Higher Certificate in Science Pharmacy Technician

Higher Certificate in Science in Pharmacy Technician

Course Overview

  • 2

    Years

  • 6

    Level

  • 261

    Points

  • US660

    CAO Course Code

Why take this course?

TUS Midlands has been to the fore in developing higher education opportunities to degree level for pharmacy technicians. The programme is delivered in an attractive, modern facility, situated on TUS Midland’s East Campus.

A pharmacy technician plays a central role in the smooth operation of today’s pharmacy, by supporting and assisting the pharmacist in their various activities. Pharmacy technicians are employed in both the private sector in community and private hospital pharmacies and by the HSE in hospital pharmacies.

What will I experience?

The main aim of this course is to provide you with the appropriate multi-disciplined skills and theory to enable you to play a key role in both community and hospital pharmacies. In addition to lectures, the course contains a strong practical element and you spend twenty weeks of placement in total in year two in a community and hospital pharmacy. This placement is organised by TUS and is deemed to be enormously beneficial to your employment prospects. One of our unique elements of this programme is the provision of a first aid qualification within the professional development module.

What opportunities might it lead to?

Employment prospects for pharmacy technicians are excellent. Work opportunities exist in community and hospital pharmacies, wholesale division, pharmaceutical industry, sale and marketing, IT training, management, purchasing roles and many more. The qualification can lead to many opportunities to diversify. A number of graduates of this programme have been successful in entering pharmacy degrees (MPharm) in the Ireland (UCC & RCSI) & UK (Coleraine, Brighton, Kingston, Liverpool & Sunderland).

Additional Information

Students spend the second semester in year 2 on practice placement.


Course Details

Course Duration:
2 Years
CAO Course Code:
US660
Cut Off CAO Points:
261
Course Award:
Higher Certificate in Science
Course NFQ Level:
Level 6
Department:
Dept of Nursing & Healthcare
Minimum Entry Requirements:

Grade O6 at ordinary level in 5 subjects in the Leaving Certificate to include a laboratory-based science subject, Mathematics and a language (English or Irish).

QQI: Any major QQI award a pass in C20139 or 5N1833 or LCE Mathematics and C20006 or 5N2746 or Leaving Certificate Laboratory Science Subject.

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Student Testimonial

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Brianna Kelly, Pharmacy Technician graduate

One of the most import ant elements of this course is the work placement allocation

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Brianna Kelly, Pharmacy Technician graduate

This offers students an opportunity to gain invaluable experience. The placement is flexible and time allowances can be accumulated working in a pharmacy throughout the duration of the programme

Course Structure

Year 1

Responding to Symptoms, Pharmacy Calculations and Measurements, Human Anatomy and Physiology for Healthcare, Chemistry for Healthcare 1, Fundamentals of pharmacology, Learning for Healthcare, Pharmacy Legislation and Administration, Formulation and Compounding, Community Pharmacy Practice, Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics I, Chemistry for Healthcare 2, Human Anatomy and Physiology for Healthcare 2.

Year 2

Pharmacy Practice, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hospital Pharmacy Practice, Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics II, Preparation for Placement, Professional Practice Placement

Careers & Opportunities

Career Prospects

Employment prospects for pharmacy technicians are excellent. Work opportunities exist in community and hospital pharmacies nationwide.

Work Placement

​Students spend the second semester in year 2 on work placement.

Further Study

After graduating from this programme you may apply to join the BSc in Pharmacy Technician at TUS.

Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy Technician)

Bachelor of Science

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