FATP · an independent directoryApprenticeship data sourced from DfE, ESFA and IfATEUpdated daily · GB
L2Apprenticeship3961 approved provider
The Level 2 Pharmacy Services Assistant, and the 1 provider delivering it.
Supporting the delivery of pharmacy services.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Pharmacy Services Assistants support the day-to-day running of pharmacy services across dispensing, stock management, and customer-facing care. Apprentices learn to receive and accurately dispense prescriptions, handle and store medicines safely, maintain stock levels, and follow standard operating procedures and legal requirements. They also develop knowledge of common medicines, their uses, and how to direct patients appropriately when queries fall outside their scope of practice.
Day-to-day responsibilities
A typical week involves checking and dispensing prescriptions, labelling medicines accurately, managing stock rotation and ordering, and responding to customer queries at the counter. Apprentices work closely with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, flag potential issues such as out-of-date stock or unusual prescription requests, and use dispensing software to process orders. Maintaining accurate records and following hygiene and safety protocols is a consistent part of the role.
Career outlook
Completion of this apprenticeship is a recognised entry point into the pharmacy sector. Many assistants go on to train as pharmacy technicians, typically through a Level 3 apprenticeship or NVQ, and register with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Employers include NHS hospital trusts, GP practice-based pharmacies, and high-street and supermarket pharmacy chains. With further training, progression into dispensary management or accuracy checking technician roles is a realistic path.
1 approved provider
Sorted by achievement rate.
Buttercups Training
Employer: 4.0
Buttercups Training is a specialist UK pharmacy training provider delivering apprenticeship and voca...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads into roles such as Pharmacy Services Assistant or Pharmacy Counter Assistant, working under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. Some completers move directly into Medicines Counter Assistant positions in retail pharmacy settings, while those in hospital or dispensary environments often take on Dispensary Assistant roles, handling stock management, prescription dispensing support, and patient-facing queries.
Progression paths
Many pharmacy services assistants go on to complete the Level 3 Pharmacy Technician apprenticeship, which opens the route to registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council as a qualified Pharmacy Technician. From there, the specialist track leads to roles such as Accuracy Checking Technician or Clinical Pharmacy Technician, while those with a preference for operations and team coordination can progress toward Dispensary Team Leader or Pharmacy Manager positions over the longer term.
Where these roles sit
Employers hiring for this role span both the NHS and the private sector. Community pharmacy chains, independent pharmacies, and supermarket pharmacy counters are the most common settings. Hospital pharmacy departments, including those within NHS trusts, also take on staff at this level. GP surgery dispensaries and prison healthcare units represent smaller but consistent sources of demand. Most roles are in patient-facing environments where accuracy and communication matter day to day.
Not sure which provider fits?
Tell us a bit about your team and we'll send a shortlist.
Need help choosing a provider?
Tell us your requirements and we'll match you with the right training providers.
Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 396.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.