Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians are in high demand, so VIU has partnered with Selkirk College to make it easier for Vancouver Island students to get training. As a pharmacy technician you can earn a good wage in a rewarding career in community and hospital settings. Pharmacy technicians are vital members of a health care team. Their responsibilities include:

• preparing and distributing pharmaceutical products
• promoting patient health
• communicating with health care professionals

The program is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation Pharmacy Programs.  When you graduate you must complete additional requirements including , National exams through the Pharmacy Examination Board (PEBC) to license as a Regulated Pharmacy Technician in Canada. Refer to the BC College of Pharmacists for further licensure information.

How the Selkirk and VIU partnership works

You'll take online theory courses with Selkirk College. Then you can take your lab courses at the VIU Cowichan campus. The VIU lab courses run for eight weeks. In the lab courses you'll prepare for your practicum by practicing all the tasks a pharmacy technician is responsible for in the workplace.

After you've completed the lab courses you can do your practicum on Vancouver Island through Selkirk.

Program requirements

Academic requirements

• grade 12 or equivalent
• English 12 with a 60% or higher
• biology 12 with a 60% or higher
• chemistry 11 with a 60% or higher
• pre-calculus 11 or foundations of math 12 (or equivalent) with a 60% or higher

Notes on admission

• for practicum sites, applicants must be able to demonstrate compliance with public health officer's covid-19 vaccine requirements.
• fieldwork, practicums or clinical practice will require a satisfactory criminal record check prior to placement. The Registration Centre at VIU will contact you regarding the criminal record check. Criminal record checks are processed through the Ministry according to the Criminal Records Review Act. A check completed through the RCMP is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Act.
• a completed Immunization Requirements Form
• basic computer skills
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) certification
• Emergency First Aid and CPR-C completed prior to starting lab courses