Assisting occupations in support of health services

How to become a pharmacy technical assistant or pharmacy assistant

Official title: Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants

Also called: Pharmacy aide, Pharmacy helper, Pharmacy assistant, Dispensary assistant, Pharmacy supply assistant, Pharmacy side room attendant, Pharmacy technical assistant, Drugstore dispensing assistant, Drugstore side room attendant

Pharmacy technical assistants perform technical tasks related to preparing medications under a pharmacist's supervision. They also assist in filling prescriptions and managing patient files. Pharmacy assistants perform clerical functions and assists pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with drug dispensing tasks. Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants are employed in retail and hospital pharmacies, long-term care facilities and by pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Main tasks

Assess prescriptions for completeness
Enter clients' information and prescription details in databases
Help pharmacists and other pharmacy staff with preparing, packaging and labelling of pharmaceutical products
Assist in maintaining inventories of medications and pharmaceutical products
Compound oral solutions, ointments and creams
May process medical billing information
May price and stock items on shelves

How to become one

Pharmacy technical assistants usually require completion of up to two-years of a Pharmacy Technical Assistance vocational program. Pharmacy assistants usually require completion of a Pharmacy Assistant college program, ranging from six to twelve months or completion of secondary school and several months of on-the-job training.

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Ways in

College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 32% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Allied health and medical assisting services; Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and administration; Biology, general.

Pay · Outlook

Median pay: $39,000 a year The middle half earn $33,638 to $44,850.
About 33,900 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 41,500 are projected by 2033. (+22.4%)
Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of shortage.

Questions people ask

How do I become a pharmacy technical assistant or pharmacy assistant?

How much does a pharmacy technical assistant or pharmacy assistant earn in Canada?

Median full-time pay is $39,000 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $33,638 to $44,850.

Is a pharmacy technical assistant or pharmacy assistant a growing career in Canada?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 22% by 2033, from about 33,900 to about 41,500 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).

Do you need a degree to become a pharmacy technical assistant or pharmacy assistant?

Not always. 27% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: College or CEGEP program.

Sources

Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03