SIR30116 Certificate III in Community Pharmacy

SIR30116 Certificate III in Community Pharmacy

Institute of Allied Health is a trading name for the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors Pty Ltd and qualifications are awarded by AIPC (RTO Provider Number 0670).

This community pharmacy course is delivered online. You can study your online Certificate III on a full-time, part-time or self-paced basis. Indicatively, full-time study of this community pharmacy course will take approximately 12 months.

To obtain entry to this online community pharmacy course, you need to demonstrate completion of at least Year 10 (or equivalent), and be at least 16 years of age.

This course is not available to international students.

Discounted upfront payments $2490 (normally $3115- save 20%)

Fortnightly payments $129/fortnight x 26 payments

BSBMED301*

Unit 01 Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately

Students will learn to understand and use medical terminology in written and spoken communication within a healthcare setting. They will develop the ability to interpret clinical terms and abbreviations accurately to support effective communication.

CHCDIV001

Unit 02 Work with diverse people

This unit teaches students how to work respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Students will explore concepts such as inclusivity, cultural awareness, and effective interpersonal communication.

HLTAAP001

Unit 03 Recognise healthy body systems

Students will develop an understanding of the structure and function of the human body systems. They will learn to identify normal health status and recognise basic signs of health deterioration.

BSBWOR301

Unit 04 Organise personal work priorities and development

This unit focuses on time management, goal setting, and planning work tasks efficiently. Students will also explore strategies for ongoing professional development and maintaining a work-life balance.

HLTWHS001*

Unit 05 Participate in workplace health and safety

Students will learn how to identify hazards, follow safety procedures, and contribute to maintaining a safe workplace. The unit covers legal responsibilities and the importance of reporting risks or incidents.

SIRCINF001*

Unit 06 Use pharmacy practices for infection control

This unit teaches infection prevention and control procedures specific to community pharmacy settings. Students will learn to apply hygiene and sanitation techniques in accordance with industry standards.

SIRCIND002*

Unit 07 Support the supply of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines

Students will learn to assist in the supply and sale of non-prescription medicines under the guidance of a pharmacist. The unit includes understanding medicine classifications and customer advice protocols.

SIRCIND001*

Unit 08 Work effectively in a community pharmacy

This unit provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to work in a retail pharmacy environment. Students will learn about team roles, store procedures, and workplace expectations.

SIRCCCS002*

Unit 09 Provide and promote services to pharmacy customers

Students will develop customer service skills specific to the pharmacy industry, including how to meet customer needs and handle queries. The unit also covers how to promote available health services and products.

SIRXCEG003*

Unit 10 Build customer relationships and loyalty

This unit focuses on strategies for developing strong, lasting relationships with customers in a retail setting. Students will learn how to create positive customer experiences that encourage return business.

SIRXMKT001*

Unit 11 Support marketing and promotional activities

Students will learn how to assist in implementing marketing campaigns and promotions within a pharmacy. The unit covers merchandising, displays, and customer engagement strategies.

SIRXCEG008*

Unit 12 Manage disrespectful, aggressive or abusive customers

This unit equips students with the skills to respond calmly and effectively to challenging customer behaviour. They will learn techniques for de-escalation, conflict resolution, and maintaining a safe work environment.

SIRCDIS001*

Unit 13 Assist customers with prescriptions

Students will learn the correct procedures for handling prescriptions, including checking details and preparing items for pharmacist review. They will also understand confidentiality and the importance of accuracy.

SIRCPPA005^*

Unit 14 Assist customers with cough and cold relief products

This unit provides knowledge on recommending appropriate products for coughs, colds, and flu-like symptoms. Students will learn to ask relevant questions to ensure safe and suitable product selection.

SIRCPPA009^*

Unit 15 Assist customers with allergy relief products

Students will gain understanding of common allergies and appropriate over-the-counter treatments. They will learn to assist customers in selecting antihistamines, nasal sprays, and eye drops.

SIRCPPA010^*

Unit 16 Assist customers with analgesic and anti-inflammatory products

This unit teaches students about different pain relief medications and their appropriate use. Students will learn how to provide accurate product information while considering customer health needs.

SIRCPPA006^*

Unit 17 Assist customers with skin and anti-fungal products

Students will develop knowledge of skin care conditions and fungal infections commonly treated in pharmacies. They will learn to provide advice on topical creams, ointments, and preventative care.

SIRCPPA008^*

Unit 18 Assist customers with products for gastro-intestinal conditions

This unit covers common digestive issues and the pharmacy products used to manage them. Students will learn to assist customers with safe use of treatments for nausea, indigestion, diarrhoea, and constipation.

HLTAID011

Unit 19 Provide first aid

Students will learn how to respond to medical emergencies by administering first aid for injuries and illnesses. The unit includes CPR, wound care, and managing shock until professional help arrives.

Work placement (minimum of 60 hours)

Units marked with an * require completion of a work placement. The work placement involves an average of 12 hours per week in the workplace with some time spent at home completing activities that contribute to assessment.

^Students must achieve competency in SIRCIND002 Support the supply of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines before commencing this unit. 

Important Note:

1. Online assessment is completed for each topic.

2. This qualification requires the completion of HLTAID011, Provide First Aid. Students are required to attain this through an appropriate external training organisation and provide appropriate certification to receive a Credit Transfer for this unit.

3. The information included in this Course Outline is indicative of the final curriculum but may not necessarily contain all units necessary for completion of the course. All assessment that you complete throughout your studies will contribute to your final award. Industry regularly reviews this qualification, and the Institute is required to incorporate any changes specified during this review process. Any changes, upgrades or expansions to the curriculum will be instigated in such a way that your studies are affected as little as possible.

4. Please contact your Student Support Centre if you have any questions about the requirements to complete your course.

5. You have a maximum of five (5) years from the date of enrolment to complete your course. You can study your course on a full-time, part-time, or self-paced basis. Indicatively, full time study of the course will take approximately 12 months.

A Certificate III in Community Pharmacy can help you develop the skills used in pharmacy assistant roles. Once you’ve completed the qualification, you can apply for suitable roles with community pharmacies. The qualification teaches you how medicines are classified, what you can advise a customer on and where the pharmacist takes over. Year 10 and a minimum age of 16 are all you need to enrol. You’ll also spend 60 hours working in a pharmacy during the course, which gives you concrete experience you can talk about when you apply.

This qualification prepares you for pharmacy assistant and pharmacy sales assistant positions in community pharmacies. Hospital pharmacies employ assistants too, where you’d help the pharmacy team control the stocks and process prescriptions instead of serving customers on a shop floor. Experienced assistants often take on stock control, merchandising or responsibility for a particular area as they learn the store. Some move towards practice administration in other healthcare settings, where the Certificate III in Health Administration covers the records and accounts side of the job.

We designed this course for people interested in customer-facing work in a community pharmacy and who want vocational training for pharmacy assistant roles. You can enrol straight after Year 10 as long as you’re 16 years or older, which opens the course to anyone considering their first job. Retail workers enrol too, usually because they enjoy serving customers and want to bring that into a health setting. You’ll likely be a good fit if you enjoy explaining things clearly and want to work with a pharmacist and a regular local community.

A pharmacy assistant serves customers on the shop floor and helps the pharmacist supply medicines. You’ll take in prescriptions, check the details and prepare items for the pharmacist to review before dispensing. Much of your day will go towards helping customers choose over-the-counter products for everyday complaints, referring anyone to the pharmacist when their question falls outside what an assistant can answer. You’ll also control the stock, arrange the displays, keep the store clean and support whatever promotion is running.

You’ll complete 19 units covering the medicines, the customers and the pharmacy floor itself. We teach you to:

• Support the supply of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines under a pharmacist’s direction

• Assist customers with prescriptions, checking details and preparing items for the pharmacist to review 

• Help customers choose products for coughs and colds, allergies, pain and inflammation, skin and fungal conditions and gastrointestinal complaints

• Interpret medical terminology and clinical abbreviations accurately

• Recognise healthy body systems and spot basic signs that a customer’s health is deteriorating

• Apply pharmacy infection control practices, including hygiene and sanitation

• Respond appropriately to challenging customer interactions using de-escalation techniques

• Promote pharmacy services, support in-store promotions and turn first-time shoppers into regulars

• Organise your own work priorities and plan your professional development

You’ll complete the unit on supplying Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines before any of the product advice units, since you need to understand how medicines are classified before you can help a customer choose one. One unit falls outside our course entirely, and that’s HLTAID011 Provide First Aid, which you’ll attain through an external training organisation and submit for a credit transfer.

Yes. We deliver the theory online, so you can study full-time, part-time or at your own pace and finish in around 12 months. Your assessor needs to watch you serve customers in person, so you’ll also complete 60 hours in a community pharmacy. You have up to five years from enrolment to finish, so you can set your own pace depending on how busy you are with work and family commitments.

Yes. You’ll spend a minimum of 60 hours in a community pharmacy, at an average of around 12 hours per week. Most units in the course ask you to demonstrate your skills on placement, including the ones covering medicine supply, prescriptions and product advice. Your supervisor will observe you apply what you’ve studied with real customers and give you feedback and constructive criticism to improve.

Work placement gives you an opportunity to apply your course knowledge in a community pharmacy under supervision. You can practise customer communication, medicine supply procedures and product advice while receiving feedback from your workplace supervisor.