Pharmacy Apprenticeships are an excellent platform for school leavers wanting to get ahead start in the world of work. Do you want to continue learning but also want a job? With a pharmacy Apprenticeship, you get the best of both worlds by doing both.

What do pharmacy Apprenticeships involve?

Pharmacy Apprenticeship includes a mixture of classroom study and practical on the job training enabling you to obtain a nationally recognised qualification, vital work experience and highly sought skills… oh and did we mention you also get paid!! If you’re looking for a new beginning, then a pharmacy Apprenticeship could be just what you’re looking for.

A pharmacy is where medication is stored, dispensed and prepared. Let’s look at what Apprenticeship vacancies are available in a pharmacy:

Pharmacy Assistant – Pharmacy assistants assist pharmacists with admin duties within a pharmacy such as answering phone calls, handling money, stocking shelves and cleaning pharmacy equipment.

Dispensary Assistant – Dispensary assistant prepare and supply over the counter medicine and prescription medication. You will also advise patients on any queries regarding medication and health and lifestyle issues.

Pharmacy Technician – A pharmacy technician is a more advanced role within a pharmacy. You’ll do many of the roles as listed above along with technical roles such as choosing the correct medicine and dosage for a prescription, handling confidential patient details, creating instruction labels for medications, weighing liquids and counting out tablets referring to GP’s guidelines.

Skills needed for pharmacy Apprenticeships

Pharmacy Apprenticeships will equip you with a broad range of skills from being quick and accurate when dispensing medication to computer literacy and possessing excellent communication skills with the ability to prioritise your workload.

Who could I work for?

There are a wide range of pharmacies that offer Apprenticeships you could be working at Boots, Superdrug, Lloyds Pharmacy, Rowlands and many more.

Apprenticeship standards

There are 3 qualification levels for a pharmacy Apprenticeship:

1. Pharmacy Services Assistant – Level 2
2. Pharmacy Technician – Level 3
3. Clinical pharmacology scientist - Level 7

Another one is still being developed Pharmacist (Level 7).