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The Toitū te Waiora Workforce Development Council will be closing operations from 19 December, and disestablished from 31 December 2025. The Education, Health and Community Industry Skills Board will pick up its functions.

Pharmacy Technician and Assistant Qualification Review

Project Update: Pharmacy Technician and Assistant Qualification Review

Toitū te Waiora has completed our initial industry consultation for the review of: 

 

The review has highlighted several changes based on industry feedback: 

  • Expiry of Ref: 1887 – The New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Community Pharmacy Assistant) (Level 3) is no longer being used in practice. Stakeholders supported its expiry. 
  • Language Use – Feedback strongly supported the use of sector-neutral language across qualifications to better reflect both hospital and community pharmacy practice. 
  • Cultural Competence – Rather than standalone graduate outcomes, cultural competence will be embedded in the General Conditions. This approach recognises its significance without assigning credit, aligning with current sector and regulatory discussions. 
  • Supervision Terminology – There was consistent feedback that the phrase “under supervision” is outdated. At this stage, existing terminology will be retained to stay aligned with current legislation, while allowing space for future changes in scope and regulation. 
  • Learning Pathways – Stakeholders want to see clearer progression between qualifications, with improved alignment between theory and practice. The qualifications remain flexible to accommodate anticipated regulatory change. 
  • PSNZ Feedback – The Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) supports minimal changes at this stage, highlighting the importance of retaining flexibility while regulatory and legislative reviews are underway. 

 

Please refer to the following Qualification Overview documents for a summary of the proposed changes:

New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Introduction to Pharmacy Practice) (Level 3) [Ref: 1886, V2] 

tracked 

clean 

New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician – Core) (Level 4) [Ref: 1888, V2] 

tracked 

clean 

New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician – Advanced) (Level 5) [Ref: 1889, V2] 

tracked  

clean 

New Zealand Diploma in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician – Specialist) (Level 6) [Ref: 4410, V1] 

tracked 

clean 

Toitū te Waiora will be accepting feedback about the proposed changes until 30th May. Email us at [email protected]