Pharmacy Assistant Diploma Program

Pharmacy assistants work under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist and do not require professional licensing, so graduates can start working right away. Pharmacy technicians are a regulated profession in B.C. requiring an accredited technician program and registration with the College of Pharmacists of BC. This diploma prepares graduates for pharmacy assistant roles.

Edison College's Pharmacy Assistant diploma is 52 weeks (1,040 hours), delivered online with morning and evening/weekend scheduling options.

Tuition is $15,707 CAD, plus $1,200 for books, a $100 application fee, and a $200 administrative fee — $17,207 in total. Students receive a $4,000 completion award, and a current promotion offers a $500 gift card toward a computer.

Yes. Edison College offers flexible financing options, and eligible students may qualify for StudentAid BC funding. Eligible newcomers to Canada can also access low-interest loans of up to $15,000 through Windmill Microlending — covering tuition, books, fees, and living expenses, with free career coaching included. An admissions advisor can confirm which options apply to your situation.

Applicants need high school graduation or equivalent (or mature student status, 19+), minimum Grade 10 English with three years of full-time secondary education in English, and completion of Grade 10, 11, or 12 math — or a math entrance test with a score of at least 50%.

Yes. The program is delivered fully online, so eligible students anywhere in Canada — from Alberta and Ontario to Nova Scotia — can complete the diploma from their home province.

Students train hands-on in KROLL — the pharmacy management software used in retail and institutional pharmacies across Canada — covering prescription processing, documentation, and inventory control, plus Microsoft Office.

No. The program builds practical skills through hands-on training in KROLL software, compounding techniques, and pharmacy math applied to real prescription-processing scenarios.

Pharmacy assistants work under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist and do not require professional licensing, so graduates can start working right away. Pharmacy technicians are a regulated profession in B.C. requiring an accredited technician program and registration with the College of Pharmacists of BC. This diploma prepares graduates for pharmacy assistant roles.

Graduates work as pharmacy assistants in community and retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacy assistants, compounding pharmacy assistants, dispensary assistants, pharmacy distribution clerks, and long-term care pharmacy assistants.

Pharmacy assistants in B.C. earn between $17.85 and $30.00 per hour — at the higher end of the national range — with hospital and health authority positions typically offering unionized wage grids, benefits, and pension plans, according to the Government of Canada Job Bank and WorkBC.

Yes. WorkBC projects about 1,170 job openings for pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants (NOC 33103) in B.C. between 2025 and 2035, with demand driven by an aging population and rising prescription volumes.

Yes. The program is reviewed and approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of British Columbia's Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.