Pharmacy Technician Ambitions for Rebecca

Having a role model in your family can make heading to university seem like the natural course.   But for SERC student, Rebecca Starrett, two brothers off to university ahead of her, convinced the young woman that she wanted to take a different pathway.

Rebecca (20) from Dundonald said, “I went to Methodist College Belfast, and I suppose it was expected that I would follow both my brothers off to university after my A-Levels. But the closer it got to my exams, the more I knew university was not for me.   I even went for an interview in the middle of my A-Levels for an Assistant Technician Officer post at the Ulster Hospital!   I found out in June I was successful and started in August."

She continued, “I started working in Aseptics – where they manufacture medication tailored for specific patients onsite in the hospital – and I worked there for a year. An opportunity came up to move to Dispensary and I was encouraged to progress my qualifications with the Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians at SERC.   I am now in my second year.”

The Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians is for learners who are employed in the role of pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician. To be eligible for the part-time course, potential students must be currently working in Northern Ireland in a pharmacy environment as a trainee pharmacy technician, contracted for a minimum of 21 hours, or due to start in such a position by the course start date.  

Rebecca added, “The course is tough; there are a lot of assignments, and it is all about time management and keeping on top of them.   Everyone in the class is lovely though – we are all working and studying - and the lecturing team at SERC have been great. I have learnt so much on the course.  I work full-time and the course is part-time.   We are in class or online every Tuesday and then every six weeks we are also in class on a Wednesday.”

“I have a mentor in work who always checks in with me and there is plenty of support at work too - many of my Band 4 colleagues have come through the BTEC course, so there is always someone to ask if you are stuck on something or need help.”

Rebecca concluded “I have no student debt, and I love working full-time, meeting different people every day.  Getting the opportunity to go onto the wards under supervision at work has encouraged me to progress. Eventually, I would like to become a Pharmacy Technician in a hospital setting.” 

Find out more about Pharmacy courses at SERC.