Pharmacy Technicians fill and label patients’ prescription under the supervision of a pharmacist. May record details of place orders for, take stock of and store medications and medical supplies and deliver them to patients.

Skill Level

2

Alternative Titles

• Dispensary Technician

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Pharmacy Technician is Vocational Education and Training Assess (VETASSESS). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• AQF Certificate IV Qualification in a highly relevant field of study AND at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years; or
• AQF Certificate IV Qualification that is not a highly relevant field of study AND at least two years post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years; or
• AQF Certificate III Qualification in a highly relevant field of study AND at least three years of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years.
• Highly relevant fields of study include Real Estate and Property Management
• To achieve a positive skills assessment, the applicant must meet the qualification and employment experience requirements.
• Highly relevant fields of study include:
  • Pharmacy
  • Community Pharmacy
  • Community Pharmacy Dispensary
  • Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy Support
• Note: In Australia, there are currently no legal requirements for licensing or registration for the occupation of Pharmacy Technician

Important

According to VETASSESS, pre-qualification experience for Pharmacy Technicians may be considered in a skills assessment if the experience meets the following requirements:

• Three years of relevant employment;
• One year of highly relevant employment performed at the required skill level; and
• The employment experience was gained in the last five years

Operate anaesthetic, cardiac, operating theatre and medical testing equipment, perform and assist with laboratory tests, and fill prescriptions in support of Health Professionals.

Tasks

• Operating equipment used in diagnosing and monitoring disorders of the heart, kidneys, nervous system and hearing, and in anaesthesia
• Undertaking and assisting with medical analytical procedures and assisting Anaesthetists and surgical teams
• Recording the electrical activity of the heart, from which the heart rate is measured and pattern and rhythm interpreted
• Taking, collecting and labelling blood, urine and other samples from patients
• Preparing and staining slides and tissue sections for blood and histological examination
• Performing diagnostic tests on tissues and body fluids and analysing the chemical constituents of blood, urine, faeces and tissues
• Testing for diseases by looking for the presence of antibodies and the products of immune response in samples
• Setting up, checking and maintaining operating theatres, anaesthetic workstations, life support machines and associated equipment
• Referring prescriptions to Pharmacists and assisting in preparing medications

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.
In Australia:
AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma (ANZSCO Skill Level 2)

In New Zealand:
NZ Register Diploma (ANZSCO Skill Level 2)

At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.
Registration or licensing may be required.
The occupation Pathology Collector (Aus) / Phlebotomist (NZ) has a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.
In Australia:
AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

In New Zealand:
NZ Register Level 4 qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.
Registration or licensing may be required.

Occupations in this Group

• 311211 Anaesthetic Technician
• 311212 Cardiac Technician
• 311213 Medical Laboratory Technician
• 311214 Operating Theatre Technician
• 311215 Pharmacy Technician
• 311216 Pathology Collector (Aus) / Phlebotomist (NZ)
• 311299 Medical Technicians nec