Each year, Canadians spend nearly $30-billion on prescription drugs, and more than 40% of the country took at least one prescription medication last year, making pharmacies among the busiest businesses in Canada.
If you’re looking to launch a unique, varied, and rewarding career in healthcare, CDI College’s Pharmacy Technician diploma program is the right place to start.
Pharmacy Technicians
Pharmacy technicians work closely with pharmacists and pharmacy assistants in busy retail, community, and hospital pharmacies.
Throughout your coursework in the program, you’ll learn the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful pharmacy technician, including compounding, dispensing, pharmacy mathematics, drug and body interactions, and using pharmacy software programs.
Hands-on Pharmacy Technician Courses
As part of your pharmacy technician training, you will partake in a nine-week, 360-hour practicum placement, split between a community pharmacy and a hospital pharmacy.
Pharmacy Technician is a regulated health profession under the auspices of the College of Pharmacists of BC (CPBC). Graduates of this program will attain competencies specified in the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) Professional Competencies for Canadian Pharmacy Technicians at Entry to Practice and the Canadian Pharmacy Technician Educators Association (CPTEA) Educational Outcomes for Pharmacy Technician Programs in Canada.
Graduates will also be eligible to apply to write the certification examination offered by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) and to register with the CPBC.
Admissions Prerequisites
- Graduation from a high school or post-secondary institution in Canada with successful completion of:
- A minimum of Biology 11, Chemistry 11, and Math 11.
- Completion of three consecutive English or French language (i.e., Grade 10, 11, and 12 English/French).
- Passing grade on CDI College's admission test.
- Provide a criminal record check (in accordance with the Criminal Records Review Act).
- Provide completed immunization report showing current immunization and free of communicable diseases.
- Basic competency in computer literacy and basic keyboarding (minimum 25 wpm).
- Interview with campus director, program director/coordinator, or designate.
- Prior learning MAY be recognized. Please contact the admissions team for more information.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate and receive a diploma, a student must obtain an overall average of at least 70% in this program, minimum grade of 70% in each of the final exams (theory and practical), and meet the zero tolerance criteria in the Pharmaceutical Calculations module as required by the regulatory body.
Practicum Requirements - Community and Hospital
Students must successfully complete their practicum rotations split between both community and hospital pharmacy.
International Student and English Language Proficiency Requirements
Applicants who have graduated from high school or post-secondary programs outside of Canada must demonstrate English language proficiency for program admission (including English-speaking countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Australia).
This standard is based on ICES-recommended tests and scores. In addition, all international transcripts and credentials will be assessed through the International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) prior to enrolling.
Admission to the CDI College Pharmacy Technician diploma program is dependent on producing one of the following test scores prior to signing enrolment contracts and documentation.
| Test | Details | Minimum Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | Internet-based test | Speaking | 23 |
| Writing | 25 | ||
| Reading | 22 | ||
| Listening | 21 | ||
| Total | 91 | ||
| Michigan Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) | Speaking | 3+ | |
| Writing | 80 | ||
| Reading | 83 | ||
| Listening | 80 | ||
| Total | 81 | ||
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | Academic format | Speaking | 6 |
| Writing | 6 | ||
| Reading | 6 | ||
| Listening | 6 | ||
| Overall Band | 6.5 | ||
| The Canadian Test for English Scholars and Trainees (CanTEST) | Speaking | 4.5 | |
| Writing | 4.0 | ||
| Reading | 4.5 | ||
| Listening | 4.5 | ||
CDI College, Burnaby – Pharmacy Technician Faculty
Dr. Charles Park, PharmD, RPh – Program Director and Instructor – charles.park@cdicollege.ca – 604-437-8585
Debra Blasco, RPhT – Instructor
Sangita Lalli, RPhT – Instructor
As pharmacy technicians are a regulated profession in British Columbia, upon graduation, you’ll be able to write certification exams with both the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC), and the College of Pharmacists of BC.
The Pharmacy Technician Program at CDI College's Burnaby campus has been awarded the status of Full Accreditation by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) for a four-year term, from January 1st, 2016 to December 31st, 2019.
This program has been approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.
