Program Overview

Pharmacy Technician Ontario College Diploma program

Program Description

Students prepare to work collaboratively with pharmacy teams and other health care professionals to achieve patients’ health goals, and ensure continuity of care. Experiential learning practices such as simulation experiences, and placements in community, hospital, or other pharmacy sites actively engage students in the learning process. Students enjoy the benefits of learning from expert faculty who are also practicing pharmacy professionals. Students develop knowledge, skills, and abilities in key competency areas of legal and ethical responsibilities, professionalism, patient care, product preparation, health promotion, knowledge application, communication, intra- and inter-professionalism and safety.

Intake Information

• Start date: Fall 2025, Barrie Campus
• Start date: Winter 2026, Barrie Campus

Tuition and Fees

• Visit our tuition and fees page for detailed information on the cost to attend Georgian.
• You can afford this! Explore OSAP as well as awards, scholarships and bursaries to help you pay your way to graduation.

Work-Integrated Learning

• This program includes a field placement component where you’ll gain hands-on experience in a setting relevant to your program.
• Learn about types of work-integrated learning at Georgian.

Admission Requirements

Pharmacy Technician Admission Requirements

• OSSD or equivalent with a minimum grade of 60% in each pre-requisite subject is required:
  • Grade 12 English (C or U)
  • Grade 12 Mathematics (C or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U)
  • Grade 11 or 12 Chemistry (C or U)

Language Proficiency Requirement

• The Pharmacy Technician Program is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP).
• The English proficiency requirement can be met through:
  • Language proficiency test results that meet the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) Language Proficiency Requirements for Licensure as a Pharmacy Technician in Canada, further information can be found on their website at:
  • Graduation from high school in Canada with three consecutive, first language English courses or credits; or
  • An undergraduate degree from a university in Canada, whose instruction was provided in English

Selection Process

• Applicants will be assessed and ranked based on academic grades.

Criminal Reference/Vulnerable Sector Check

• Placement agencies require an up-to-date clear criminal reference check and vulnerable sector check prior to going out on placement.
• Students should obtain their criminal reference three months prior to placement; checks conducted earlier may not be considered current.

Additional Information

• Certain clinical placements may require students to have updated flu shots, TB testing and Hepatitis B vaccination, Mask Fit Test, as well as a Police Record Check (including Vulnerable Sector Screening and a check of the Pardoned Sex Offender Data Base).
• It is the student’s responsibility to ensure he or she is eligible to participate in clinical placements.
• The College assumes no responsibility for these matters and students should be aware that tuition will not be refunded in the event that access to a placement is denied.

Career Opportunities

• Registered pharmacy technicians are qualified to work in a variety of settings, including community pharmacies, home health care companies, hospital pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, pharmacy software vendors, third party insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers.

Learning Spaces

• Our state-of-the-art simulation labs give you the hands-on training you need with equipment you will use on the job.
• The Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences at the Barrie Campus offers students in the Pharmacy Technician program:
  • A separate, clean room that hosts eight laminar air flow hoods to practise aseptic techniques
  • A separate anteroom to practise proper infection control in a hospital environment
  • A pharmacy lab that focuses on different types of hospital dispensing
  • A community pharmacy lab where students have their own space for dispensing medications
  • Access to technology such as scanners, automatic pill counters, GoPros and packagers that enhance experiential learning

Accreditation

• The Pharmacy Technician program at Georgian College has been awarded accreditation status by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs for a five-year term from January 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030.

Course Overview

• 21 Program Courses
• 2 Communications Courses
• 2 Practicum Placements
• 3 General Education Courses

Program-Specific Courses

• Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Pharmacy Technician program outline.
  • BIOL 1014 – The Essential Body
  • COMP 1063 – Community Pharmacy Computer Systems
  • MATH 1025 – Pharmaceutical Calculations
  • PHRM 1000 – Pharmacology Fundamentals
  • PHRM 1002 – Community Pharmacy Dispensing Introductory Theory
  • PHRM 1007 – Community Pharmacy Dispensing Introductory Lab
  • Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.
  • Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.

Course Delivery Method(s)

• In person
• This program is delivered fully in person and requires you to attend campus.

Related Programs

• Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing
• Biotechnology – Health
• Opticianry
• Practical Nursing

Program Code

• PHRM

Duration

• 2 Years

Credential

• Ontario College Diploma

Program Delivery

• Full-time

Program Delivery Method(s)

• In person

Notes

• The costs associated with the provision of the CRC and VSS, anything related to them (including, if applicable, obtaining a pardon), and meeting any immunization and other Placement requirements, are to be borne by the student.
• The non-academic requirements of clinical agencies as described in the Clinical Preparedness Permit are subject to change at any time and host agencies may accept or decline students for any reason at their discretion.
• Georgian College is not responsible for any of the costs associated with the foregoing, nor for the consequences of failing to comply with, any of the requirements set out above.