Explore This Program
Program Overview
The Pharmacy Technician program is designed to prepare students for a rewarding and essential career in the healthcare sector. This comprehensive program provides the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and professional ethics required to work as a licensed Pharmacy Technician in Alberta. The curriculum is meticulously crafted to align with the professional standards of the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP), the competency requirements set by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA), and the Canadian Pharmacy Technician Educators Association (CPTEA) Educational Outcomes. The program prepares graduates to successfully complete the national qualifying exams and to be eligible for licensure as a Pharmacy Technician.
This program is licensed under Alberta’s Private Vocational Training Act (PVTA).
Vision
To provide a high-quality education that is focused on the needs of students and employers; allowing graduates to find successful employment in their chosen profession and to provide the knowledge and skills that they need to achieve success as health practitioners.
Mission
To provide the public with competent, ethical, and patient-focused pharmacy technicians capable of producing positive health outcomes.
Our Teaching Facilities at Robertson College
The teaching facilities at Robertson College include both a simulated retail and institutional pharmacy with sterile compounding laminar airflow hoods. The students are able to fill prescriptions using the Kroll computer system and receive hands-on training in the simulated pharmacy labs.
Additional Resources
Enjoy the flexibility of remote learning without sacrificing valuable in-person training under the guidance of your instructors
Program Details
Admission Requirements
Contact AdmissionsAccreditation
Career Opportunities
Most Pharmacy Technicians (NOC 3219) are employed in community pharmacies, hospitals or medical centre pharmacies. However, employment can also be found in health insurance companies, third party billing centres (such as Alberta Blue Cross) or related organizations such as pharmaceutical companies, drug wholesalers and pharmacy supply companies.
Pharmacy Technicians can also be known as Dispensary Technicians or Pharmacy Technologists.
Continue your research:
- Alberta Alis profile including traits & Skills, working conditions, duties, related high school subjects
- The Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs
You could be earning in less than a year
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At Workforce, we commit to your success from enrolment to graduation and beyond. Our dedicated team of experts will provide you free lifetime career services — whether you need help securing a practicum placement, building a compelling resume, preparing for interviews and everything in between. No matter where your career journey takes you, we’ll be here, supporting you every step of the way.
Next Start Dates
To view enrolment dates for a specific location please select a Robertson College campus.
Select A CampusTopics of Study
Pharmacy Calculations - 120 Hours
Focuses on math calculations that will be used in various pharmacy settings when preparing and dispensing medications. Emphasis is placed on understanding principles, identifying errors, and using verification techniques. This subject is taught with a ‘zero tolerance’ policy, which focuses on the ability of students to ensure 100% accuracy in calculations by the end of the program.
Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutic Terminology - Part 1 - 100 Hours
Provides students with a foundational understanding of pharmacology by introducing the general principles of drug use. Students will learn about the principles of pharmacology and therapeutic and medical terminology as it relates to the integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous, and endocrine systems.
Students will explore therapeutic and chemical drug classifications, learn about medications used to treat conditions across various body systems, and understand the mechanism of action of common drug groups.
Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutic Terminology - Part 2 - 100 Hours
Explores the anatomy and physiology of the human body, focusing on the cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, sensory, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Students will learn fundamental principles of pharmacology by studying therapeutic and chemical drug classifications, and the specific medications used to treat conditions within these systems. A key focus is understanding the mechanism of action of common drug groups.
Non-Sterile Compounding - 35 Hours
Students will be introduced to non-sterile compounding techniques and processes used in pharmacies to make topical and oral preparations.
Institutional Pharmacy - 85 Hours
Provides learners with a practical and immersive introduction to the dynamic role of Pharmacy Technicians in institutional pharmacy environments, including hospitals, correctional facilities, and long-term care centers. These settings demand high levels of accuracy, safety, compliance, and interdisciplinary collaboration across differentiating medication workflows.
Dispensing in Community Pharmacy - 150 Hours
Provides a combination of hands-on labs and theory in a simulated pharmacy lab, teaching such skills as dispensing procedures, the workflow of a community pharmacy, customer relations, pricing/ordering/receiving, overview of pharmaceutical software, and third-party plans and billing.
Jurisprudence and Ethics - 60 Hours
Familiarizes the student with the roles of the Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technician, and Pharmacy Assistant, the profession of pharmacy, and its place within the health care delivery system. The course encompasses both a historical and current perspective and introduces the student to legislation governing the practice of pharmacy and to the Code of Ethics of the Provincial Regulatory Authority.
Sterile Product Preparation - 160 Hours
Introduces the student to the concepts of sterile drug preparation and IV admixtures. The student will acquire knowledge and practice aseptic technique in a simulated hospital setting through both demonstrations and practical laboratory experiences.
Qualifying Exam Preparation - 40 Hours
Prepares students to be successful in the Pharmacy Exam Board of Canada’s Qualifying Exam. Students get familiarized with the application process, the format, and the timelines of the exams. They will have the opportunity to practice for Parts 1 and 2 of the exam, including interactive and non-interactive stations in a simulated setting.
Final Product Check - 25 Hours
Introduce students to the basic concepts of checking products before they leave the pharmacy in a simulated pharmacy lab, teaching such skills necessary to ensure consistency and accuracy. It will introduce systematic checking processes to help detect common errors.
Culturally Responsive Pharmacy Care - 35 Hours
Explores the principles of culturally responsive care, with a specific focus on marginalized populations, including Indigenous Peoples and health equity within pharmacy practice. Students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to provide respectful, safe, and effective care to marginalized populations, contribute to reconciliation, and reduce health disparities. This includes understanding historical contexts, social determinants of health, and culturally appropriate communication strategies essential for a pharmacy technician’s role.
Stewardship in Pharmacy - 25 Hours
Equips pharmacy technician students with the principles and practices of stewardship, focusing on responsible medication use and resource management. Students will focus on contributing to optimizing health outcomes and efficient healthcare delivery through informed stewardship practices.
Professionalism in Pharmacy - 40 Hours
Introduces Pharmacy Technician learners to the ethical and professional responsibilities that shape effective communication with patients, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals. Learners will explore the origins and impacts of personal and systemic biases, and develop strategies to recognize, manage, and overcome communication barriers in diverse practice settings.
Pharmacy Management Systems - 25 Hours
Introduces pharmacy technician students to the essential functions and practical applications of pharmacy management systems (PMS). Students will develop the necessary technical skills to optimize workflow and enhance patient care, and ensure privacy and security within a digital environment.
Community Pharmacy Practicum - 160 Hours
Provides students with a hands-on, immersive experience in a community pharmacy setting. Under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist and experienced pharmacy staff, students will integrate and apply the theoretical knowledge and technical skills acquired throughout the program.
Institutional Pharmacy Practicum - 200 Hours
Provides students with a hands-on, immersive experience in an institutional pharmacy setting. Under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist and experienced pharmacy staff, students will integrate and apply the theoretical knowledge and technical skills acquired throughout the program.
Learning Experience
Classes
Have the flexibility to live your life while going to school with our half-day classes. Our flexible start dates and small class sizes give you plenty of opportunities to learn when it’s best for you and gain the hands-on skills to succeed in any industry.
Industry-Leading Instructors
Learn from industry professionals who bring real-life experience into the classroom. You can book office hours or get virtual support from your instructors through Brightspace, where you can schedule video appointments and use instant messenger to ask questions.
Lifelong Career Services
Connect with a career specialist in your field who will help you find a meaningful place to start your career. As a graduate, you’ll have lifelong access to student services that will help you with resume building, interview preparation and networking.
Tuition & Fees
The total amount is inclusive of all program registration fees, ebooks, and courseware. The tuition amount for Manitoba enrolment contracts also encompasses a Training Completion Fund (TCF) fee.
Financial Assistance and Funding
Financial assistance is available for qualifying students. Registration with the Alberta College of Pharmacists is not included in the tuition.
- All textbooks, manuals, and workbooks will be loaned by Robertson College at no charge. Students will have the option to purchase if they choose.
- Students are responsible for all costs associated with obtaining the required documentation needed for clinical placements (eg. immunizations, criminal record checks with vulnerable sector check)
If you need extra support, we have flexible funding to accommodate all our students, no matter their financial situation. Our dedicated Financial Aid Officers will help you every step of the way.
Questions about tuition and funding?
Contact AdmissionsPracticum
The practicum is an essential part of a learner’s program. It is both a graduation requirement and an extension of in-class learning. The practicum asks you to apply the skills, theories, and concepts that you learned in your classes in an entry-level work experience situation. If suitable and approved, some students do have practicum placements at their current employment, therefore payment is decided between your employer and the student.
Practicum must begin and end within the dates outlined in your program schedule and enrolment contract. Practicum is a full-time, unpaid commitment, and is jointly-procured — where you work directly with our Practicum team to obtain a training-related placement. Your active participation with our Practicum team in the search for your practicum placement will enhance your career development skills, industry networking opportunities, and professional communication skills.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
Capacity for extended standing, repetitive motions, and fine motor skills to handle small objects and equipment, as well as the ability to lift and carry items.
Let's Get Started
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Program Availability
This program is offered at multiple Robertson College campus locations. Select a campus below to view campus specific information, like schedule information and enrolment dates.