FindCareer

Pharmacy technician program

Pharmacy Technician Certificate

Part of the route toPharmacy TechnicianΒ·Certificate

A 15 to 20 month accredited college program teaching sterile IV compounding, pharmacology, and prescription technical verification.

How long
15–20 Months (4–5 Terms)
Cost
Not published
Schools
5 in BC

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)

BC Route
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
  • Pre-Calculus 11. Requirement varies by school (Vancouver Community College, Selkirk College). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
  • Grade 12 English (min 67%), Grade 11 Math (min 60%), and Grade 11 Biology or Chemistry (min 60%)
  • Chemistry 11. Requirement varies by school (Vancouver Community College, Selkirk College). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
2

Step 2 of 8

Grade 12

⏱ 1 School Year
  • BC High School Graduation (Dogwood Diploma). Requirement varies by school (Stenberg College, Sprott Shaw College). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
  • Anatomy & Physiology 12. Requirement varies by school (Stenberg College, Vancouver Career College, Vancouver Community College, and 1 others). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
  • Chemistry 11 or 12 (minimum 67% / C+)
  • Grade 12 graduation or mature student status
  • Mathematics 12. Requirement varies by school (Vancouver Career College, Sprott Shaw College). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
  • English Studies 12. Requirement varies by school (Vancouver Community College, Selkirk College). Strictest requirement: standard completion.
3

Step 3 of 8

What you need to get in

  • VCC keyboarding assessment (speed not published)
  • Clear Criminal Record Check under the BC Criminal Records Review Act
  • Typing test (min 35 wpm)
  • Criminal Record Check and CPR Level C
  • Admissions assessment and clear Criminal Record Check
4

Step 4 of 8

How to apply

  • Apply online via EducationPlannerBC to Vancouver Community College or Selkirk College
  • Cohorts commence annually in late August or September
  • Submit academic transcripts and complete keyboarding/math diagnostic assessments
  • Complete immunization requirements and CRC clearances prior to practicum placements
5

Step 5 of 8

Pharmacy technician program

⏱ 15–20 Months (4–5 Terms)
  • Pharmacology and therapeutics: drug classes, mechanisms, side effects, and calculations
  • Sterile compounding: cleanroom engineering controls, laminar airflow hoods, and IV admixtures
  • Community and institutional pharmacy dispensing software and inventory systems
  • Pharmacy legislation, ethics, and independent prescription release technical verification
  • Supervised clinical practicum rotations in acute hospital pharmacies and community dispensaries
6

Step 6 of 8

Where to take it

⏱ 5 schools in BC
  • Selkirk College β€” 15 months (Not published)
  • Vancouver Community College β€” 15 months (Not published)
  • Sprott Shaw College β€” 48 weeks (Not published)
  • Stenberg College β€” 48 weeks (Not published)
  • Vancouver Career College β€” 48 weeks (Not published)
7

Step 7 of 8

Exams and registration after

  • Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Exam Part I (MCQ) & Part II (OSPE)
  • College of Pharmacists of BC Jurisprudence Examination (JE)
8

Step 8 of 8

Leads to: Pharmacy Technician

  • Explore Pharmacy Technician wages, job outlook, and career pathways

SCHOOLS

Where you can take this(5 schools)

Compare tuitions, campus locations, and delivery formats across approved institutions in British Columbia.

🌲
Public College

Selkirk College

Castlegar & Nelson

Duration15 months
TuitionNot published
DeliveryHybrid
β€œAccredited pharmacy technician program delivering sterile compounding, hospital dispensing, and community practice.”
🩺
Public College

Vancouver Community College

Vancouver (Downtown & Broadway)

Duration15 months
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
β€œCCAPP-accredited professional program preparing graduates for PEBC qualifying exams and CPBC licensure.”
πŸ₯
Private College

Sprott Shaw College

Abbotsford, Kelowna, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Penticton, Surrey, Vancouver & Victoria

Duration48 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
β€œCCAPP-accredited pharmacy technician training program in British Columbia.”
πŸ”¬
Private College

Stenberg College

Surrey

Duration48 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
β€œCCAPP-accredited pharmacy technician diploma program with clinical hospital and community pharmacy practicums.”
πŸŽ“
Private College

Vancouver Career College

Burnaby

Duration48 weeks
TuitionNot published
DeliveryIn-Person
β€œCCAPP-accredited pharmacy technician diploma preparing students for PEBC exams and CPBC licensure.”

Official Sources

Last verified Β· September 2026