Certificate III in Community Pharmacy

This qualification reflects the role of individuals who apply pharmacy product and service knowledge along with retail skills to provide service to customers in a community pharmacy environment. Work is undertaken with some autonomy but under the supervision of a pharmacist.

The structure of this qualification recognises the diversity of business models that characterise the community pharmacy industry. It supports multiskilling and participation in work teams as appropriate to the size and structure of the business.

Job roles

Individuals with this qualification are able to perform pharmacy assistant roles, such as:

communicating with customers to identify needs

accepting and delivering prescriptions to and from customers

applying specialised product knowledge to recommend and supply pharmacy products and services to customers

operating within the legislative framework, regulation and protocols that apply to community pharmacy

recognising and acting on situations or requests that require referral to a pharmacist

assisting in the dispensary

creating and maintaining displays

merchandising products and performing stock control.


Subjects

To achieve a Certificate III in Community Pharmacy 26 units must be completed:

17 core units

9 elective units:

5 units must be selected from Group A Pharmacy Support

the remaining 4 units may be selected from:

Group B General Elective Units, or

SIR07 V3 Retail Services Training Package or another endorsed Training Package or accredited course, provided the units are first packaged at AQF level 2, 3 or 4 in the parent Training Package.

In all cases selection of electives must be guided by the job outcome, local industry requirements and the characteristics of this qualification (as per the AQF descriptors).

Core units

add topic HLTIN301C

Comply with infection control policies and procedures

add topic HLTCSD306C

Respond effectively to difficult or challenging behaviour

SIRCDIS301

Accept prescriptions and return dispensed medicines to customers

SIRCHCS201

Support the supply of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines

SIRCPPK205

Assist customers seeking to relieve cough and cold symptoms

SIRCPPK206

Assist customers seeking to relieve skin and fungal conditions

SIRCPPK308

Assist customers seeking relief from gastrointestinal conditions

SIRCPPK309

Assist customers seeking to relieve common allergic symptom reactions

SIRCPPK310

Assist customers with analgesic and anti-inflammatory products

SIRXCCS201

Apply point-of-sale handling procedures

SIRXCCS202

Interact with customers

SIRXCLM101

Organise and maintain work areas

SIRXCOM101

Communicate in the workplace to support team and customer outcomes

SIRXIND101

Work effectively in a customer service environment

add topic SIRXINV001A

Perform stock control procedures

SIRXRSK201

Minimise loss

SIRXWHS101

Apply safe work practices

Elective Group A Pharmacy Support

SIRCHCS302

Assist in managing Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines

SIRCHCS303

Advise on asthma management

SIRCHCS304

Advise on smoking cessation

SIRCHCS305

Advise on continence management

SIRCHCS306

Advise on complementary medicines

SIRCPPK201

Assist customers seeking commonly requested vitamins, minerals and supplements

SIRCPPK202

Assist customers seeking eye and ear products

SIRCPPK203

Assist customers seeking first aid and wound care products

SIRCPPK204

Assist customers seeking oral care products

SIRCPPK311

Assist customers seeking baby or infant care medicines and products

SIRCPPK312

Assist customers seeking sexual health medicines and products

add topic SIRXRPK002A

Recommend hair, beauty and cosmetic products and services

Elective Group B General Elective units

Client and Customer Service

SIRXCCS203

Promote loyalty programs

Computer Operations and ICT Management

SIRXICT303

Operate retail information technology systems

Dispensary

SIRCDIS302

Deliver medicines to customers outside the pharmacy

SIRCDIS303

Assist in dispensing prescriptions

Finance

SIRXFIN201

Balance and secure point-of-sale terminal

Health Care Support

SIRCHCS302

Assist in managing Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines

SIRCHCS303

Advise on asthma management

SIRCHCS304

Advise on smoking cessation

SIRCHCS305

Advise on continence management

SIRCHCS306

Advise on complementary medicines

Inventory

add topic SIRXINV002A

Maintain and order stock

Medical Services Administration

add topic BSBMED301B

Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately

Management

add topic SIRXMGT001A

Coordinate work teams

add topic SIRXMGT002A

Maintain employee relations

Marketing and Promotion

add topic SIRXMPR002A

Provide marketing and promotion program support

Merchandising

SIRXMER201

Merchandise products

SIRXMER202

Plan, create and maintain displays

Pharmacy Product Knowledge

SIRCPPK201

Assist customers seeking commonly requested vitamins, minerals and supplements

SIRCPPK202

Assist customers seeking eye and ear products

SIRCPPK203

Assist customers seeking first aid and wound care products

SIRCPPK204

Assist customers seeking oral care products

SIRCPPK311

Assist customers seeking baby or infant care medicines and products

SIRCPPK312

Assist customers seeking sexual health related medicines and products

add topic SIRXRPK002A

Recommend hair, beauty and cosmetic products and services

Skin Services

add topic SIBBSKS201A

Pierce ears

Sales

SIRXSLS201

Sell products and services

Sustainability

add topic BSBSUS201A

Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

Training and Education

add topic TAEASS301B

Contribute to assessment

add topic TAEDEL301A

Provide work skill instruction

Workplace Effectiveness

add topic BSBWOR301B

Organise personal work priorities and development


Pathways...

    This qualification is suitable for an Australian Apprenticeship pathway and is not recommended for VET in Schools delivery.

    Pathways into the qualification

    People may enter this qualification with limited or no vocational experience and without a lower level qualification, or they may have previously completely a Certificate II qualification.

    Pathways from the qualification

    After achieving this qualification, people may progress to a Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy or to Certificate IV qualifications other service industry fields.


Entry Requirements

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.


Licensing Information

All relevant federal, state or territory legislation, Pharmacy Board of Australia Guidelines, and established practice and quality assurance standards are to be met.


Employability Skills

QUALIFICATION SUMMARY

Employability Skill

Industry/enterprise requirements for this qualification include:

Communication

Use communication skills to establish customer requirements, answer questions and provide information on pharmacy products and services. Communicate about highly personal and sensitive information that requires empathy, tact and confidentiality. Manage difficult, elderly, ill or drug affected customers. Be familiar with technical terms used to describe products and/or used in product and health care information.

Teamwork

Work closely with the pharmacist to assist in managing the sale of appropriate products and services to community pharmacy customers. This may include supporting other pharmacy team members to carry out their role as required and according to business size and structure.

Problem-solving

Solve problems within a framework of established business procedures and protocols and with reference to the pharmacist. Source information and services to meet customer needs and requests. This involves evaluating product information, for example, to distinguish between hearsay and evidencebased product information to support appropriate customer choices.

Initiative and enterprise

Use initiative in identifying the most appropriate products and services for customers and to maintain current knowledge of product range and market trends. Opportunities for initiative and enterprise occur within established business procedures and protocols and with reference to the pharmacist.

Planning and organising

Operate within the boundaries of their job role, established by legislation, guidelines and business protocols and procedures. Assist the pharmacist in managing the sale of products including scheduled medicines. This can include managing information systems, stock management and display and ensuring that procedures and protocols are implemented.

Self-management

Understand the legal context, including the boundaries of the job role and also an awareness of the special requirements for selling medicines and managing scheduled medicines. This involves a detailed understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the pharmacy assistant and how these relate to the role of the pharmacist. Take responsibility for their own time management and actively seek and respond to advice and feedback.

Learning

Maintain current knowledge about the products and services sold by their pharmacy. Access a range of sources of information and expertise to update their own knowledge and provide current information to customers.

Technology

Use computer based point-of-sale, information and database systems. Sell a range of products including kits, aids and equipment. Explain how these items operate. Assist the customer in appropriate selection depending on their need or capacity, demonstrate safe use and provide information on care and maintenance as appropriate.