Pharmacy assistant certificate
Community Pharmacy Assistant Certificate
Part of the route toPharmacy Assistant·Certificate
A focused vocational certificate program training students in prescription processing, dispensary software, and pharmaceutical inventory management.
How long
13 to 52 Weeks
Cost
$7,080
Schools
10 in BC
🏫Where you can take this: 10 schools
THE ROUTE
How this program works, step by step
Grade 11 to the job. Open any step to see what is inside.
The route (8 steps)
1Grade 11 Preparation
2Grade 12 Graduation
3Admissions & Prerequisites
4Application Process
5Program Curriculum
6Where to Take It
7Licensing & Certification
8Career Destination
For the best view, open the map full screen.
STEP BY STEP
Step by step
The same route as the map, as a list.
1
Step 1 of 8
Grade 11
⏱ 1 School Year- English 10 or equivalent (or college English proficiency assessment)
2
Step 2 of 8
Grade 12
⏱ 1 School Year- Grade 12. Requirement varies by school (Western Community College, Stenberg College, Edison College, and 3 others). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
- English Studies 12. Requirement varies by school (Stenberg College, Sprott Shaw College, Edison College, and 4 others). Strictest requirement: C.
- BC High School Graduation (Dogwood Diploma). Requirement varies by school (Sprott Shaw College, CDI College, CIRA Career College). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
3
Step 3 of 8
What you need to get in
- Typing speed of 30 to 35 words per minute
- Clear criminal record check for healthcare practicum placement
- Basic computer literacy skills
- Clean criminal record check (Ministry of Justice) prior to practicum
- Keyboarding speed of minimum 30 words per minute
4
Step 4 of 8
How to apply
- Apply directly through the admissions portal of each PTIB-designated vocational college
- Programs offer frequent cohort start dates throughout the year (often monthly or quarterly)
- Tuition ranges from $7,080 CAD at Western Community College to unlisted vocational schedules; consult individual college admissions for current schedules
5
Step 5 of 8
Pharmacy assistant certificate
⏱ 13 to 52 Weeks- Pharmaceutical terminology, drug classifications, dosage forms, and brand versus generic drugs
- Computerized dispensary management systems (e.g. Kroll, Nexxsys) and prescription order entry
- Third-party insurance adjudication, BC PharmaNet billing, and deductible calculations
- Basic non-sterile compounding of ointments, creams, and oral suspensions
- Supervised 100-to-160-hour clinical dispensary placement in an active community pharmacy
6
Step 6 of 8
Where to take it
⏱ 10 schools in BC- CDI College — 36 weeks (Not published)
- CIRA Career College — 32 weeks (Not published)
- Coastal College of British Columbia — 24 weeks (Not published)
- Edison College — 52 weeks (Not published)
- Elevare Career Institute — 28 weeks (Not published)
- Excel Career College — 26 weeks (Not published)
- Sprott Shaw College — 33 weeks (Not published)
- Stenberg College — 13 weeks (Not published)
- and 2 more, see the list below
7
Step 7 of 8
Exams and registration after
- College final modular examinations and practical dispensary lab assessments
- No provincial licensing exam required (pharmacy assistants are an unregulated occupation in BC under the Health Professions Act)
8
Step 8 of 8
Leads to: Pharmacy Assistant
- Explore Pharmacy Assistant wages, job outlook, and career pathways
SCHOOLS
Where you can take this(10 schools)
Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.
🏥
Duration36 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“PTIB-approved 36-week program delivering specialized training in prescription software systems, pharmacology foundations, non-sterile compounding, and dispensary practicum.”
🎓
Duration32 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“PTIB-approved Vancouver vocational certificate covering dispensary administration, pharmaceutical math, computer billing systems, and hands-on practicum.”
🏥
Duration24 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“PTIB-approved career certificate in Coquitlam delivering prescription transcription, dispensary recordkeeping, pharmaceutical calculations, and a 100-hour practicum.”
💡
Duration52 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“PTIB-approved 52-week comprehensive program in Victoria covering medical terminology, non-sterile compounding, dispensary software, and pharmacy clinical placement.”
🏥
Duration28 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“PTIB-approved Okanagan career institute certificate in Kelowna offering practical dispensary workflow, pharmacology principles, and community retail pharmacy practicum.”
💊
Duration26 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“PTIB-approved 26-week blended program serving Vancouver Island and the Interior, preparing students for community pharmacy operations, billing, and patient customer care.”
🏥
Private College
Sprott Shaw College
Abbotsford, Kelowna, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Penticton, Surrey, Vancouver & Victoria
Duration33 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
“PTIB-approved 33-week career training program providing prescription processing, pharmacology fundamentals, compounding, and clinical practicum across BC campuses.”
🔬
Duration13 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“PTIB-approved 13-week blended certificate combining online coursework with hands-on dispensary simulation and community pharmacy practicum.”
🎓
Duration33 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
“PTIB-approved 33-week vocational diploma teaching prescription entry, inventory management, retail billing systems, and practical dispensary placement in Lower Mainland.”
🎓
Duration35 weeks
Tuition$7,080
DeliveryHybrid
“PTIB-approved 35-week career program in Surrey and Abbotsford delivering 700 hours of training in Kroll pharmacy software, drug calculations, and a 160-hour practicum.”