Training and Development

Pharmacist Assistant Certificate Programme

Being a successful company requires Clicks to have competent, motivated employees. We are therefore committed to quality training and promote the development of our staff.

As a Provider for Further Education and Training (FET), we provide accredited certificate- and short courses related to Pharmacy Operations to Clicks employees as well as to external resources. We are committed to ensuring not only quality learning material and adhering to all relevant and necessary standards, but also to ensure that effective learning takes place.

This brochure provides more information on the Certificate programme for Pharmacist’s Assistants in the Community, Institutional or Wholesale sectors.

Pharmacist’s Assistant as a Career

Being a Pharmacist’s Assistant in a retail or community pharmacy provides a unique opportunity to be part of a professional dispensary team with a common goal: to serve and to care for patients! This is an attractive career option for people who are interested in and enjoys dealing with patients, advising them on health-related matters, the handling of medicine and preparation of prescriptions.

Pharmacist’s Assistant Qualifications

Becoming a Pharmacist’s Assistant implies studying towards and acquiring a professional, career-oriented qualification. The training consists of two levels, i.e. the:

• Pharmacist's Assistant Basic Level Course
• Pharmacist's Assistant Post-basic Level Course.

Candidates who meet the minimum entry requirements are registered with the South African Pharmacy Council as Learner Basic - or Post-basic Pharmacist’s Assistants for the duration of their studies. The minimum time allowed for each level of the qualification is 12 months. However, with the start of the new curriculum in August 2010 this will change.

Upon completion of the final assessment, learners register with the South African Pharmacy Council as a qualified Basic Level Pharmacist’s Assistant or a qualified Post Basic Pharmacist’s Assistant depending on the level completed.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements for the Clicks Pharmacist’s Assistant Training Programme are as follows:

• Matric/grade 12 qualification. Pre 2008 matriculants with a minimum C symbol for Mathematics on the standard grade. 2008 or later matriculants with a minimum D symbol for Mathematics or C symbol for Maths Literacy.
• Availability/Opportunity to spend a minimum of 40 hours per week in the dispensary
• Fluency in English (read, write, speak, understand)
• Permanent or fixed–term appointment at a Clicks pharmacy
• A registered tutor at the pharmacy

The requirements for learners wishing to complete the course with Pharmacy Healthcare Academy whilst at a non-Clicks pharmacy are:

• Matric certificate
• Availability/Opportunity to spend a minimum of 40 hours per week in a dispensary
• A registered tutor at the pharmacy

Theoretical and Practical Training Programme

The Pharmacist’s Assistant curriculum includes compulsory theoretical and practical training. These make up a percentage of the total credits required for the successful completion of the course.

Theoretical and practical training takes place under the supervision of a dedicated pharmacist-tutor, provided that the pharmacist and the training site are registered with the South African Pharmacy Council.

Learner Pharmacist’s Assistants are expected to attend and participate in regular contact sessions as and when arranged. Most of these take place in the form of a full-day session at one of the training sites. The purpose of these contact sessions is to review learners’ progress, share ideas and identify and attend to problems or stumbling blocks.

Assessment and Examinations

Learners must be declared competent in all the modules of the Basic Level for admission to the Post-basic Level. This is based on a number of practical assessments as well as written and oral examination on some of the modules.

Learners are admitted to the final examination only once the activities in the workbook of the module in question is completed and assessed by an accredited assessor.

Curriculum

A total of 120 credits (1 200 notional hours) for the Certificate for Pharmacist’s Assistants is required. The Modules for the Basic and Post Basic levels are listed below,  

The above unit standards will be implemented until August 2010. Thereafter, the new unit standards will be implemented.

Pricing structure

• Certificate for Pharmacist’s Assistants Basic Level R6 890
• Certificate for Pharmacist’s Assistants Post-basic Level R6 890

Fees include VAT, but exclude registration with the South African Pharmacy Council. LINK LIT pharmacies and state pharmacies enjoy a discount on the above mentioned prices.