Pharmacy assistant Jobs

Pharmacy Assistant Job Overview

Pharmacy assistants work under the supervision of pharmacists. They typically work in drug stores, hospitals, and clinics. Moreover, the online pharmacy industry is growing rapidly in Canada and an increasing number of pharmacy assistants work in this area.

Pharmacy assistants are responsible for maintaining the pharmacy environment by accepting orders, properly storing medications, and handling patient files. They also fill patient prescriptions.

Pharmacy Assistant Job Education Requirements

Pharmacy assistants are not required to maintain any professional certifications in Canada. However, candidates who have completed the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) certification exam are greatly preferred. You can take the PEBC qualifying examination if you have completed an accredited pharmacist degree program in the United States or Canada or a Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Program (CCAPP). Lacking one of these educational courses, you must successfully complete another qualifying examination to take the PEBC or complete at least 2,000 hours of work or teaching experience.

Pharmacy Assistant Job Market

Pharmacy assistants are classified under other assisting occupations in support of health services. For these occupations, the job outlook is moderate in most parts of Canada. The projected employment growth is strong in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon. However, New Brunswick has recently experienced high levels of unemployment while unemployment is particularly low in Nova Scotia, creating better job opportunities.

Pharmacy Assistant Job Salary Information

health care assistants like pharmacy assistants enjoy a median hourly wage of C$17.25 in Canada. On average, wages range from C$26 on the high end of the spectrum to C$11.88 for low earners. Median wages are best in Alberta with hourly earnings of C$20. The earnings for these workers are lowest in Prince Edward Island at a median hourly wage of just C$15.