Pharmaceutical Science (5356)

Last Updated: 06 Mar 2023

If you'd like to work in a pharmacy setting, perhaps in a chemist or hospital, these qualifications in Pharmaceutical Science can help you move forward in your career.

To register as a pharmacy technician, as required by the General Pharmaceutical Council, you need the Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science and the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (5355). You can take them separately or as part of an Apprenticeship for Pharmacy.

Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science UCAS tariff

 

Grade

New Tariff points

P

64

These knowledge qualifications are for anyone interested in a career as a pharmacy assistant or technician. You don't need any previous experience to start the Level 2 qualification.

The 5356-03 Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science will close for certification on 30th September 2023. Please ensure that all certification claims are made prior to this date.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
  • International

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

At Level 2 you'll gain the knowledge to work in a pharmacy team, process prescriptions and manage stock. You'll cover things like:

  • helping customers in the pharmacy
  • laws, regulations and health and safety
  • working in a team
  • selling over-the-counter medicines
  • assembling prescriptions.

At Level 3 you'll understand the science of how medicines work and how to advise customers on their use. You'll cover things like:

  • Microbiology
  • Physiology
  • Dispensing medicines
  • Pharmaceutics
  • Pharmacy law, ethics and practice.

Which Level is right for me?

Level 2
You want to work as a pharmacy assistant and are developing your knowledge relating to taking on basic duties in the pharmacy setting. You may be taking an apprenticeship.

Level 3
You have completed your Level 2 qualification. You're ready to increase your knowledge of medicines and physiology to register as a pharmacy technician. You may be taking an apprenticeship.

What Careers Can This Lead To?
Level 2
The Level 2 qualification is part of an approved training scheme that allows you to work as a pharmacy assistant.
Level 3
The Level 3 qualification is part of an approved training scheme that allows you to work as a pharmacy technician, dispensing medicines in a pharmacy setting.
To become a technician you also need to complete the related Level 3 qualification in Pharmacy Service Skills (5355) and apply for registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

To deliver these qualifications you will need suitably qualified staff to carry out training .

You will also need suitable facilities to carry out the required training to enable learners to achieve industry standards. These qualifications are delivered in the workplace.

To find all the resource requirements, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

You will have received automatic approval if you already offered the Level 3 Certificate in Pharmacy Services (7356).

There are no eligibility requirements for Levels 2 and 3.

Level 3

One or more pathways within this qualification has been approved by the DfE to appear in the 2016 Performance Tables. To review the qualifications approved please click here.

The level 3 diploma will suit you if you have completed the level 2 certificate. You're ready to increase your knowledge of medicines and physiology to register as a pharmacy technician. You may be taking an apprenticeship.

You complete 19 core units at level 3 from a range that includes:

  • Microbiology for pharmacy
  • Human physiology for pharmacy
  • Pharmacy law, ethics and practice
  • Infections, immunological products and vaccines.

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?
The Level 3 qualification is part of an approved training scheme that allows you to work as a pharmacy technician, dispensing medicines in a pharmacy setting.
To become a technician you also need to complete the related Level 3 qualification in Pharmacy Service Skills (5355) and apply for registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science (5356-03)
Last Registration Date: 30 Sep 2020

Level 3 in Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science

  • Accreditation No: 500/9959/0 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 120 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 720 - 720 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 1200 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 30/09/2023 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: TBC, please speak to your Account Manager for further information Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

5356 Level 2

Assessment materials

Centre documents

5356 Level 3

Assessment materials

Centre documents

Additional documents

Purpose and Recognition

16-19

Purpose

Recognition

19 Plus

Purpose

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> (5355) Pharmacy Service Skills