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- Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy Dispensary
Overview
About this course
Support the health and wellbeing of your local community. Build dispensary skills in a community pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist. Develop customer service skills, retail business knowledge and an understanding of pharmaceutical products.
Outcomes
What you'll gain
Learning outcomes
Through a mixture of theory and practical course work, learn to:
assist customers with prescriptions
dispense prescriptions
provide and promote services to customers
read and communicate prescription information and ingredients
maintain dispensary stock
uphold work health and safety.
Course outcomes
Learn core skills that prepare you for opportunities in your chosen field.
A nationally accredited Certificate IV qualification.
The qualification needed to become an accredited dispensary technician.
Experience working in a community pharmacy under the supervision of a qualified pharmacist.
Skills to discuss medical conditions with customers from diverse age, cultural and language backgrounds, and advise them on at-home care programs that meet their needs.
The ability to support customers who are in pain, vulnerable or emotional.
Suitability
Is this course right for you?
Entry requirements
This course requires evidence of previous experience or study before you can enrol.
Non-traineeship
There are no entry requirements for this course. You can enrol now.
Traineeship
You must be employed as a trainee in the industry.
Your Apprenticeship Connect Australia Provider (ACAP) must submit your Training Proposal Plan (TPP).
Visit our apprenticeships and traineeships page for more information.
Completion requirements
During your study you'll need to provide your teacher with the following evidence:
Entry recommendations
To be prepared for this course, we recommend that you have:
the ability to work under supervision
the ability to remain calm in busy environments
confidence speaking with a range of customers about health matters
attention to detail
basic computer skills.
Important information:
It is recommended that you work in a community pharmacy and can complete at least 80 hours of supervised workplace practice during your course. If you do not work in a community pharmacy, you’ll need to complete 80 hours of work placement with a suitable employer.
The following foundation skills:
You can plan your work and try to solve problems on your own.
You can read longer texts and understand their main ideas.
You can write short sentences and paragraphs that others can understand.
You can speak clearly and explain your thoughts in a group.
You can use maths to work out more detailed problems in different settings.
You can use email, search the internet, and open files.
We tailor our courses to meet local community needs, so some campuses may have extra entry requirements. Check your preferred location for details. Need help preparing? Contact us for support.
Find Your Fit
This simple tool guides you to a suitable course level based on your foundation skills and confidence.
Pathways
Future career and study options
Career pathways
Our graduates go onto roles like:
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technicians fill and label patients' prescriptions under the supervision of Pharmacists. They may record details of, place orders for, take stock of, and store medications and medical supplies and deliver them to patients.
Full-time share Full-time workers usually work 35 hours or more a week (in all their jobs combined).
59%
Employment size Employment size is the number of workers who do this as their main job.
1,700 workers
Average age This is the average age of all workers in this job.
38 years
Weekly pay Median earnings are shown for full-time, non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate, before tax or any amounts that are salary sacrificed. These figures are a guide to earnings only and should not be used to determine a wage rate.
$920
Average full-time The average full-time hours that people in this role work each week.
39 hours
Skill level rating Skill level ratings are based on the range and complexity of job roles. In general, the higher the skill level, the more formal education and training, previous experience or on-the-job training needed to be good at the job.
High
Gender share
90% female
Future growth The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business estimates the likely change in number of workers in this role, or industry, over the next 5 years. Future growth is the likely percentage change compared to all other job roles.
Strong Growth
Other jobs include: dispensary technician and dispensary assistant
Licensing
Pharmacy assistants must follow laws and guidelines when supplying scheduled medicines, including those set by the Pharmacy Board of Australia. You need to follow these requirements throughout your course or traineeship.
Study pathways
Take your study further with other courses offered at TAFE NSW:
Previous study2 Courses
Begin here to gain experience and confidence in this study area.
Further study0 Courses
Advance your skills to take your career to the next level
The Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy Dispensary does not have any post-graduate courses.
Related study0 Courses
Learn core skills that prepare you for opportunities in your chosen field.
The Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy Dispensary does not have any related courses.
Your experience counts
At TAFE NSW, we recognise your previous study and work experience. You can apply for recognition of prior learning or a credit transfer with any of our courses. If you're successful you'll get your qualification faster.
Units
Units taught in this course
Courses are made up of a combination of both core and specialty units. In the Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy Dispensary qualification, you’ll need to successfully complete 14 Units of competency, including 9 core and 5 speciality units.
Please note, not all specialty units are offered at every TAFE NSW location. It is highly recommended that you check with your preferred campus for information about the specialty units offered at that location.
Core units - 9
Core units are central to the job outcomes of a particular industry or occupation. These are the units industry has agreed are essential to be capable and qualified at a particular study level.
Work effectively in a community pharmacySIRCIND001
Support the supply of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only MedicinesSIRCIND002
Use pharmacy practices for infection controlSIRCINF001
Administer dispensary computer systems and claimsSIRCDIS007
TAFE NSW services
Facilities and support
TAFE NSW provides support services across all campus locations and online. Whatever your needs or circumstances, we have the people, resources, counselling and facilities to support you in focusing on your studies.
TAFE NSW Disability Support Service
TAFE NSW Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) support
TAFE NSW Aboriginal Support; Learner support (ABE)
TAFE NSW Careers, Counselling and Pathways Service
TAFE NSW Libraries
Scholarship programs - be supported as you explore your talents and fulfil your potential
Read&Write literacy and study support software is available free for all TAFE NSW students to use while studying on campus and at home
LinkedIn Learning - an online resource which offers innovative courses and tutorials to improve your personal and professional skills
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Study options