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Health Professions & Social Services

Pharmacy Services Diploma

Campus Sighthill Campus

Qualification SCQF Level 8

Study mode Part time

Start date Aug 2025

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Course overview

If you are a new or experienced pharmacy support worker or are employed as a pre-registration pharmacy technician working within the NHS and want to pursue a career as a fully qualified pharmacy technician, then this course will provide you with the skills, knowledge and qualification to do so.  

This course is delivered over a two-year day release program, where you will learn and develop an understanding of physiological systems, clinical disease states, and the actions and uses of medicines as well as covering areas such a clinical, operational and scientific practices and procedures.  

As well as attending college lectures (online & in class) you will also undertake the 12 SVQ mandatory units, where you will train, learn and build your knowledge and skills within the workplace whilst gathering, generating and submitting evidence to your e-portfolio showing and demonstrating your own development and competence over your two-year course. 

Any enquiries should be sent to pharmacy@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

What you will learn

Year 1

  • Professional Practice in Pharmacy
  • Supply of Prescribed Medicines
  • Pharmacological Principles: An Introduction
  • Pharmacotherapeutics
  • Storage and Use of Medicines

Year 2

  • Clinical Governance & Risk Management in Pharmacy
  • Pharmacotherapeutics, continued
  • Health Promotion in Pharmacy

How the course is assessed

  • Open and Closed book Assessments
  • Candidate Observation in the workplace
  • Candidate Reflective accounts

Number of days per week

  • 1 day per week on a Friday- Blended approach MS Teams and On campus 

Entry requirements

  • National 5 Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics/Numeracy, English 
  • You must be employed as a trainee Pharmacy technician in the pharmacy setting 

English Proficiency Requirements

IELTS 7.0 or above 

Progression and Articulation Routes

  • HNC Pharmacy Services, Development & Management  

Career options

  • You can apply to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) for registration as a Pharmacy Technician. 

Study Options

Campus Study mode Start date
Sighthill Campus Part time 29/08/25

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