Apprenticeship Standards Pharmacy Technician (L3)
About the role
Pharmacy Technicians are registered professionals working within the regulatory standards for pharmacy, as set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Pharmacy Order 2010.
Pharmacy Technicians work in a wide range of settings, including (but not exclusively): registered pharmacies, community services, justice (the Prison Service), GP Practices, dispensing doctors’ practices, care homes and clinical commissioning groups, hospitals, mental health, defence (HM Armed Services) and within the pharmaceutical industry
Pharmacy technicians manage the supply of medicines and devices in a pharmacy and assist pharmacists with advisory services. A Pharmacy Technician is responsible for carrying out both routine and specialist services, including highly complex activities requiring them to use their professional judgement. They are expected to work both individually and as part of a multi-disciplinary team. They are able to work with minimum supervision, with a high degree of autonomy, taking responsibility for the quality and accuracy of the work that they have undertaken and that of others.
Pharmacy Technicians work in a wide range of settings, including (but not exclusively): registered pharmacies, community services, justice (the Prison Service), GP Practices, dispensing doctors’ practices, care homes and clinical commissioning groups, hospitals, mental health, defence (HM Armed Services) and within the pharmaceutical industry
Pharmacy technicians manage the supply of medicines and devices in a pharmacy and assist pharmacists with advisory services. A Pharmacy Technician is responsible for carrying out both routine and specialist services, including highly complex activities requiring them to use their professional judgement. They are expected to work both individually and as part of a multi-disciplinary team. They are able to work with minimum supervision, with a high degree of autonomy, taking responsibility for the quality and accuracy of the work that they have undertaken and that of others.
Pharmacy Technicians work in a wide range of settings, including (but not exclusively): registered pharmacies, community services, justice (the Prison Service), GP Practices, dispensing doctors’ practices, care homes and clinical commissioning groups, hospitals, mental health, defence (HM Armed Services) and within the pharmaceutical industry
Pharmacy technicians manage the supply of medicines and devices in a pharmacy and assist pharmacists with advisory services. A Pharmacy Technician is responsible for carrying out both routine and specialist services, including highly complex activities requiring them to use their professional judgement. They are expected to work both individually and as part of a multi-disciplinary team. They are able to work with minimum supervision, with a high degree of autonomy, taking responsibility for the quality and accuracy of the work that they have undertaken and that of others.
On this page
Standard
On-programme
We provide a clear learning programme to take apprentices from entry through to the gateway for end-point assessment.
This apprenticeship standard is integrated, meaning that the end-point assessment (EPA) component of the apprenticeship is integrated into the qualification. This ensures that the qualification and the apprenticeship award are co-terminus. In the context of the apprenticeship, this means that apprentices cannot achieve the qualification without completing the EPA.
You can use our on-programme offer regardless of whether you are using Pearson as your end-point assessment organisation or not.
Qualifications
Apprentices without English and mathematics at level 2 must achieve level 2 prior to taking their EPA.
For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
This is an integrated end-point assessment where the on-programme qualification and the end-point assessment are integrated and the learners achieve the qualification only when they have successfully achieved the end-point assessments.
As both a vocational and academic awarding organisation, we can offer a wide range of English and maths qualifications in line with your standards’ requirements from Functional Skills through to GCSEs.
Resources
English and maths resources
We have a wide range of resources and useful tools to complement your programme, including assessment tools, podcasts and training events.
End-point assessment
As an ESFA-approved Assessment Organisation, we provide a full range of assessment services, resources and support from our experienced EPA team to equip you and your learners with the diverse requirements of the apprenticeship standards.
The EPA components are part of the qualification.
A trainee registered on the apprenticeship pathway will not be permitted to change to the non-apprenticeship pathway unless the trainee has attempted the maximum number of retakes as agreed with the learner and employer, and has failed. In this case, only elements that have been passed can be recognised for prior learning in respect of the non-apprenticeship pathway.
You can use Pearson as your end-point assessment organisation, regardless of whether you choose to use our on-programme offer or not.
For more information, view our webinar outlining the EPA structure and curriculum surrounding Pharmacy. Including good practice guidelines and how to support the learner journey.
There are two components for this EPA:
1. Professional discussion based on a portfolio of evidence
It is a planned and structured two-way discussion to draw out the best of the apprentice’s competence and excellence and cover the duties and KSBs assigned to this assessment method. It allows the apprentice to evidence how they have met the KSBs which are underpinned by evidence drawn from their portfolio.
The professional discussion will allow the apprentice to demonstrate the depth and breadth of their pharmacy technician knowledge, skills and behaviours required to practice both safely and effectively.
The professional discussion will assess the KSBs mapped as outlined in the mapping in the assessment plan:
- How they work in line with the regulatory standards
- Their understanding and application of dispensing and drug advice
- Their understanding of pharmacy science
- How they meet quality and governance requirements
- How they deliver person centred care
- How they work as an effective member of the team and supervise others
The professional discussion must last for 90 minutes.
Grading: Fail/Pass/Distinction
2. Observation with question and answer session
Apprentices must be observed by an independent assessor completing work in their normal workplace in which they will demonstrate the KSBs assigned to this assessment method.
The apprentices will be observed carrying out day-to-day activities in a live setting for 60 minutes followed by the 20-minute question and answer session.
The following activities MUST be observed during the observation, and the KSBs mapped to this method must be demonstrated:
- Dispensing of medicines
- Delivery of person-centred care
The apprentices will be observed carrying out day-to-day activities in a live setting for 60 minutes followed by the 20-minute question and answer session.
Grading: Fail/Pass
Our range of EPA resources such as EPA specification, additional resources document and practice knowledge test are designed to enhance learners’ knowledge and/or hone essential skills required.
They are available to our customers who have signed up to Pearson EPA and include information on:
- Structure
- Grading
- Gateway requirements
- Assessment content
- Evidence requirement for each component
We have designed a step-by-step guide, with signposts to our key supporting information, resources and services available at every stage of the process.
