Pharmacy Technician Diploma

Students will be required to pass a keyboarding assessment with at least 30 wpm by December 1 of Year One, provided at RDP, as this is a prerequisite for the second term of studies. You should begin preparing for this assessment when you are admitted to the program.

Applicants are required to have either a MAC or PC laptop that meets the following minimum requirements.

Apple Laptop  

• MacBook Air with 1.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor, 128 GB solid-state storage, 4 GB memory
• Web camera (built-in or plug-in)
• Microphone

Windows Laptop  

• Laptop with a 2.6 GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor, 128 GB storage, 4 GB memory and Windows 10 operating system
• Web camera (built-in or plug-in)
• Microphone

Software:   

• Adobe Flash( Latest Version)
• Google Chrome browser
• Microsoft Word.
  • Students can either purchase and install Microsoft Word, or access Microsoft 365 included with your RDP student account.

The Pharmacy Technician program, a CCAPP-accredited program, requires one of the following for applicants whose first language is not English.

• Graduation from a high school in Canada with three consecutive first-language English or French courses/credits; or
• Graduation from a Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP)* in Quebec with three consecutive, first-language English or French courses/credits; or
• An undergraduate degree from a university in Canada, whose instruction was provided in English or French; or
• Completion of an approved English Proficiency Test
  • IELTS Academic – International English Language Testing System: 7.0 in Reading, Listening & Speaking, 6.5 on Writing
  • OET – Occupational English Test: B grades on Reading, Listening & Speaking, C+ grade on Writing
  • TEF Canada – Test d’evaluation de francais*: B2 in Reading & Writing, C1 in Listening & Speaking

Pharmacy Technician applicants must also meet the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) ELP Language Proficiency Requirements for Licensure as a Pharmacy Technician in Canada.

Applicants who meet these NAPRA requirements must also meet the English Language Proficiency requirements for RDP Health & Wellness programs.

One of the following is required:

• Graduation from a Canadian high school with three consecutive first-language English courses/credits; or
• A Canadian university undergraduate degree, where instruction was provided in English; or
• Completion of an approved English Proficiency Test
  • Duolingo English Test: 130
  • IELTS Academic – International English Language Testing System: 7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 on each band score
  • Oxford ELLT: 8 overall, with at least 7 on each band score
  • TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language: 92 iBT or 580 PBT

Students with Study Permits who are admitted to a program that has a practicum or clinical placement in the health service field must complete their Medical Authorization as required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada one month before the start of classes.

The RDP Pharmacy Technician diploma program includes a 4-week (160 hours) community pharmacy practicum placement and a 5-week (200 hours) hospital pharmacy practicum placement.

Due to the rapidly changing nature of pharmacy & health care, students must complete both practicum courses within one academic year of completing other required courses. Students unable to meet this timeline may have to repeat courses as deemed necessary. 

Practicum courses are designed to be completed on a full-time basis due to the number of required hours in each practicum block.

Practicum Expenses

Practicum expenses can vary depending on the practicum location. Minimum costs will be room and board, relocation costs, and travel to and from the workplace. You will require appropriate clothing or uniform attire for working with the public in a professional setting. 

Practicum Travel

While every effort is made to consider student preferences for practicum location, due to practicum availability, students may be required to travel to locations outside of their preferences in the province of Alberta in order to complete practicum courses. In extreme circumstances, the institution may need to delay completion of a practicum placement until a suitable placement becomes available.

Physical Requirements

• Good manual dexterity and eyesight
• Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time
• Ability to lift items to 10 kilograms
• Ability to work well in stressful and busy situations, both alone and with others

If you have any concerns about these requirements, please talk to the program faculty.

Sterile/Aseptic Compounding

• Sterile/Aseptic compounding requires compliance with the requirements set forth by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) standards for pharmacy compounding of sterile preparations. Students must comply with these standards to perform sterile compounding both in their sterile course and in their practicum placement
  • These standards have specific requirements for garments and restrictions on personal adornments, including, but not limited to:
    • jewelry, makeup, nails, permanent tattoos, and piercings
• Sterile compounding also requires significant hand dexterity and the ability to work with the hands for extended periods of time.

If you are concerned about these requirements, please contact program faculty, as not meeting these standards will hinder your ability to complete the program successfully.

Health & Safety Requirements

Health workers are responsible to attain and maintain required health and safety certifications and maintain recommended immunization standards.

For clinical and practicum placements, as a student of a Health program, you are also required to meet these standards of practice.

These health and safety requirements do not need to be submitted with your application. However, failure to submit the required documents will affect your progression in your chosen program.

Students presenting courses from other recognized post-secondary institutions may be granted transfer credit towards the Pharmacy Technician program.

Red Deer Polytechnic recognizes the need to facilitate access to post-secondary education for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners.

To increase participation of Indigenous Peoples, RDP will waive the application fee and remove the tuition deposit requirement for qualified applicants who are First Nations, Métis, or Inuit.

The Pharmacy Technician Diploma program has designated three (3) seats for qualified applicants who are First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. After June 1 for the Fall term, October 1 for the Winter term, and February 1 for the Spring term (if applicable), unallocated seats will be released to qualified applicants on the waitlist if one exists for the program. 

Indigenous applicants must meet the admission requirements for the program as outlined in the Academic Calendar and qualify for the Waivers or a designated seat by: 

• Self-identifying as an Indigenous applicant on the Application for Admission.
• Providing proof of Indigenous ancestry

 Proof of Indigenous ancestry (one of the following): 

• Certified copy of a Status or Treaty card, Métis membership card, Nunavut Trust Certificate card, roll number or any other proof accepted by Inuit communities.
• Proof that an ancestor’s name has been entered in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act, the band list of an individual band, or the Inuit roll.
• Written confirmation of Indigenous ancestry from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
• Statutory Declaration by an applicant attesting to Aboriginal ancestry with supporting documentation. 

Other forms of proof may also be considered at the discretion of the Registrar.

If you have questions or want help with the process, please connect with Indigenous Student Services.