Pharmacy technician (integrated)
Level 3 · AdvancedHealth and science 2 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
This Level 3 integrated apprenticeship qualifies you as a registered Pharmacy Technician, combining on-the-job learning with study towards the GPhC-accredited qualification. You will take on responsibility for dispensing, accuracy checking, and patient-facing medicines services in community or hospital pharmacy. Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council on completion opens the door to specialist, advanced, or management roles in pharmacy.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Clinical pharmacy knowledge including therapeutics and pharmacology
Accuracy checking of dispensed medicines as an accredited checker
Medicines management in community and hospital settings
Pharmacy law, ethics, and professional regulatory standards
Clinical services such as medicines use reviews and minor ailment schemes
Supervised consumption, controlled drugs, and high-risk medicines procedures
Leadership and supervision of pharmacy support staff
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Dispense and accuracy-check prescriptions within GPhC standards
Counsel patients on how to take their medicines correctly
Deliver medicines services such as the New Medicines Service
Manage controlled drugs registers and storage securely
Supervise and support pharmacy assistants in day-to-day tasks
Maintain patient medication records in clinical IT systems
Liaise with GPs, nurses, and other healthcare professionals on medicines queries
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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