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Bow Valley College's downtown Calgary campus offers a full-time Pharmacy Technician Diploma program, combining classroom learning with hands-on hospital† and community pharmacy practicums. This CCAPP-fully accredited program equips graduates for the national certification exam administered by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. As regulated healthcare professionals under Alberta's Health Professions Act, registered pharmacy technicians enjoy an expanded role that encompasses prescription verification and accepting verbal medication orders from physicians. Their daily responsibilities range from creating custom medication compounds to dispensing drugs and preparing sterile solutions like IV mixtures or ophthalmic preparations. The field offers growing opportunities with potential earnings reaching $37/hour. Featuring 350+ lab hours in advanced facilities, the curriculum blends innovative technology with practical training to create job-ready professionals. Students gain experience working with certified sterile production hoods and PACMED® automated packaging systems while mastering medication preparation and dispensing techniques. The comprehensive program includes clinical placements in both hospital and community pharmacy settings.