1999 Pharmacy Handbook - Practical training

Practical training

General information
First-aid/Management training
Articles

General information

The period of practical training prescribed by the regulations is 2280 hours of which at least 1824 must be served as a trainee under articles, while the remainder may be served during undergraduateship without being articled. It is considered most desirable for students to complete the first 456 hours training prior to attempting the Pharmacy III examination. In all circumstances the practical training must be served in continuous periods of not less than 132 hours nor more than 180 hours, in any four-week period with the one tutor. The minimum number of training hours approved under one tutor is 152 hours.
The board will approve the whole period of practical training to be undertaken in a community pharmacy, a Friendly Society dispensary, or a hospital (public, private, veterans or military). The board will approve a maximum of 1368 hours undertaken in a school of pharmacy, a university department of pharmacology or the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
The tutor fee for each trainee and the premises where the practical training is to be carried out are required to be approved by the board in each particular case.
The board encourages undergraduates and graduates to obtain practical training in more than one area of pharmacy practice. This offers a broader and more valuable experience in practical training.
Trainees must undertake the traineeship program of the Chapter of Pharmacy Practice Tutors of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Victorian Branch) Ltd or other course of practical training approved by the board.
Graduates who wish to proceed to registration as a pharmacist are advised to read guidelines 201 and 202 on 'Registration' in the current edition of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria's Guidelines for Good Pharmaceutical Practice.

First-aid/Management training

Applicants for registration as a pharmacist are required to hold a current level 2, basic first-aid course certificate, or other first-aid course acceptable to the board, and to produce evidence of successful completion of an approved management course.

Articles

Articles of traineeship may only be entered into after passing the Pharmacy III examination. The form of agreement, which must be completed in triplicate, is available from the office of the board. A statutory fee is charged for the registration of articles of traineeship.