Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant Apprenticeship

Summary

A pharmacy apprenticeship offers hands-on healthcare experience while earning and learning. Apprentices gain valuable skills in patient care, medicine management, and teamwork, with clear career progression and qualifications, making it an excellent pathway into the healthcare profession.

Wage

£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Pharmacy services assistant (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday 9am - 9pm opening hours - shifts required may work evening and weekends (late evenings).

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Wednesday 3 June 2026

Duration

1 year

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Assisting with dispensing prescriptions
• Serving customers and patients at the counter
• Providing advice on over-the-counter medicines (under supervision)
• Managing stock and ordering medicines
• Checking expiry dates and storing medicines safely
• Processing prescriptions and payments
• Supporting pharmacists with daily operations
• Maintaining patient confidentiality and records
• Keeping the pharmacy clean and organised
• Learning pharmacy regulations and healthcare procedures

Where you'll work

408 COVENTRY ROAD
SMALL HEATH
BIRMINGHAM
B10 0UF

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

HALESOWEN COLLEGE

Training course

Pharmacy services assistant (level 2)

What you'll learn

• receive and log prescriptions
• assemble prescribed items, undertake an in-process accuracy check and issue prescribed items
• work according to legislative requirements, and organisational policies
• order, receive, maintain and issue pharmaceutical stock
• provide appropriate advice when authorised on supplied medicines and products, their storage and disposal
• work within the parameters of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the pharmacy
• act in accordance with systems and organisational governance
• recognise and act within the pharmacy regulatory, legal and ethical standards
• support the team in the development of others
• maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge through development activities; maintain evidence of your personal development and actively prepare for and participate in appraisal
• communicate effectively with the public, carers and other health and social care professionals using a range of techniques to determine their needs, and keep information confidential
• handle information (record, report and store information) related to individuals and/or patients in line with local and national policies
• use pharmacy IT systems and other IT resources according to legislative requirements and organisational policies
• demonstrate person centred care and support within a pharmacy setting
• make pharmacy patients and patient safety your first concern
• use judgement and refer service user as appropriate to another member of the team, GP, healthcare worker, manufacturer etc
• maintain the interests of patients and the health of the public
• promote and advocate equality, diversity and inclusion
• promote healthy lifestyles to customers
• work safely within the parameters of your role using Standard Operating Procedures
• apply policies which relate to health and safety at work
• act appropriately in situations to prevent harm to yourself and others

Training schedule

The Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant apprenticeship training is delivered remotely, with online training sessions held once per month led by a dedicated assessor from Halesowen College. Apprentices receive structured learning, progress reviews, and one-to-one support while developing workplace skills and completing coursework alongside their pharmacy role.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade 3)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other requirements

The ability to speak additional community languages such as Somali, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali or other languages alongside English would be advantageous to support communication with the diverse patient community.