Pharmacy assistant

Alternative titles for this job include Chemist’s assistant, dispensing assistant

Pharmacy assistants serve customers and patients in chemists and hospital dispensaries.

Average salary (a year)

£14,000 Starter

to

£20,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 39 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become a Pharmacy assistant

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

College

You can learn some of the skills you need for this job by doing:

• Level 2 Certificate in Retail Skills
• Level 3 Diploma in Retail Skills - Sales Professional

Entry requirements

You may need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D) for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) for a level 3 course

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

Apprenticeship

You can get into this job through a pharmacy services or retailer intermediate apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

Direct application

You can apply directly for job vacancies. Experience of handling cash and serving customers will be helpful.

Employers will expect you to have good reading, number and IT skills. They may ask for GCSEs.

More information

Further information

You can find out more about working as a pharmacy assistant from Health Careers.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to enjoy working with other people
• the ability to read English
• being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You’ll be:  

• advising customers about non-prescription items
• serving customers and making up orders
• taking payments
• labelling products
• re-stocking shelves and display cabinets
• taking calls from GP surgeries, nursing homes and clinics
• delivering medicines to wards
• entering medicine data on computerised dispensing systems

Working environment

You could work at a health centre, at a store or in an NHS or private hospital.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

With experience and a qualification like the Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills, you could become a senior pharmacy assistant.
 
With further training, you could become a pharmacy technician.

Training opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Store Assistant Apprentice - Level 2

• Wage : £148.00 Weekly
• Location: Grantham NG31 6HS

Apprentice Pharmacy Assistant

• Wage : £129.50 Weekly
• Location: Knutsford WA16 6AB

Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

certificate in retail skills

• Provider: Marson Garages (Wolstanton) Limited
• Start date: 01 February 2019
• Location: Newcastle under Lyme

Retail Certificate Level 1

• Provider: Gateway Sixth Form College
• Start date: 09 September 2019
• Location: Leicester

Find courses near you

Related careers

• Sales assistant
• Customer service assistant

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