33103
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- Express Entry skill level
- Yes
- Regulated in Québec
- No
- In demand in Manitoba
- Yes
Classification
Health
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Definition
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 duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- 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.
Example job titles
- •pharmacy aide
- •pharmacy assistant
- •pharmacy technical assistant
Overview
NOC 33103 designates pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants within Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system. Classified under TEER 3, this occupation is eligible for key federal economic immigration programs managed through the Express Entry system, such as the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Given the ongoing demand in the Canadian healthcare sector, candidates with experience under NOC 33103 may also qualify for targeted Express Entry category-based selection draws and specialized Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams.
According to the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) classification, pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants help pharmacists and regulated pharmacy technicians prepare, package, and distribute medications. Daily duties include compounding medications, filling prescriptions under supervision, maintaining medical profiles, managing inventory, and handling clerical tasks such as billing and registry management. They are employed in retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and community clinics.
Employment requirements for pharmacy technical assistants typically include the completion of a college program in pharmacy technical assistance, while pharmacy assistants generally require secondary school graduation and several months of on-the-job training. Note that this occupation is distinct from regulated Pharmacy Technicians, which fall under a different NOC code. Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional immigration advice. For official guidance, please consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or a licensed Canadian immigration consultant.
Educational overview summarizing this occupation. Always confirm against the official NOC profile and IRCC before relying on it.
Commonly confused codes
Occupation data: Statistics Canada / ESDC — National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.