training@vic.guild.org.au

SIR30116 Certificate III in Community Pharmacy

This qualification is considered to be the standard qualification for a pharmacy assistant.   This qualification provides the practicing pharmacy assistant with the skills and knowledge to work within all areas of the pharmacy.  The focus is on key pharmacy areas including product knowledge categories, health knowledge areas, administration and pharmacy operations.

Who should do this course?

Pharmacy assistants with some previous pharmacy, retail or life experience who want to expand their knowledge and learn specialised skills.

Course duration

Full time employees should complete the course within 12 to 18 months. Part time employees should complete the course in under 36 months. A training plan is provided to support each student for the duration of the course.

Entry requirements

This course requires no prior pharmacy knowledge or training. However students need to be employed within a community pharmacy and working a minimum of 13 hours per week for the duration of the course.

Delivery method

This course is delivered via workbook and completed whilst working in a community pharmacy. Support and assessment is provided by a qualified Guild trainer throughout the course duration.

Course Structure

To achieve a SIR30116 Certificate III in Community Pharmacy, 19 units must be completed:

  • 11 core units
  • 8 elective units

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process which evaluates your existing skills, knowledge and life experience against the training units in the Community Pharmacy qualifications. If eligible you may be given credit for specific units in your qualification based on this assessment – saving you valuable time in gaining your qualification. Further information available here

Course Structure

Core Units
  • SIRCCCS002 – Provide and promote services to pharmacy customers
  • SIRCDIS001 – Assist customers with prescriptions
  • SIRCIND001 – Work effectively in a community pharmacy
  • SIRCIND002 – Support the supply of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines
  • SIRCINF001 – Use pharmacy practices for infection control
  • SIRCPPA005 – Assist customers with cough and cold relief products
  • SIRCPPA006 – Assist customers with skin and anti-fungal products
  • SIRCPPA008 – Assist customers with products for gastro-intestinal conditions
  • SIRCPPA009 – Assist customers with allergy relief products
  • SIRCPPA010 – Assist customers with analgesic and anti-inflammatory products
  • HLTWHS001 – Participate in workplace health and safety
Electives Units
Health Stream
  • HLTAAP001 – Recognise healthy body systems
  • SIRCPPA001 – Assist customers with vitamins, minerals and supplements
  • SIRCPPA002 – Assist customers with eye and ear care products
  • SIRCPPA003 – Assist customers with first aid products
  • SIRCPPA007 – Assist customers with pregnancy and maternal health products and services
  • SIRCPPA011 – Assist customers with baby and infant care products
  • SIRCPPA013 – Assist customers with smoking cessation products
  • SIRCPPA018 – Assist customers with women’s and men’s health care products

This qualification is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge to provide your customers with comprehensive health and product knowledge advice to assist them in achieving and maintaining good health.  As well as the core units, this qualification includes units on common health conditions and key product categories.

The qualification would ideally suit a pharmacy assistant who works in the Professional Services Area and provides customers with comprehensive advice and information.

Front Of Shop Stream
  • SIRCCPM001 – Assist in managing Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines
  • SIRXMGT001 – Supervise and support frontline team members
  • SIRXCEG003 – Build customer relationships and loyalty
  • SIRRINV001 – Receive and handle retail stock
  • SIRRINV002 – Control stock
  • SIRXMKT001 – Support marketing and promotional activities
  • SIRRMER001 – Produce visual merchandise displays
  • SIRXSLS002 – Follow point-of-sale procedures
Dispensary Stream
  • HLTAAP001 – Recognise healthy body systems
  • SIRCDIS003 – Assist in dispensing prescriptions
  • SIRCDIS006 – Maintain dispensary stock
  • SIRCDIS007 – Administer dispensary computer system and claims
  • SIRCPPA018 – Assist customers with women’s and men’s health care products
  • SIRCPPA001 – Assist customers with vitamins, minerals and supplements
  • SIRCPPA002 – Assist customers with eye and ear care products
  • SIRCPPA003 – Assist customers with first aid products

This qualification is designed to provide you with the basic skills required for you to develop your career and commence work as a dispensary assistant. The units included in this qualification meet Pharmacy Board of Australia requirements that pharmacists ‘ensure that dispensary assistants or dispensary technicians undertake and complete a recognised training course that provides them with the skills and knowledge to, under the direct personal supervision of a pharmacist, assist in the selection, processing and labelling of prescription medicines.’

This qualification would ideally suit a pharmacy assistant who has chosen to become a dispensary assistant within a community pharmacy.

Course Fees

Course fees are determined based on a student’s eligibility for ‘Skills First’ funding (Victorian government subsidised training). Students who are ineligible for the Skills First funding are charged at Fee for Service rates.

This course fee is GST free, inclusive of administration fees and provides for electronic workbooks. The fees stated are indicative and subject to confirmation during enrolment based on eligibility for funding and credit transfers. Additional material fees apply if hardcopy workbooks are requested ($15 per workbook). Member prices apply to employees of the nominated Guild member pharmacy. AFSPA prices apply to employees of the AFSPA pharmacies. * denotes the Standard Tuition Fee and is subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment.

Government Funding

Training to eligible students is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth funding.

Guild Training will be able to assist in determining your eligibility for funding. Guild Training encourages people with disabilities to access government funded subsidised training

Online Pre-enrolment

You will be contacted by a Guild Training team member after completing and submitting the online pre-enrolment form