Thinking About a Career in the Pharmacy Field? Here’s What You Need to Know:
Across Ontario, pharmacies in hospitals, long-term care settings and community locations are becoming increasingly important access points for day-to-day health care services. With the scope of pharmacy practice expanding, pharmacies are increasingly supporting the assessment and management of common health concerns, opening up new opportunities across the sector.
Thinking about joining the field? Here’s what to know as you explore your next steps.
1. Pharmacies have a growing role in community health.
To reduce wait times and free up physicians to focus on more complex health concerns, the Ontario government has expanded the services that pharmacies can provide. Between 2023-2025, the province identified a list of common conditions and minor ailments that pharmacists can assess and prescribe for. These changes are reshaping how pharmacy teams work and creating new opportunities behind the counter. It’s good news for anyone considering a career in the field!
Did you know? Pharmacists in Ontario can now asses and prescribe for:
- Hay fever
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Dermatitis, hives, eczema and psoriasis
- Oral thrush
- Menstrual cramps
- Cold sores and hemorrhoids
- Insect and tick bites
- Acid reflux
- UTIs
- Fungal skin infections and minor wounds
- Impetigo
- Sprains and strains
2. Pharmacy work is dynamic, challenging and never boring.
Pharmacy is a field for people who like to stay busy and solve problems on the spot. From preparing medications to supporting patients and collaborating with other health care teams, the work changes constantly, and no two prescriptions or situations are quite the same. This pace and variety make the field a great fit for people who enjoy building technical skills, staying organized and working closely with others.
Loyalist’s Pharmacy Technician Program Coordinator, Nicole Thomson, knows this firsthand. With more than two decades of experience across community, hospital and industry roles, she’s built a career that has taken her through nearly every corner of the profession, and her enthusiasm for the work hasn’t faded.
“Pharmacy Assistants and Technicians routinely engage in critical thinking and evidence-informed decision-making in all aspects of their daily practice,” says Thomson. “That’s what kept me in the field all these years. These are careers that are dynamic, hands-on and deeply rewarding. Students who enjoy a fast pace and love the feeling of helping others tend to thrive in this work.”
3. Loyalist offers two pathways to help you break into the industry.
Community Pharmacy Assistant – 1-year Ontario College Certificate
Loyalist’s Community Pharmacy Assistant program is a great way to explore the pharmacy field, get a feel for the pace and responsibilities of community practice and start working sooner. You’ll learn the everyday skills behind the counter — processing prescriptions, using pharmacy software, managing inventory, packaging medications, assisting with non-sterile compounding and supporting patients.
Pharmacy Technician – 2-year Ontario College Diploma
For those looking to build deeper clinical and technical skills, the Pharmacy Technician program follows national standards set by NAPRA and the Canadian Pharmacy Technician Educators Association. Students develop strong foundations in legal and ethical responsibilities, patient care, injection training, medication preparation and distribution, communication and collaborative practice. A 10-week placement split between community and hospital settings offers a real-world look at the environments technicians work in every day.
Hands-on from day one
From their first semester, learners in both programs move between theory and practice, building confidence through real tasks and real tools. Students work with:
- Industry-standard software, including Kroll
- Simulated community and hospital pharmacy spaces
- Drug-distribution technology and unit-dose packaging
- Sterile-compounding hoods and full PPE
- Measurement, mixing and preparation techniques
“Hands-on learning is integral to both programs,” says Thomson. “We make sure students are using industry-relevant technologies and software — it’s the practical experience they need to transition confidently into pharmacy settings.”
Whether you’re drawn to the science, the pace, or the people, the world of pharmacy offers many paths for career growth.
Want to learn more? Check out Loyalist’s Community Pharmacy Assistant and Pharmacy Technician program pages, book a tour or schedule an advising appointment.
Submit a Story Idea
Your story is part of what makes our community extraordinary. From hands-on learning innovations to life-changing partnerships, the moments that unfold at Loyalist deserve to be celebrated.
Have an inspiring achievement, classroom breakthrough, or community collaboration to share? Submit your story idea below and help us showcase how small gives us the power to do BIG things every day.
Related News
Tsi Titewaya’taró:roks: Inside Loyalist College’s new Indigenous Centre
Powering What’s Next: A Quick Guide to Careers in Canada’s Growing Renewable Energy Field