HomeCoursesPharmacyCertificate III in Community Pharmacy
Certificate III in Community Pharmacy
This qualification trains you to work as a pharmacy assistant in a community pharmacy, serving customers and helping them choose products for everyday health problems.
- Duration: 3 months to 1 year
- Study mode: Online, on campus and blended
- Course code: SIR30116
Where you can study this course
- Campuses
- 5 campuses
- Duration
- 6 to 9 months
- Study mode
- Varies by campus
- Full fee
- $7,330
- Eligible students: subsidised from $2,130, concession $240
What students say
Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.
Worth knowing
- Traineeship students must already be employed as a trainee in the pharmacy industry.
- Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
Just Training
- Campuses
- 2 campuses
- Duration
- 3 to 12 months
- Study mode
- Online and on campus
- Full fee
- Not stated by provider
What students say
Most students rate the trainers and teaching highly, and many praise the course content. Some found the organisation, admin and communication frustrating.
Worth knowing
- Work placement is up to 80 hours, waived if already working in pharmacy.
- Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
Chisholm Institute
- Campuses
- Dandenong
- Duration
- 6 months
- Study mode
- Blended
- Full fee
- $6,182
- Eligible students: subsidised from $3,102, concession $621
What students say
Students rate the trainers and teaching highly, along with student support and course content. Some students found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on student support.
Worth knowing
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
- Applicants must complete 60 hours of practical placement.
- Placement includes at least 40 hours supervised assisting customers with prescriptions.
Last reviewed 20 September 2026.
Is this course right for you?
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
- Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.
Entry recommendations
To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:
- an interest in helping people with everyday health needs
- good communication skills for serving customers
- a careful approach to supplying and recording medicines
- an interest in learning about pharmacy products
What will you learn?
What the Certificate III in Community Pharmacy covers, topic by topic.
- 1Serving pharmacy customers
You learn to identify what a customer needs and provide service and product advice. You also promote pharmacy services and support team members.
- 2Assisting with prescriptions
You learn how prescriptions are received and prepared for the pharmacist to check. You understand your role in the dispensary and how to follow pharmacy procedures.
- 3Supplying scheduled medicines
You learn how Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines are supplied and recorded under pharmacy law and guidelines. You know when to refer a customer to the pharmacist.
- 4Infection control practices
You learn to keep the dispensary and pharmacy clean and safe. This includes hygiene practices that reduce the spread of infection.
- 5Cough, cold and allergy products
You learn about products for coughs, colds and allergies so you can recommend suitable options. You also know when a customer should see the pharmacist.
- 6Skin, stomach and pain relief
You learn about products for skin and fungal conditions, stomach upsets, and pain. You help customers choose products and refer them to the pharmacist when needed.
Units of competency (11 core, 8 elective)
The qualification is made up of 19 units. Everyone completes the 11 core units below, and the remaining 8 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.
Loading the details for SIRCCCS002…
Loading the details for SIRCCCS002…
Career pathways
Roles this qualification is a recognised route into, and what else you need.
A recognised route into Pharmacy Assistant
Pharmacy Assistant
Pharmacy assistants serve customers and prepare prescriptions in a pharmacy, working the counter, the dispensary and the stockroom while the pharmacist makes the clinical calls.
Explore this career →- Weekly pay
- $1,112
- Full-time share
- 26%
- Employment size
- 39,900 workers
- Average age
- 24 years
- Average full-time hours
- 39 hours
- Gender share
- 84% female
- Future growth
- +6.5%
- Job market
- Not in shortage
Pharmacy assistant duties ultimately under the supervising pharmacist, within trained activities and medicine-supply rules. This is not pharmacist registration.
Where this fits
Certificate III in Community Pharmacy in pharmacy: the study that leads into it, the study that follows, and other routes at the same level.
You are looking at
Certificate III in Community Pharmacy
After
Bachelor degreeBachelor of PharmacyIf you want to register as a pharmacist rather than assist one, this four year degree is the only route, covering chemistry, biology and clinical placements.Bachelor degreeBachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)/Master of PharmacyIf you want research or specialist practice on top of registration, this five year combined award adds a master's to the pharmacy degree.Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).