cover letters and begin the process of creating your own professional resumes and cover letters that align with current conventions for content, organization, and formatting. You will also learn about the role of references, thank you letters, workplace philosophies, and strategies for success including maintaining a professional image and using proper etiquette when communicating with potential employers and industry contacts.
An introduction to Occupational Health and Safety is also provided with specific focus on employees’ rights and responsibilities, workplace health and safety policy and programs, hazard identification and control, and safety training options such as WHIMIS and First Aid.
Career Planning & Preparation - Level II
This module builds on concepts and skills introduced in the Career Planning and Preparation Level 1 prerequisite module. In this subsequent module, you will update and refine your resume and Linked In Profile. You will continue writing cover letters and learn the value of customizing cover letters to specific job postings. You will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge as you conduct a job search and write a cover letter tailored to an ideal job post. Through research, you will create a list of top employers and target current industry opportunities. You will learn about current methods for applying to job postings using technology. You will also gain an understanding of the job interview process, typical interview questions and possible responses, and expectations of both the interviewer and interviewee. In addition, you will engage in practical application of the interview process through role-plays. Topics such as negotiating salary, self-management, and on-the-job success for placements and post-graduate employment will be also covered.
Digital Literacy for Professionals
This course has four units that introduces you to the fundamental concepts and principles of learning and working in a digital environment. The first unit introduces you to using devices and handling information with topics on operating systems (Windows, MAC, and Linux), computer organization (folder management and naming conventions), cloud storage (including Microsoft OneDrive), types of web browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari), and fundamental troubleshooting. In the second unit, you will become familiar with creating and editing information through learning about file formats (pdf, mp4, docx), productivity (including iWork and Microsoft Office Suite) and creativity (Adobe, Canva, iMovie) platforms, and basic introduction to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The third unit on communicating and collaborating will introduce you to web conferencing applications (Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams), mail applications (including Microsoft Outlook and Gmail,), project management tools (Trello, Asana), and time management tools (including Todoist, Outlook Calendar, and iCal), and building rapport virtually. In the final unit, you will gain an understanding on etiquette, cybersecurity, and digital wellness. After completing this course, you will have enhanced digital literacy skills as a professional in the working and learning environment.
Pharmacy Assistant Field Placement
The field placement component of the program is the practical application of a student’s knowledge and skills in an
industry environment. The focus of the field placement is within a retail pharmacy to emphasize a customer-centered
approach; therefore, the field placement is not within a hospital setting. The duration of the field placement is 6 weeks,
during which the student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 200 hours of work experience.
Pharmacy Mathematics
This course begins with a review of basic mathematics and its application to pharmacy calculations. Mathematics used in
retail pharmacies, namely: business math; prescription pricing; and calculating medication dosages, are studied in this
course. In order to prepare the student for a wide range of pharmacy settings, calculations used in specialized and
institutional pharmacies are also discussed.
Pharmacology
This course will introduce the basics of pharmacology and include a review of physiology and the basic mechanisms of
action involved in diseases/disorders of body systems. Students will learn to distinguish between the trade names and
generic names of drugs and identify classifications of drugs used in the treatment of diseases and disorders.
Pharmacy Law and Ethics
This course offers students the opportunity to learn about both Federal and Provincial legislation that governs pharmacy in Canada today. A solid understanding of jurisprudence (pharmacy law) is essential for Pharmacy Assistants to perform well in the field of pharmacy. The provincial act as it relates to pharmacy and third party billings will be discussed in detail. This course will also introduce students to ethical concerns that are becoming increasingly important in pharmacy and health care in general.
Pharmacy Software
This course provides instruction and hands on training with Kroll, one of the leading computerized dispensary systems in
the pharmacy industry. Students will be required to: enter patient, prescription and doctor information; generate labels;
and practice accurately and efficiently filling prescriptions by selecting the correct medication. Pharmacy reports will
also be generated using Kroll in order to give students the pharmacy software experience necessary to enter the
workplace with confidence.
Admission Requirements
Retail Pharmacy Practice
This course will introduce students to the roles and responsibilities of Pharmacist and Pharmacy Assistants. It will also
teach students the procedures to prepare and dispense medications, which include prescription interpretation skills,
billing and inventory as well as medication safety. This course also addresses professionalism, work ethics and
communication in the workplace.
Student Success Strategies
In this orientation module, you will focus on achieving success from day one. You will develop non-technical skills to enhance your personal, academic, and career success. You will explore learning styles, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning. You will also enhance your practical study skills, such as memory, reading, note- and test-taking techniques. Personal exercises will focus on teamwork, decision-making and problem-solving skills, setting SMART goals, and maintaining a positive attitude. You will also explore techniques for managing change, stress, and conflict.
Admission Requirements
High school graduation or equivalent. For those without high school completion, please refer to the Program Overview at the top of this page or speak to your Education Consultant.
Career Quiz
Take a quick and easy quiz to find out more about yourself, your goals, and identify your strengths and social style. This quiz gives you suggestions for what career areas you might consider based on your likes and preferences. Give it a try now!
Success Stories
“Every single staff that I have had contact witht is very kind, considerate, ready to help no matter what, and always supportive. If you are willing to work hard on your studies, they have your back 100% all the way. I can't wait to see what the rest of my course brings.”