Community Pharmacy Assistant

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Courses - September 2025

Level 1

Course details

College Reading & Writing Skills
COMM1085

Description: This course introduces students to the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills needed for academic and workplace success. Students will analyse a variety of texts and apply the steps of planning, writing, and revising to produce writing that meets the expectations of selected audiences and purposes. The course prepares students for college-level writing tasks, research, and documentation by asking them to produce clear, informed, and purposeful documents relevant to both academic and professional contexts.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Conestoga 101
CON0101

Description: This self-directed course focuses on introducing new students to the supports, services, and opportunities available at Conestoga College. By the end of this course, students will understand the academic expectations of the Conestoga learning environment, as well as the supports available to ensure their academic success. Students will also be able to identify on-campus services that support their health and wellness, and explore ways to get actively involved in the Conestoga community through co-curricular learning opportunities.
  • Hours: 1
  • Credits: 0
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Models of Health Care and Medicine
HEAL1235

Description:

Pharmacy services are an integral and fundamental component of the health care system. In order to provide context for the practice of the pharmacy team this course will present an overview of the Canadian health care system and additionally will provide students with the opportunity to reflect on different paradigms of health and medicine.

  • Hours: 28
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Pharmaceutical Math
MATH1105

Description:

This course includes a review of arithmetic manipulations and their application to pharmacy calculations. In this first level course, emphasis will be placed on calculating medication doses and quantities of medications required, pricing, inventory and related business calculations. Additionally, calculations required for non-sterile compounding will be covered.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Safety in the Workplace
OHS1320

Description: This course focuses on developing awareness and skills for the student to safely manage and conduct him or herself within a variety of employment settings. Through the units of the course, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding and knowledge of general Health and Safety guidelines, including WHMIS, Fire Safety and Workplace Violence. The unit on Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act will instruct the student on the requirements for Accessible Customer Service and Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulations. General information on Safe Driving, Privacy of Information and Hand Washing will be addressed as well. The course also provides participants with critical information regarding their insurance coverage (WSIB or other) while employed. As well as guidelines to follow in the event of an injury. Participants will receive a printable Record of Completion upon successful conclusion of this course, in order to demonstrate awareness of safe working practices to their employers.
  • Hours: 14
  • Credits: 1
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Inventory Management
OPER1460

Description: Inventory management plays a crucial role in a dispensary. This course will prepare students to create and maintain an inventory system, order products, manage purchasing and sales records, and receive products.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Pharmacology
PHAR1010

Description: This course will cover the basic concepts of pharmacology drug classifications, dosage forms, therapeutic use, side effects, precautions, and dosing regimens. Differentiation between generic and brand name therapeutic classifications will be addressed.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Community Pharmacy Practice
PHAR1020

Description: This course prepares students for practice in a community pharmacy setting. Effective communication in pharmacy will be taught and practiced by the student in class with a focus on patient safety. The lab component will focus on skill development in the interpretation and processing of prescriptions including labelling, legal requirements; Latin and medical abbreviations; dosage forms; routes of administration; dosage calculations; third party insurance requirements and auxiliary labels. Students will become familiar with the non-proprietary names, brand names, and therapeutic classes of common pharmaceutical products.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Pharmacy Legislation
PHAR1210

Description:

This course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that governs the practice of pharmacy and the distribution of pharmaceuticals. The legislation is designed to ensure the safety, efficacy and quality of medications and the protection of public health.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:
Electives: General Education
Student must pass 1 Course(s), selected in the Student Portal from available course options

Level 2

Course details

Anatomy and Physiology
ANAT1080

Description: This course will provide students with an overview of cellular structure and function, after which human anatomy and physiology will be addressed based on a systems approach.
  • Hours: 28
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

History Taking: Patient Communication
COMM1295

Description: This course will focus on the pharmacy technician’s triage role in gathering patient information that assists the pharmacist with product recommendations. Particular emphasis is placed on the development and practice of patient communication, interview and questioning strategies.
  • Hours: 28
  • Credits: 2
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Field Placement (Community Pharmacy Assistant)
FPLT1510

Description: This hands-on training will prepare the community pharmacy assistant student for graduation. Learning from pharmacy professionals in practice will not only help reinforce what has been learned in class, but will also expose students to pharmacy business, ethical challenges, different communication methods, and working as a team.
  • Hours: 80
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Pharmaceutical Math 2
MATH1155

Description:

Emphasis will be placed on understanding pharmaceutical calculations using different systems of measurement, calculating prescription quantities, medication doses, compounding calculations for sterile and non-sterile preparations, and accounting calculations. This course will prepare students to practice safely and professionally in the pharmacy setting within the scope of practice of a pharmacy technician. With a passing mark of 100%, it conforms to Standard 7.2 of The Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) which requires pharmacy calculation skills and checking skills assessed with zero tolerance for errors.

  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: MATH1105
  • CoRequisites:

Compounding
PHAR1060

Description: The student will learn to compound non-sterile products, including calculation of ingredient quantity and the correct use of compounding equipment. Practice may include compounding of lotions, creams, ointments, and solutions. Appropriate use, timely cleaning and maintenance of compounding equipment will also be stressed. Emphasis will be on adhering to good manufacturing practices, preparing quality pharmaceutical products, and achieving 100% accuracy in mathematical calculations.
  • Hours: 42
  • Credits: 3
  • Pre-Requisites: MATH1105
  • CoRequisites:

Clinical Conditions and Medications
PHAR1150

Description:

Students will build on knowledge related to the first semester of Pharmacology, and also apply their learning in a simulated environment

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Community Pharmacy Practice Dispensing
PHAR1160

Description:

This course will prepare the student for their field placement in Community Pharmacy. Areas of focus include: prescription processing, product preparation, prescription interpretation, third party billing, and brand/generic names.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Over the Counter Products
PHAR1170

Description:

Understanding when the patient needs to engage with the pharmacist is a role of the community pharmacy assistant. In addition to theoretical aspects of Over the Counter Medications and devices in a community pharmacy setting, students will be involved in simulations addressing when it is appropriate for pharmacist intervention.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Professional Practice
PHAR1180

Description:

The student will become familiar with the role of the pharmacy, pharmacist, pharmacy technician and pharmacy assistant in the health care delivery system. Maintaining professionalism, ethics, and a commitment to patient safety are essential components of this role. You will learn about the expectations and responsibilities of pharmacy team members. You will study the collection and use of patient information in pharmacy.

  • Hours: 56
  • Credits: 4
  • Pre-Requisites:
  • CoRequisites:

Program outcomes

  1. Develop a strong sense of responsibility in the control and use of drugs in a community pharmacy setting
  2. Develop competence in specific clerical functions associated with the practice of pharmacy, such as maintaining patient records, managing insurance claims and billing, narcotic and controlled drug records and purchasing
  3. Develop technical competence in assisting with the dispensing of prescriptions and pharmaceutical compounding in a pharmacy setting
  4. Develop in the graduate a capacity for precision, accuracy and adherence to regulations
  5. Develop appreciation for the role of the pharmacy assistant
  6. Develop an appreciation of the necessity to hold all information pertaining to the health and medication of patients in strict confidence
  7. Develop verbal and writing skills and their application in the community pharmacy setting, as well as skills in interpersonal relationships and interest in general education and lifelong learning
  8. Develop appreciation of different drug distribution systems in a community pharmacy setting