Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
This one year course would equip learners with relevant knowledge and experience to work as a pharmacy counter assistant or pursue a pharmacy technician qualification in the future. From dispensing over the counter medications, helping clients choose medical aids and appliances to demonstrating and selling products this course covers the most relevant skills. This course will also focus on a range of health related subjects relevant to employment as a pharmacy assistant. Work Experience is within a retail pharmacy where as a pharmacy assistant, you can work as part of a team of health professionals in order to help customers achieve the best possible health outcome.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
-
Pharmacy Studies – Theory and Practice
Over-the-Counter Medicines
Infection Prevention and Control
Work Experience
Anatomy and Physiology
Word Processing
Nutrition
Mathematics
Medical Terminology
Customer Service
Beauty Industry Ethics and Practice
Safety & Health at Work
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course leads to a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a possible progression route, click below:
| QQI Code |
| 5M4468 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
Graduates may pursue pharmacy work, or work as sales assistants in health stores etc. This course is aimed at those interested in working in a community pharmacy or for those wishing to progress to a year two (part-time) Pharmacy Technician course.
Students may also progress to participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through the QQI Higher Education Links Scheme to (for example) DCU, UCD, Maynooth University (incl. Kilkenny Campus), TU Dublin, Dundalk Institute of Technology, University of Limerick, Athlone IT, UCC, NUIG, Carlow IT, Carlow College, Marino Institute of Education, Dun Laoghaire IADT, St. Angela’s College Sligo, University of Limerick, Tralee IT, Letterkenny IT, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology or on the Carlow IT Pharmacy Technician courses or to health or arts courses in UCD, Maynooth University, TU Dublin – City Campus or UCC.
Alternatively, students may seek immediate employment in a range of companies and projects that seek graduates with a health, science or pharmacy aptitude.