Careers and training

Who works at a pharmacy and what kind of training do they have?

Most pharmacy staff are trained healthcare professionals.
Pharmacy managers, pharmacists and prescriptionists all share the general title of pharmacist. They are entitled to independently dispense prescribed medications, and are highly qualified to advise customers and other healthcare personnel on the correct use of medications.

Pharmacy technicians make up the majority of the employees at pharmacies. They are not entitled to dispense prescribed medications, but they have a very important role to play in terms of customer service – speaking to customers, providing information to the public, looking after stock and administrative tasks.

Pharmacy manager

The pharmacy manager runs the pharmacy, and will have taken a five-year university course. Up until the present time, they have taken a Cand. Pharm. degree, but with the introduction of a new degree structure at Norwegian universities, the degree will be called Master of Pharmacy.

Pharmacist

Someone who has taken a five-year university course in the subject, but does not manage a pharmacy.

Prescriptionist

To become a prescriptionist, you need to take a three-year university college course. With the introduction of the new degree structure, the degree will be called Bachelor of Pharmacy.

Pharmacy technician

The training for pharmacy technicians is a sixth-form college course within health and social sciences.

07.02.2012