This qualification has been developed in collaboration with Skills for Health, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the General Pharmaceutical Council to guide and assess the development of knowledge and skills relating to the health workforce in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This qualification confirms competence in a range of skills undertaken by a pharmacy technician or pharmacy assistant, including:
• Providing an effective and responsive pharmacy service
• Processing pharmaceutical queries
• Receiving prescriptions from individuals
• Confirming prescription validity
• Assembling and issuing prescribed items
• Ordering, receiving, maintaining and issuing pharmaceutical stock
• Preparing extemporaneous medicines for personal use.
This qualification will form part of the requirements for registration as a pharmacy technician, where an approved underpinning knowledge course is also completed
Qualification requirements
• Learners must be 16+ years and in relevant employment or work placement
• Learners must achieve at least 75 credits from mandatory and optional units
• Guided learning hours will range from 344-352 depending on choice of units
• Learners must achieve 14 Mandatory Units
• Learners must achieve at least 3 Optional Units
• Learners can then take additional units from a separate group for continuing professional development
• A minimum of 65 credits must be achieved at or above QCF Level 3.
Mandatory Units
Unit 1: Ensure your own Actions Reduce risks to Health and Safety
Unit 2: Provide an effective and responsive pharmacy service
Unit 3: Process pharmaceutical queries
Unit 4: Reflect on and develop your practice
Unit 5: Receive prescriptions from individuals
Unit 6: Confirm prescription validity
Unit 7: Assemble prescribed items
Unit 8: Issue prescribed items
Unit 9: Prepare extemporaneous medicines for individual use
Unit 10: Order Pharmaceutical Stock
Unit 11: Receive Pharmaceutical Stock
Unit 12: Maintain pharmaceutical stock
Unit 13: Issue Pharmaceutical Stock
Unit 14: Undertake an in-process accuracy check of assembled prescribed items prior to the final accuracy check
Optional Units
Unit 15: Contribute to the effectiveness of teams
Unit 16: Assist in the sale of medicines and products
Unit 17: Prepare documentation, materials, components and other items for the preparation of aseptic products
Unit 18: Provide advice on symptoms and the actions and uses of medicines
Unit 19: Manufacture and assembly of medicinal products
Unit 20: Prepare aseptic products and carry out in-process checking
Unit 21: Prepare documentation, materials and other items for manufacture and assembly of medicinal products
Unit 22: Check documentation, starting materials, components and other consumables for the production of aseptic products
Unit 23: Provide an effective service in a setting outside of the pharmacy
Unit 24: Assist in the supply of pharmaceutical appliances
Unit 25: Process prescriptions for payment
Unit 26: Prepare to conduct a review of an individual’s medicines
Unit 27: Enable learning through demonstrations and instructions
Additional Units
Unit 28: Determine the suitability of an individual’s own medicines for use
Unit 29: Undertake the final accuracy check of dispensed medicines and products
Unit 30: Take a medication history from an individual
Approved Underpinning Knowledge
For learners who wish to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a Pharmacy Technician, an approved knowledge course must also be undertaken in conjunction with the Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (QCF). We currently offer the National Pharmacy Association’s approved knowledge course to meet this requirement.
Please note that completion of the Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (QCF) and an approved underpinning knowledge course do not, in their own right, meet the registration requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council. Further information on the registration requirements for Pharmacy Technicians can be found here.
Delivery
Our delivery methods are highly supportive to learners and their work-based supervisors and include:
• An allocated, occupationally competent assessor, who is responsible for guiding the candidate through the award
• Face to face induction to ensure that the candidate understands the standards and how to proceed with the award
• Two additional half day meetings with the candidate to review progress and undertake assessments by observation
• Agreed assessment plans with regular reviews
• Unlimited telephone and email support
• The use of e-portfolios where appropriate
Cost
Our typical cost per learner is dependent upon the level of support required and resources available. Indicative costs are below:
Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (QCF) only: £1400+vat
Level 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (QCF) plus underpinning knowledge: £2000+vat
Further information
Please visit the Edexcel website.