Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
This course is modular with continuous assessment over the two years. Students will develop medical knowledge to recognise common illnesses and communication skills to liase with pharmacists and council patients on healthcare issues.
Students will gain experience in dispensing procedures and practices and be able to interpret prescriptions and prepare medicines for dispensing. They will be able to maintain patient records and operate pharmacy computer systems. They will also be able to supply non-prescription medicines in accordance with legislation and guidelines.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
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Provide an effective and responsive pharmacy service
Process pharmaceutical queries
Ensure your own actions reduce risks to health and safety
Reflect on and develop your practice
Receive prescription from individuals
Confirm prescription validity
Assemble prescribed items
Issue prescribed items
Prepare extemporaneous medicines for individual use
Order pharmaceutical stock
Receive pharmaceutical stock
Maintain pharmaceutical stock
Issue pharmaceutical stock
Undertake an in-process accuracy check of assembled prescribed items, prior to the final accuracy check
Provide advice on symptoms and actions and uses of medicines
Provide an effective service in a setting outside the pharmacy
Enable learning through demonstrations and instructions
Components subject to change
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 |
| 6M4978 |
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.
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
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
Pharmacy technicians are employed in both the private sector in community and private hospital pharmacies and by the HSE in hospital pharmacies. Other employment opportunities include medical sales for pharmaceutical suppliers.This qualification is recognised in Ireland and the UK.