After graduating high school, Megan Murphy was at loose ends.
Enrolled in a university program that didn’t quite live up to her expectations, Murphy had questions about finding a rewarding career, developing her interests, and investing in her future.
A chance conversation with a co-worker at a pharmacy in Sturgeon Falls pointed her in the right direction.
“I heard a few people talking about becoming a pharmacy technician, and that kind of intrigued me,” Murphy said. “So I researched it a little bit and then found that CTS was doing it online, and in small classes.”
“For me, it was all evening classes, and I thought ‘this is perfect. It works well with my work schedule.’”
Murphy is one of the many students who have found their calling through the Pharmacy Technician Program at CTS Canadian Career College, a program that is not only flexible but also comprehensive, addressing the growing demand for pharmacy technicians in hospitals and other pharmacy settings across Canada.
CTS’ Innovative Learning Model
The program, which begins its next sessions on September 16th, 2024, January 20th, 2025, and April 21st, 2025, offers an innovative approach to post-secondary education.
Recognizing the challenges and limitations that come with traditional classroom learning, CTS Canadian Career College was the first school to offer the Pharmacy Technician Program through a blended distance education model.
This means that students can take their theory-based courses online, from the comfort of their homes, without needing to relocate.
Murphy found this particular model helpful.
“It was different for me, because I had just come out of high school where you have to attend classes every day and you're physically in the school,” she said. “But what I really loved about the program was that it allowed me to still work full time.”
The 78-week program is a full-time program, offering evening live online classes and concurrent independent learning. There are currently four semesters for a total of 1,800 hours which includes, live instruction, online independent learning, skills camps and practicum placements.
Students will acquire the knowledge base in anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and calculations before immersing themselves into the skills required to meet the needs of the scope of practice for pharmacy technicians in the hospital, community and additional pharmacy environments.
CTS Provides Hands-On Experience
In addition to the online learning component, students participate in skills camps at the end of each semester. These intensive camps – based on 40 hour weeks, are conducted at CTS Canadian Career College campuses and provide hands-on training in simulated lab environments, ensuring that students develop the practical skills necessary for the workplace.
The final semester of the program is a 360-hour practicum placement, where students gain first-hand experience in both community and hospital pharmacy settings. CTS Canadian Career College collaborates with institutions across Ontario and other Canadian provinces to provide convenient placement options.
The practical side of learning, Murphy said, was definitely to her liking.
“I realized that I preferred hospital pharmacy tech versus community pharmacy tech,” she said. “There's a lot more to do in a hospital, it’s a different atmosphere, and it's a little bit more interesting making IVs every day.”
A Profession in High Demand
With the shortage of regulated pharmacy technicians across Canada, graduates of the CTS program have the experience to enter and thrive in a high-demand field. The program not only prepares students to qualify for their licensing exams, but also makes them the candidates of choice for employers.
Murphy said she found work in a local hospital almost immediately after graduating CTS.
“It's a great job,” Murphy said. “There's lots of job opportunities with very good pay.”
Accredited and Respected
CTS Canadian Career College’s Pharmacy Technician Program is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP), ensuring that it meets the highest standards of education and training.
The North Bay campus has been awarded Accreditation for a 5.5-year term (2024-2029), with skills labs available at the Sudbury and Barrie campus locations.
Graduates of the program are eligible to complete the necessary steps to become regulated pharmacy technicians in Canada, including completing PACE in Ontario and Structured Practical Training (SPTs) in other provinces, in addition to the Jurisprudence exam of your province, and the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) qualifying exams.
For more information about CTS’ Pharmacy Technician program, visit the program web page by clicking here.