Information for Employers

PHARMACY TECHNICIANS

Eligibility

Pharmacy Technicians with a New Zealand Qualification

Pharmacy Technicians are permitted to work in the dispensary if they hold one of the following qualifications:

· PSNZ Dispensary Assistant Certificate (prior to 1990) 

· PSNZ Pharmacy Technician Certificate (prior to 1998)  

· National Certificate in Pharmacy (Technician) Level 5

The older PSNZ Dispensary Assistant and Pharmacy Technician certificates have now been superseded by the National Certificate in Pharmacy (Technician). Holders of the PSNZ certificates are not legally able to compound or dispense sterile products unless they upgrade their qualification to the new National Certificate.

An assessment only upgrade programme can be undertaken through PITO – contact us for details.

Depending on which qualification is already held, exemptions will be granted from a substantial part of the National Certificate requiring completion only of a number of written assessments on the topics that have not previously been covered. These include:

• Pharmacology
• Compounding
• Sterile dispensing
• Giving advice to customers on pharmacy products and services
• Ward medicine management and patient medicine discharge (Hospital technicians)

Pharmacy technicians who qualified overseas are permitted to work in the dispensary only if they enrol in the National Certificate. Depending upon the qualification they hold, it is possible that they may be eligible for a number of exemptions – those holding a UK BTEC or NVQ are required to complete around a quarter of the qualification.

Those holding a qualification from any other country should apply to PITO for a Qualification Check for which a fee will be charged. Contact us for details.

Please Note:  The qualification check carried out by NZQA confirms the level of qualification held.  It does not match the contents against the National Certificate and does not preclude the holder from enrolling in the National Certificate.

· An assessment only Recognition of Prior Learning Programme for Pharmacy Technicians run by PITO

This requires completion of a number of written assessments on the topics that have not been previously covered including:

• Pharmacology
• Compounding
• Sterile dispensing
• Giving advice to customers on pharmacy products and services
• Ward medicine management and patient medicine discharge (Hospital technicians)

Technicians must also hold a current First Aid Certificate with the credits registered with NZQA.

This programme takes between 9 and 18 months to complete.

or

· A distance learning programme run by The Open Polytechnic of NZ (TOPNZ) which includes training as well as assessment.  Contact us  for an enrolment pack.  Back to Top

New Zealand Pharmacists who do not hold an Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) issued by the Pharmacy Council and Overseas qualified Pharmacists who do not wish to apply for Registration in New Zealand, are required to enrol in the National Certificate in order to work in a dispensary as a Pharmacy Technician. There are no exceptions.  Back to Top

Those new to Pharmacy without any qualification

If recruiting a person without any of the above qualifications, they are legally required to enrol in the National Certificate immediately. Contact us to request an Enrolment pack for the TOPNZ distance learning programme.  Back to Top

Supervising a Pharmacy Technician in Training

All technicians, whether qualified or in training, are required to work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. Where a technician is in training, this also requires the supervising pharmacist to act as a ‘Verifier’ in terms of ensuring that training is ongoing and the technician is becoming competent.

As the technician completes each module, the supervising pharmacist signs it off to ‘verify’ that the technician is able to carry out the prescribed tasks to the standard required and that the work they have done for the assessment is correct.

All Pharmacists acting as ‘verifiers’ for those undertaking one of the PITO assessment-only programmes, are required to hold an appropriate qualification. Either:

• Unit Standard 18203 – Verify evidence for assessment for a candidate – Level 4 3 credits

or

• Unit Standard 4098 – Use standards to assess candidate performance – Level 4 5 credits

Any pharmacist who has acted as a Preceptor for an Intern will hold 4098.  Those who do not hold either, can undertake unit standard 18203 through PITO at no cost to them. Details will be sent to you when your technician enrols with PITO.  Back to Top

All Pharmacists acting as ‘verifiers’ for those undertaking the Open Polytechnic Pharmacy Technician training, are also required to hold an appropriate qualification. This being:

• Unit Standard 18203 – Verify evidence for assessment for a candidate – Level 4 3 credits (unless the verifier pharmacist already holds unit standard 18203 or unit standard 4098)

The Open Polytechnic will contact the verifier pharmacist with further details once the pharmacy technician's enrolment has been processed.

Completion of Assessments through the PITO programmes

Each module is sent out with a date by which it should be completed. Technicians and their pharmacist will be notified if submission dates are missed and those who persistently fail to complete work within the time specified will be terminated from the programme.

PLEASE NOTE: It is not enough for a technician to be enrolled in the National Certificate. They must be actively working towards completion of the qualification.

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PHARMACY ASSISTANTS

Eligibility

Pharmacy Assistants are not permitted to work in the dispensary or to dispense medicines. They work on the shop floor and, while able to sell some OTC medicines, must know when to refer enquiries to a pharmacy technician or pharmacist.  Back to Top

The National Certificate in Pharmacy (Assistant) Level 3 is a nationally recognised qualification and provides a good grounding in the basics of retailing and pharmacy for those working as pharmacy assistants.

Anyone who has been working in a pharmacy for two years or more and has a good knowledge of all aspects of their job, is eligible to apply for a place on the Recognition of Current Competence (RCC) Programme run by PITO – contact us for details.

A number of written assessments are completed covering such topics as:

• Health & Safety
• Customer service
• Stock maintenance and loss prevention
• Selling skills
• Legislation
• Hazardous substances in a pharmacy
• Giving advice to customers on pharmacy products & services
• Communication skills

Completion of a First Aid course through an NZQA accredited training providers is also required. This programme is designed to be completed in 18 months or less.

This qualification includes some of the units contained in the National Certificate in Pharmacy (Technician) Level 5, making it an easy step up for those who decide they would like to work in the dispensary as a technician.  Back to Top

Supervising a Pharmacy Assistant in Training

All pharmacy assistants enrolled in the RCC programme are required to have a supervisor who is able to ‘verify’ that they are able to carry out the prescribed tasks to the standard required and that the work they have done for the assessment is correct.

Anyone acting as a ‘verifier’ for those undertaking one of the PITO assessment-only programmes, is required to hold an appropriate qualification. Either:

• Unit Standard 18203 – Verify evidence for assessment for a candidate – Level 4 3 credits

or

• Unit Standard 4098 – Use standards to assess candidate performance – Level 4 5 credits

Any pharmacist who has acted as a Preceptor for an Intern will hold 4098, those who do not hold either, can undertake unit standard 18203 through PITO at no cost to them. Details will be sent to you when your assistant enrols with PITO.  Back to Top

Completion of Assessments

Each module is sent out with a date by which it should be completed. Assistants and their pharmacist/supervisor will be notified if submission dates are missed and those who persistently fail to complete work within the time specified will be terminated from the programme.  Back to Top