Pharmacy technicians play a critical role in today's healthcare system. In this program, you will work closely with pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to prepare, check, and release prescriptions. You will build a strong foundation in pharmacy practice, including pharmacy calculations, pharmacology, and prescription preparation. You will also learn sterile and non-sterile compounding techniques, pharmacy computer systems, and professional ethics. Learning is designed to reflect real pharmacy environments, and you will train in simulation labs that replicate actual work settings.
Career outcomes
- Hospital Pharmacy Technician
- Community Pharmacy Technician
- Long-Term Care Pharmacy Technician
- Compounding Pharmacy Technician
- Retail Pharmacy Technician
Admission requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 or older by the start of classes).
- Grade 12 English (C or U), minimum 60%.
- Grade 12 Biology (C or U), minimum 60%.
- Grade 12 Chemistry (C or U), minimum 60%.
- Grade 12 Mathematics (C or U), minimum 60%.
- International applicants must provide an approved English proficiency test score.
Tuition
2024–25 tuition: $3,690 per year (domestic).
Courses
- GNED 1860 Environmental Systems and Policy
- HLTH 1260 Pharmaceutical Calculations
- HLTH 1500 Pharmacology Basics
- HLTH 1550 Sterilization and Infection Control
- HLTH 2200 Pharmacy Law and Ethics
- HLTH 2930 Compounding Techniques
- KINE 1560 Pharmacokinetics and Drug Action
- KINE 1680 Nutrition and Dietary Science
- KINE 2200 Pharmacotherapeutics and Interactions
- KINE 2900 Compounding and Formulations
- MATH 1770 Discrete Mathematics for Design
- MATH 2790 Probability and Statistics
- MATH 2970 Mathematics for Laboratory Science
- PHAR 1530 Pharmacy Law and Ethics
What you will learn
Pharmacy technicians play a critical role in today's healthcare system. In this program, you will work closely with pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to prepare, check, and release prescriptions. You will build a strong foundation in pharmacy practice, including pharmacy calculations, pharmacology, and prescription preparation. You will also learn sterile and non-sterile compounding techniques, pharmacy computer systems, and professional ethics. Learning is designed to reflect real pharmacy environments, and you will train in simulation labs that replicate actual work settings.
How the program runs
This full-time program is delivered on the Benchlands Campus. Classes start in September and January each year. You will complete a 160-hour community pharmacy practicum and a 200-hour hospital pharmacy practicum. These placements take place in May through July. They allow you to apply classroom learning in real pharmacy environments, practice prescription checking under supervision, and gain experience working within regulated healthcare teams.
To participate in these placements, you must meet strict health and safety standards. This includes providing proof of immunizations, completing a criminal record check, and meeting physical requirements such as good manual dexterity and the ability to stand for extended periods. If you have any concerns about these requirements, contact Accessibility Services before the term starts.
Admission
To enter this program, you need an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 or older by the start of classes). You must have Grade 12 English (C or U), Grade 12 Biology (C or U), Grade 12 Chemistry (C or U), and Grade 12 Mathematics (C or U), all with a minimum grade of 60%. International applicants must provide an approved English proficiency test score. Qualified applicants are offered admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tuition and fees
2024–25 tuition: $3,690 per year (domestic). Ancillary fees are separate. Financial assistance is available through Ontario student financial assistance. Visit Tuition & Fees for a complete breakdown of costs and payment options.
After you graduate
You will be eligible to pursue registration as a pharmacy technician in the province. Registration requires passing external licensing exams and meeting regulatory body requirements. Graduates work in hospitals, community pharmacies, long-term care facilities, and industrial pharmacies. You can also continue your education with transfer credits into a Bachelor of Health Science at a partner university. Visit the Allied Health & Wellness page to learn more about this field.
How to apply
Domestic full-time applicants apply through the provincial college application service. International applicants apply on the polytechnic's own form. Visit How to apply for step-by-step instructions. Upload your documents in myWrenford once your application is started.