More than 2,300 dispensing technicians and assistants have now been enrolled on the National Pharmaceutical Association's pharmacy services national vocational qualification level 3 course.
The NPA launched the course in 1996, initially with only one enrolment per year. The association now accepts enrolments twice a year, in May and October, to cope with the demand for places.
There have been four enrolments to date and the fifth is due to start on October 4, 1999.
The course takes two years to complete. Each month, students receive course material to study and complete at the community pharmacy in which they work. This requires between 10 and 20 hours study time per month. There are also regional workshops, which are optional. Students are tutored by community pharmacists, who assess their work and provide feedback at regular intervals throughout the course.
Details of the course are available from the NPA training department (tel 01727 858687, ext 475).
The picture shows the NPA's pharmacy services NVQ course assessors at a recent assessment meeting held at Mallinson House: (left to right, back row) Lesley Johnson (NPA training officer); Martin Freedman, Steve Howcroft, Nigel Bird, (front row) Rosemary Clarke, Debbie Clarke, Sue Gettins, Elaine Ward, Lesley Moore (NPA training officer)
Correction
The National Pharmaceutical Association wishes to point out that 15,000 pharmacy assistants have completed Pharmacy Interact training, as well as the 2,300 dispensary assistants that have been trained.