Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship

Applicants must:

• Have a right to work and abode in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years. Additional eligibility rules apply to EEA nationals and non-UK nationals

• Be aged 16 years or over

• Hold a contract of employment for a minimum of 21 hours a week

• Work under the supervision of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician for the duration of the apprenticeship

• Work alongside a pharmacy registrant for a minimum of 14 hours per week

• Not be in full-time education or enrolled onto another government-funded programme

• Not hold an equivalent qualification at the same level

• Not hold a Level 4 qualification or above, unless it is 'materially different' from the apprenticeship. Queries in relation to prior qualifications will be individually assessed by our specialist tutors

English & maths
For this programme, there are GPhC requirements for learners to be working at a Level 2 standard for maths and English. To meet these requirements, all learners are required to undertake the following:

• An initial assessment in maths and English during the enrolment process to determine the current level

• Where Level 2 standards for maths and English cannot be evidenced and demonstrated, maths and English training and learning will be included on the Individual Training Plan for the programme. This training could include Functional Skills in maths and English courses or Access courses as required

For candidates who are not eligible for apprenticeship funding, Buttercups offers an employer-funded alternative, the Pharmacy Technician Training Programme.

Employers must:

• Have a workplace in England

• Provide a registered pharmacist or pharmacy technician to oversee and support the apprentice’s training as a workplace training supervisor

• Provide off-the-job (OTJ) training during the apprentice's normal paid working hours:

  • This will be approximately between 690 and 760 hours over the apprenticeship, depending on whether accuracy checking and/or aseptic training is included in the training plan, which is the equivalent to 6-7 hours a week

  • Additional time must be given if the learner needs to undertake additional maths or English training, such as Functional Skills

• Provide workplace environment and/or arrange a placement that allows the learner to:

  • Be able to participate in stock management

  • Be able to dispense a wide range of prescriptions

Placements, rotations and training plan 

As part of the enrolment process, we will ask you for various pieces of information. The most common questions we receive concern the following: 

• Placement form – this will be required if the candidate’s primary location (lead employer) does not meet the requirements of the programme. For example, a GP practice without a dispensary would require a placement form. Further guidance is provided during enrolment but please familiarise yourself with our Guidance on workplace suitability for pharmacy technician training towards the GPhC initial education and training standards and Pharmacy Technician Training Programme (Apprenticeship Pathway) Placement Agreement 

• Rotation schedule – if your candidate is part of a cross-sector partnership, please ensure that you submit a rotation schedule during the enrolment process. Note that Buttercups Training recommends a job share style rotation, for example, one-two days a week for the duration of the programme 

• Training plan for learners receiving additional funding through the NHS England Pharmacy Workforce Expansion Programme – the training plan associated with NHSE funding includes ACPT competency 

If you are a primary care organisation set up for Pharmacy Technician apprenticeships, before starting the enrolment process please see our information for primary care document for further information around placement requirements specific to your organisation's structure.