Pharmacy assistants work with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and are required to distribute medicine. They have different titles depending on area of work such as healthcare assistant, dispensing assistant and dispenser. These assistants compone creams, fill prescriptions, count pills, handle paperwork, restock medications, rotate inventory, among other duties.

A Pharmacy assistant usually performs many of the following tasks:
• Labelling medications.
• Opening packaging lines.
• Assisting maintenance of stock levels.
• Receiving incoming goods.
• Answering queries about medicines.

• Having competent IT abilities.
• Having high attention to details.
• Being able to work with a team.
• Being accurate.
• Having strong ethic.
• Having competent math skills.
• Being able to work under pressure.
• Having interest in healthcare.
• Being able to meet strict deadlines.
• Having good communication abilities.

Pharmacy Assistant jobs require some GCSEs at grade C as a minimum and good standard education. Some employers require specific GCSE grades such as A-C in Science subject, Math, and English. There are companies offering training schemes through apprenticeships as an optional way to obtain background.

Through training courses applicants can work towards a level 2 NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills and have an important advantage for job application.