Pharmacy Assistant
On this page
- What's it like to be a Pharmacy Assistant?
- How to become a Pharmacy Assistant
- Latest Pharmacy Assistant jobs
- Top skills and experience for Pharmacy Assistants
- Pharmacy Assistant role reviews
What's it like to be a Pharmacy Assistant?
Pharmacy Assistants sell products and help customers in a pharmacy. They greet customers, provide advice and recommendations on non-prescription products, process transactions, set up shop displays and manage stock levels. Pharmacy Assistants need good customer service skills and some knowledge of pharmacy products and terminology.
Tasks and duties
- Greeting customers and accepting prescriptions to provide to a Pharmacist.
- Advising customers on retail products and non-prescription medications.
- Requesting additional advice from Pharmacists when required.
- Teaching customers how to use and store medicines and products.
- Taking payment for purchases.
- Managing inventory and stock levels.
- Curating goods for display, stacking shelves and wrapping sold products.
How to become a Pharmacy Assistant
You can become a Pharmacy Assistant without formal training, but some employers may prefer candidates with a qualification and retail sales experience.
Complete a qualification, such as a New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Introduction to Pharmacy Practice) (Level 3). This can be completed part-time.
Get experience in an entry-level retail sales position.
Upon completing the Level 3 qualification, you could progress into the New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician - Core) (Level 4). This course provides skills and knowledge relevant to becoming a Pharmacy Technician who can dispense medicines under supervision.
Alternatively, consider completing a Bachelor of Pharmacy. This typically takes four years of full-time study and is a first step to becoming a qualified Pharmacist.
