Pharmacy services assistant
Level 2 · IntermediateHealth and science 1 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
This Level 2 apprenticeship prepares you to work in a pharmacy or dispensary, assisting pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in providing medicines and healthcare advice to patients. You will process prescriptions, dispense medicines, and support customers with over-the-counter health products. It can lead to progression to the Level 3 Pharmacy Technician apprenticeship or further healthcare roles.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Safe dispensing procedures and prescription handling
Common medicines, their uses, and key storage requirements
Pharmacy law, standard operating procedures, and confidentiality
Customer service and communication in a healthcare setting
Recognising and escalating dispensing errors or clinical concerns
Maintaining stock levels and pharmacy supply chain processes
Health and safety in a pharmacy including COSHH and hygiene
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Receive and process paper and electronic prescriptions accurately
Select and label medicines for dispensing under supervision
Advise customers on over-the-counter medicines and signpost to pharmacist
Manage stock rotation, ordering, and expiry date checks
Maintain a clean and organised dispensary area
Handle patient records and prescription data confidentially
Support the pharmacist in delivering medicines counter services
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 2 (Intermediate) - roughly GCSE level. Often open with few or no formal qualifications - a strong first step. Some employers ask for a couple of GCSEs.
What’s next: Typically leads on to a Level 3 (Advanced) apprenticeship.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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