PHARMACIST'S ASSISTANT COURSES — SPAR HEALTH
FAQ’s: PHARMACIST’S ASSISTANT COURSES
Out with the old and in with the new!
We’re taking Pharmacist’s Assistant training to the next level (literally! – Basic from NQF3 to NQF4 and Post-basic from NQF4 to NQF5)
With the new courses, a qualified pharmacist’s assistant can switch from one pharmacy category to another without a bridging requirement, as the new courses train pharmacist’s assistants to be generalists.
Click the arrow below for Frequently Asked Questions & Answers on our new Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant Courses.
Q: WHY SHOULD I ENROL FOR THE PHARMACIST’S ASSISTANT (BASIC) COURSE?
A: This course is suitable for any person, whether employed in a pharmacy or not, who is interested in pursuing a career in Pharmacy.
The course provides learners with the scientific knowledge and practical skills needed to perform support functions in pharmacy. Work experience hours completed in all sectors of Pharmacy ensure that the learner is trained as a generalist who can practice in any category of Pharmacy once qualified.
Q: WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO ENROL FOR THE PHARMACIST’S ASSISTANT (BASIC) COURSE?
A: The requirements for the basic course are as follows:
- National Senior Certificate (NSC), certified by Umalusi
- Mathematics (NOT MATHEMATICAL LITERACY OR Technical MATHS) at NQF Level 4 or recognised equivalent (with a pass rate of 30% or higher)
- Life / Physical Science at NQF Level 4 or recognised equivalent (with a pass rate of 30% or higher)
- All learners accessing this qualification should be able to read, write and communicate in English and be competent in using a computer.
Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE BASIC COURSE?
A: The Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Basic) Course is designed to be completed within six months.
However, learners have a maximum of twelve months to complete the course, as per South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) rules. Please note that re-admission with applicable fees will apply if the learner does not finish within the contractual 6 months with the Academy. If learners do not finish the course within 12 months, they must wait 6 months (SAPC cooling-off period) before they can re-register with the SAPC.
Q: HOW IS THE COURSE STRUCTURED? CAN I DO THE COURSE VIA DISTANCE LEARNING?
A: The Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Basic) combines online distance and in-person training.
- The Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Basic) is divided into three components: Knowledge Component, Practical Skills Component and Work Experience Component.
- The Knowledge Component combines pre-recorded presentations (the learner works through the course material on their own time) and online real-time presentations with facilitators.
- The Summative Assessments (Examinations) are done in person at an accredited Academy Practical Skills Training Laboratory.
- The Practical Skills Component is presented in person in an accredited Academy Practical Skills Training Laboratory.
- The Work Experience Component consists of work-based hours that should be completed in an A-graded pharmaceutical facility under the supervision of a tutor/preceptor.
Q: HOW MUCH TIME WILL I SPEND AT THE ACADEMY’S PRACTICAL SKILLS TRAINING LABORATORY FOR IN-PERSON TRAINING?
A: The applicant must travel to an accredited Academy Practical Skills Training Laboratory for the Summative Assessments (Examinations), Re-Assessments, Practical Skills Training, and Manufacturing Simulation. In-person attendance at these academic events is mandatory. In-person contact time for the Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Basic) is 27 days.
Q: WHAT ABOUT THE HOURS I MUST COMPLETE IN A PHARMACY WHICH FORM PART OF THE WORK EXPERIENCE COMPONENT (WC) OF THE COURSE?
A: The Academy’s Work Experience Component (WC) covers all aspects of the required work-based learning. WC hosting facilities must be A-graded pharmacies with SAPC, but do not need to be registered as a training premises with SAPC. The pharmacist supervising the learner to complete the WC hours does not need to be registered as a tutor with the SAPC. The Academy will do placement on behalf of the learner to ensure exposure to all sectors. A basic learner will spend 20 days gaining work-based learning. Learners will receive a Portfolio of Evidence, which needs to be completed during the WC hours.
Q: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF TRAVELLING, ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS TO AND AT THE ACADEMY’S PRACTICAL SKILLS TRAINING LABORATORY?
A: The applicant will bear the costs of travel, accommodation, and meals while attending these academic events.
The Academic Calendar was designed to allow minimum travel to the Academy Practical Skills Training Laboratory.
Q: CAN I REGISTER AS A QUALIFIED BASIC AS SOON AS MY TRAINING WITH THE ACADEMY HAS BEEN COMPLETED?
A: No, there is one final step that has to be completed. The learner must write a Practice EISA (Basic), followed by the actual EISA (Basic) with the SAPC, for which the learner must be competent to be registered as a pharmacist’s assistant (Basic)
Q: WHAT IS AN EISA?
A: EISA is the abbreviation for External Integrated Summative Assessment.
It is an online exam administered by the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC). The SAPC allows a person only 3 opportunities to write an EISA.
Q: ARE THERE ANY COSTS INVOLVED IN WRITING AN EISA?
A: Yes, the SAPC charges a fee to write the EISA. The practice EISA is mandatory, but free of charge. Learners pay the EISA fee directly to the SAPC when they apply online via their SAPC login.
Q: WHY SHOULD I ENROL FOR THE PHARMACIST’S ASSISTANT (POST-BASIC) COURSE?
A: This course is suitable for any person with a Pharmacist’s Assistant (Basic) Registration, whether employed in a pharmacy or not, who is interested in pursuing a career in Pharmacy.
The course provides learners with the scientific knowledge and practical skills needed to perform support functions in pharmacy. Work experience hours completed in all sectors of Pharmacy ensure that the learner is trained as a generalist who can practice in any category of Pharmacy once qualified.
Q: WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO ENROL FOR THE PHARMACIST’S ASSISTANT (POST-BASIC) COURSE?
A: The requirements for the post-basic course are as follows:
- Qualified (and registered) Pharmacist’s Assistant (Basic) (either qualified on the Revised course or Occupational Certificate course)
- Proof of competence in the EISA (Basic) conducted by the SAPC.
Q: WHAT IS AN EISA?
A: EISA is the abbreviation for External Integrated Summative Assessment.
It is an online exam administered by the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC). The SAPC allows a person only 3 opportunities to write an EISA.
A person who enrolled for a pharmacist’s assistant course before 30 June 2024 needs to write an EISA (Basic) as part of the minimum requirements to begin the Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Post-basic) course.
To assist such learners, the Academy offers an EISA Guidance Course. More information is available on our webpage.
Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE POST-BASIC COURSE?
A: The Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Post-Basic) Course is designed to be completed within 12 months.
However, learners have a maximum of 24 months to complete the course, as per South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) rules. Please note that re-admission with applicable fees will apply if the learner did not finish within the contractual 12 months with the Academy. If learners do not finish the course within 24 months, they must wait 12 months (SAPC cooling-off period) before they can re-register with the SAPC.
Q: HOW IS THE COURSE STRUCTURED? CAN I DO THE COURSE VIA DISTANCE LEARNING?
A: The Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Post-Basic) combines online distance and in-person training.
- The Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Basic) and The Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Post-Basic) are divided into three components: Knowledge Component, Practical Skills Component and Work Experience Component.
- The Knowledge Component combines pre-recorded presentations (the learner works through the course material on their own time) and online real-time presentations with facilitators.
- The Summative Assessments (Examinations) are done in person at an accredited Academy Practical Skills Training Laboratory.
- The Practical Skills Component is presented in person in an accredited Academy’s Practical Skills Training Laboratory.
- The Work Experience Component consists of work-based hours that should be completed in an A-graded pharmaceutical facility under the supervision of a tutor/preceptor.
Q: HOW MUCH TIME WILL I SPEND AT THE ACADEMY’S PRACTICAL SKILLS TRAINING LABORATORY FOR IN-PERSON TRAINING?
A: The applicant must travel to an accredited Academy Practical Skills Training Laboratory for the Summative Assessments (Examinations), Re-Assessments, Practical Skills Training, and Manufacturing Simulation. In-person attendance at these academic events is mandatory. In-person contact time for the Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Post-Basic) is 51 days.
Q: WHAT ABOUT THE HOURS I MUST COMPLETE IN A PHARMACY WHICH FORM PART OF THE WORK EXPERIENCE COMPONENT (WC) OF THE COURSE?
A: The Academy’s Work Experience Component (WC) covers all aspects of the required work-based learning. WC hosting facilities must be A-graded pharmacies with SAPC, but do not need to be registered as a training premises with SAPC. The pharmacist supervising the learner to complete the WC hours does not need to be registered as a tutor with the SAPC. The Academy will do placement on behalf of the learner to ensure exposure to all sectors. A post-basic learner will spend 47 days gaining work-based learning. The learner will receive a Portfolio of Evidence, which needs to be completed during the WC hours.
Q: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF TRAVELLING, ACCOMMODATION, AND MEALS TO AND AT THE ACADEMY’S PRACTICAL SKILLS TRAINING LABORATORY?
A: The applicant will bear the costs of travel, accommodation, and meals while attending these academic events.
The Academic Calendar was designed to allow minimum travel to the Academy Practical Skills Training Laboratory.
Q: CAN I REGISTER AS A QUALIFIED POST-BASIC AS SOON AS MY TRAINING WITH THE ACADEMY HAS BEEN COMPLETED?
A: No, there is one final step that has to be completed. The learner must write a Practice EISA (Post-basic), followed by the actual EISA (Post-basic) with the SAPC, and must be competent to be registered as a pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic).
Q: IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EISA (BASIC) AND THE EISA (POST-BASIC)?
A: Yes, the EISA (Basic) is a requirement to register as a Pharmacist’s Assistant (Basic), and the EISA (Post-basic) is a requirement to register as a Pharmacist’s Assistant (Post-basic). The EISA (Post-basic) consists of 2 online multiple-choice questionnaires. All persons who successfully complete the Occupational Certificate: Pharmacist’s Assistant (Post-basic) Course must complete it before they can be registered as Qualified Pharmacist’s Assistants (Post-basic).