Northern B.C. students will have extra flexibility and blended learning to succeed in the growing field of pharmacy technician under a new program to be delivered by College of New Caledonia and Kootenay-based Selkirk College.
The first intake of the 15-month program begins in July 2023.
For the first year, students will take a blend of courses online through Selkirk College, then continue their education for eight weeks at CNC in Prince George in an in-person lab setting. For the final 10 weeks, students will put their new skills to work by completing a practicum in northern B.C.
Pharmacy technicians are key health care providers. They work under the direction of pharmacists in compounding, preparing, and dispensing prescriptions and products.
British Columbia will need 1,600 new and replacement pharmacy technicians over the next 10 years. Graduates can enjoy an 82 per cent employment rate and the median starting salary is $55,000.
“As soon as I graduated from Selkirk’s program, I got a job with Northern Health," said Delaney Elliott, who now works as a chemotherapy technician in Smithers. "They had heard great things about the program and I use the information I learned at school daily.
“I’m so excited to hear there will be an opportunity for new students to study in the north. We really need pharmacy technicians right now. I know a couple of people in northern B.C. who wanted to do the program, but couldn’t travel far because they had kids at home or other responsibilities. Completing the program at CNC will give them that opportunity, and that’s huge.”
As of Wednesday, on its careers page Northern Health had listed 24 postings for pharmacy technicians ranging from casual to full time.
Visit Selkirk College’s website to learn more about the pharmacy technician program and apply.
