Health Care & Dental Programmes

Pharmacy Assistant Program –Smiths Falls

Academic Program Coordinator:  Joanne Karlos

Instructors: Jeff Portyanski, CPhT. Angela Evans, CPhT. Nancy Edwards, Pharmacist, Ph.D., Jayne Macdonald., Ph.D. Peter Crate, Ph.D., Art Ley, Ph.D

Program Description:

The Pharmacy Assistant program at the Kingston Learning Centre is a 29- week diploma program registered by the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities.

Graduates of the KLC program will be prepared to work in retail settings upon completion of the program. Their responsibilities include assisting in the way of prescriptions under the supervision of a Pharmacist.

Course Outline:

Semester I:  (23 hours/week)

Semester II:  (28.5 hours/week)                                                                                                               

Additional Training: (30 hrs/ week)

WHIMIS

Advanced CPR and Standard First Aid

Placement:  (35 hours/week)

Course Code:                     Course

PLC         Community Pharmacy Placement            (4 weeks)

Academic Course Grading: Students must achieve a 75% over all to pass the program with a minimum 60% in each course.

Work Placements: Students will complete one unpaid four-week internships under the supervision of a pharmacist/technician after the completion of semester two: Students, with faculty guidance, decide on a community placement. Students are evaluated during placement on a pass/fail basis.

Note: Every effort is made to accommodate students in placements. In some cases, students may be required to complete  placements by travelling outside of Kingston. It is the student’s responsibility to make travel arrangements for placement.

Admission Requirements for Pharmacy Assistant Program:

Upon entry a student must have and cannot be exempted from, grade 12 (OSSD) diploma or G.E.D with advanced credits in Math, Science and English with a final mark of 60% in pure or applied.  Key boarding skills 35 wpm upon entry and an interview with Academic Program Coordinator may be required.

Mature student status: (18 years of age or older) in addition to the above non exemptible criteria eligibility is determined with Canadian Adult Achievement Test, level D  or grade 12 level and interview with Academic Coordinator.

Additional Requirements:

·         Police Record Check

·         Immunizations against Hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, tetanus, diphtheria, influenza and negative on the Two-Step Tuberculin Skin Test

·         Fitness to complete practical internship

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Students may have acquired learning through work experience, study and experiential learning. Students will be required to demonstrate their achievement of course learning outcomes. Students will be granted PLAR with a combination of work and education experience. They must however achieve a score of 75% in the challenge exam. Students must still complete a minimum of fifty percent of the program to receive our diploma. Students may obtain a course outline from the academic area responsible for delivering the course to determine if their knowledge and skills match the course learning outcomes.

Applying for Transfer Credit

Students will only be granted advance standing if the academic courses they have previously taken are Pharmacy Assistant Ministry of Training, Colleges and University approved and have obtained a passing grade of 75% in each course. All supporting transcripts and detailed course outlines (course descriptions in calendars are not sufficient) must be included with transfer credit application. Advance standing for completed placement is not transferable. Student must still complete a minimum of fifty percent of the program to receive our diploma.

English Language Proficiency Requirement: Applicants whose first language is NOT English must demonstrate ONE of the following:

·         Achievement of valid TOEFL score 557-560 on the paper based test. A score of 220 on computer based test or a score of 83 on the internet based test (iBT)

·         Achieving a valid IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 6.5

Employment Opportunities

Kingston Learning Centre Pharmacy Assistant graduates have been hired by:

·         Rexall Drugs

·         Shoppers Drug Mart

·         Medical Arts/Lovell Drugs

·         Loblaw’s Pharmacy

·         Wall Mart

·         No Frills Pharmacy

·         Methadone Clinic Pharmacy