Pharmacy courses
3 pharmacy qualifications in Australia, from certificates to the degree, compared side by side: cost, duration, providers and where each one leads.
- Qualifications
- 3
on this page
- Providers
- 36
across all qualifications
- Median pay
- $57,800–$101,700
across roles in this field
- Employment growth*
- +13%
1 of 2 roles in shortage
Which of these is right for you?
We don't recommend one provider over another, but four things usually decide which qualification is the right one to start with.
- How much time can you give it?
- A certificate usually runs months, not years, and gets you working sooner. A degree is a multi-year commitment, but it's the only route into a registered profession like pharmacist.
- Do you want to study online, on campus, or both?
- Check each qualification's study modes below. Some are online only, some require placements or on-campus units even in a mostly online course.
- What's your entry point?
- If you're starting from school leaver or career change with no background in the field, the lowest rung on the ladder is usually the realistic start, not the top qualification.
- Which role are you aiming for?
- Some roles need one specific qualification. Others accept several. The roles section below says which qualification on this page actually gets you there.
The pharmacy qualifications
3 qualifications, from certificates through to a degree. Each links through to cost, duration and the providers that teach it.
Certificates and diplomas
Certificate II in Community Pharmacy
8 providersPharmacy assistants serve customers at the front of a community pharmacy, and this qualification is the usual way into the role.
Certificate IIPharmacy AssistantView qualification →Certificate III in Community Pharmacy
13 providersThis qualification trains you to work as a pharmacy assistant in a community pharmacy, serving customers and helping them choose products for everyday health problems.
Certificate IIIPharmacy AssistantView qualification →
What pharmacy study leads to
The 2 roles where a pharmacy qualification is a recognised route in, which qualification on this page it is, and what else you need.
Pharmacist
The Bachelor of Pharmacy is a step on the way, not the whole route. Complete a programme approved for the relevant pharmacy-registration pathway, then the required supervised practice, intern training and examinations. The bachelor award alone does not confer general registration. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Median salary for the role
$101,700
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.
Pharmacy Assistant
Enter through the Certificate II in Community Pharmacy or the Certificate III in Community Pharmacy. Front-of-pharmacy assistance under close supervision and ultimately the supervising pharmacist; comply with medicine-supply rules. This is not pharmacist registration.
Median salary for the role
$57,800
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about pharmacy study in Australia.
Can you become a pharmacist through TAFE?
No. Registration as a pharmacist in Australia only comes through a Bachelor of Pharmacy (or the five-year combined honours and master's degree at two South Australian universities), followed by a year of supervised practice and the Pharmacy Board's registration exams. TAFE certificates lead into pharmacy assistant and dispensary work, which is a different, unregulated role that doesn't need a degree.
What's the difference between a pharmacy assistant and a pharmacy technician?
A pharmacy assistant works the counter: serving customers, stocking shelves and handling retail sales, usually starting with a Certificate II or III in Community Pharmacy. A pharmacy technician works closer to the dispensary, often in a hospital, entering scripts and preparing doses under a pharmacist's checks, and the usual qualification is a Certificate III or IV in Hospital and Community Pharmacy, a different course to the two listed on this page.
How long does it take to become a pharmacist?
Four years of study for the Bachelor of Pharmacy at most providers, then a year of supervised intern practice before you can register. Some providers run the degree over five years, and the combined honours and master's award adds a year on top of the standard four.