Georgian College Pharmacy Technician student wearing scrubs, a face covering and hair mask preparing a vaccination syringe
Program code PHRM
Duration 2 Years
Credential Ontario College Diploma
Program Delivery Full-time
Program delivery method(s) In person What does this mean?

Program information

Program description

Students prepare to work collaboratively with pharmacy teams and other health care professionals to achieve patients’ health goals, and ensure continuity of care. Experiential learning practices such as simulation experiences, and placements in community, hospital, or other pharmacy sites actively engage students in the learning process. Students enjoy the benefits of learning from expert faculty who are also practicing pharmacy professionals. Students develop knowledge, skills, and abilities in key competency areas of legal and ethical responsibilities, professionalism, patient care, product preparation, health promotion, knowledge application, communication, intra- and inter-professionalism and safety. 

Intake information

Start dateCampus
Fall 2024 Barrie
Winter 2025 Barrie

Tuition and fees

Work-integrated learning

What are the admission requirements for the Pharmacy Technician program?

Pharmacy Technician admission requirements

OSSD or equivalent with a minimum grade of 60% in each pre-requisite subject is required:

  • Grade 12 English (C or U)
  • Grade 12 Mathematics (C or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry (C or U)

Language Proficiency Requirement

The Pharmacy Technician Program is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). 

The English proficiency requirement can be met through:

For further information, refer to Georgian’s English Language Proficiency policy 2.5 at: https://georgiancollege.ca/admissions/policies-procedures 

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Pathways

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Selection Process
  • Applicants will be assessed and ranked based on academic grades.

Criminal Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

Placement agencies require an up-to-date clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check prior to going out on placement. Students should obtain their criminal reference three months prior to placement; checks conducted earlier may not be considered current. As some jurisdictions require longer lead-time for processing, please check with the program coordinator to ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the completed document prior to placement start.

NOTE: Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not pardoned will be prohibited from proceeding to a clinical or work placement.

Additional information

Certain clinical placements may require students to have updated flu shots, TB testing and Hepatitis B vaccination, Mask Fit Test (click for requirements), as well as a Police Record Check (including Vulnerable Sector Screening and a check of the Pardoned Sex Offender Data Base). It is the student’s responsibility to ensure he or she is eligible to participate in clinical placements. The College assumes no responsibility for these matters and students should be aware that tuition will not be refunded in the event that access to a placement is denied. In addition to these requirements, applicants must also provide proof of a current First Aid and C.P.R. ‘HCP’ or ‘BLS’ certification, prior to the commencement of practicum courses. Registration with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) is mandatory to practice as a Pharmacy Technician in Ontario.

Applicants are advised that the physical requirements of the program and future employment require good vision (with or without corrective lenses), manual dexterity with repetitive motion and working on your feet for multiple hours.

Information about placement requirements

To help you navigate the requirements to complete the clinical placement component(s) of this program (e.g. immunization, First Aid and CPR, criminal record screening and other non-academic requirements), please review the details below.

For more information about placements, visit the Placement Offices webpage.

Placement requirementsGeorgian College Chevron

In order to provide quality practicum placements (“Placements”), students are placed in a variety of agencies, largely in the region serviced by the campus. Students are required to provide their own transportation to Placements. Placements may vary in length (e.g. six to 12 hour days) and may include weekends and evenings, with varying start and end times (e.g. day, afternoon, overnight).

Many programs, including Health and Wellness, have immunization, First Aid and CPR, criminal record screening and  other non-academic requirements that need to be met prior to Placements starting. You are responsible for carefully reviewing and meeting these requirements. The failure to meet them may mean that the host agency may refuse to accept you for a Placement or, if you have started one, that you may be prevented from continuing. The result may be that you cannot complete your program. Program-specific requirements can be found on page 2 of the Clinical Preparedness Permit specific to your program.

You are responsible for meeting all immunization, criminal screening and other requirements by the deadline provided by your program and before you start your Placement.

Notes regarding the Criminal Record Check (“CRC”) and Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS)

Individuals who have been charged or convicted criminally and not yet pardoned or who have adverse entries on their CRC or VSS will be prohibited from proceeding to a Placement. Such a student will normally be counselled to withdraw from the program because the successful completion of a Placement is a program requirement.

Obtaining the CRC and VSS usually requires a processing time of up to 12 weeks and can vary between police jurisdictions. As some jurisdictions require longer lead time for processing, ensure you allow for sufficient turn-around time. Record checks and screenings conducted earlier than six months may not be considered current and not be acceptable. Refer to your Clinical Preparedness Permit for information regarding this. A host agency may refuse a Placement if the CRC or VSS is not satisfactory to it. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the necessary completed documents prior to the start of a Placement at the designated check time, and in the format set by Georgian College and stated in the Clinical Preparedness Permit Information Package. More information can be found on the Placement Offices webpage.

The costs associated with the provision of the CRC and VSS, anything related to them (including, if applicable, obtaining a pardon), and meeting any immunization and other Placement requirements, are to be borne by the student. The non-academic requirements of clinical agencies as described in the Clinical Preparedness Permit are subject to change at any time and host agencies may accept or decline students for any reason at their discretion. Georgian College  is not responsible for any of the costs associated with the foregoing, nor for the consequences of failing to comply with, any of the requirements set out above.  

Woman standing in front of Georgian Alumni Association banner
What a fun-filled, educational day! It was nice to be able to learn about the many mental health and wellness programs in the area. This will prove invaluable as I start practicing in my area of work. I will be able to offer patients additional support and care by directing them to these services in our local community.Tania Bradley, class of 2023

What career paths can I take as a pharmacy technician?

Your Pharmacy Technician diploma gives you many career opportunities

Registered pharmacy technicians are qualified to work in a variety of settings, including community pharmacies, home health care companies, hospital pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, pharmacy software vendors, third party insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers.

Licensing as a Pharmacy Technician

The Ontario College of Pharmacists is responsible for regulating the profession of pharmacy in Ontario which includes the issuance of certificates of registration for pharmacy students, interns, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Graduates must preregister with the Ontario College of Pharmacists and start the process of becoming licensed to practice as regulated pharmacy technician in Ontario. In order to practice as a pharmacy technician in Ontario, graduates must complete the registration requirements as outlined on the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) website. Graduates will be eligible to complete the practice based training requirement called Structured Practical Training (SPT), the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada Qualifying Exam (www.pebc.ca) and the OCP jurisprudence examination (www.ocpinfo.com). Click on the links to access timelines and fees for registration and exams. The final application for the Certificate of Registration as a Pharmacy Technician includes obtaining personal professional liability insurance, completing the Declaration of Good Character, a police background check and paying the final application fees. Registration with the Ontario College of Pharmacists is a legal requirement to practice and is subject to the regulations and restrictions established by this governing body.

Learning spaces

Hands-on health-care education 

Our state-of-the-art simulation labs give you the hands-on training you need with equipment you will use on the job.

The Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences at the Barrie Campus offers students in the Pharmacy Technician program:

  • a separate, clean room that hosts eight laminar air flow hoods to practise aseptic techniques 
  • a separate anteroom to practise proper infection control in a hospital environment 
  •  a pharmacy lab that focuses on different types of hospital dispensing  
  • a community pharmacy lab where students have their own space for dispensing medications 
  • access to technology such as scanners, automatic pill counters, GoPros and packagers that enhance experiential learning
Sarah Dupont
One thing I liked about the program was how hands on it is. We didn’t just read about different techniques and skills from a textbook but we were able to put those skills to practice and the labs were as realistic as they can be. All of my teachers were very knowledgeable and approachable and didn’t hesitate to give their own time to set up study sessions or give us extra practice.Sarah Dupont, class of 2016

Accreditation

Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs

The Pharmacy Technician program at Georgian College has been awarded accreditation status by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs for a five-year term from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2024.

Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs logo

What courses are included in the Pharmacy Technician diploma program?

Course overview

21 Program Courses
2 Communications Courses
2 Practicum Placements
3 General Education Courses

Program-specific courses

Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Pharmacy Technician program outline.

  • BIOL 1014 – The Essential Body
  • COMP 1063 – Community Pharmacy Computer Systems
  • MATH 1025 – Pharmaceutical Calculations
  • PHRM 1000 – Pharmacology Fundamentals
  • PHRM 1002 – Community Pharmacy Dispensing Introductory Theory
  • PHRM 1007 – Community Pharmacy Dispensing Introductory Lab
  • Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.
  • Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.

Your course delivery method(s)

In person

This program is delivered fully in person and requires you to attend campus.

Please note, delivery methods are based on planning for the upcoming semester and are subject to change.

Do you have questions about Pharmacy Technician? Contact us!

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