Pharmacy courses
You can start with a certificate that takes under a year and work as a pharmacy assistant, or train as a pharmacist with a degree. Here's what each course leads to, how long it takes and what it costs.
- Quickest way to start
- 6 months
- Certificate III, full time at TAFE NSW
- TAFE cost from
- $880
- subsidised Certificate II, TAFE NSW
- What the jobs pay
- $57,800 to $101,700
- median pay across 2 jobs
- Demand
- 1 of 2 jobs
- are on the national shortage list
Which course do you need?
It depends on the job you want.
A certificate in community pharmacy
Work as a pharmacy assistant
Serve customers, recommend everyday health products and get prescriptions ready for the pharmacist to check.
Median pay$57,800
- How long it takes
- 6 to 9 months full time
- What it costs
- $880 at TAFE NSW if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $4,560 full fee
- How you'll study
- Online, on campus or a mix
Bachelor of Pharmacy
Start training as a pharmacist
Advise patients on their medicines, check prescriptions, and give vaccinations and health advice in a community or hospital pharmacy.
JobPharmacist
Median pay$101,700
A step towards this job, not the whole route. What else you need
- How long it takes
- 3 to 4 years full time
- How you'll study
- Online or on campus
You don't have to do it all at once
You can start in a community pharmacy with a certificate, then study the degree later if you decide you want to become a pharmacist.
- Get a pharmacy certificateStart with a Certificate II or III in community pharmacy. It is the usual way into the role.
- Work as a pharmacy assistantServe customers and prepare prescriptions, and learn how a community pharmacy runs day to day.
- Study the degreeA Bachelor of Pharmacy is the only course that leads to registration as a pharmacist.
- Finish supervised practiceRegistration needs the degree, supervised practice in a pharmacy, and a pass in the written and oral examinations.
How much it costs at TAFE
If you're eligible for a government-subsidised place, you pay much less than the full fee, and in some states these courses can be free. Here's what each TAFE lists.
| TAFE | State | Certificate II | Certificate III | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidised | Full fee | Subsidised | Full fee | ||
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $880 | $4,560 | $2,130 | $7,330 |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | Not listed | Not listed | $3,102 | $6,182 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Certificate II
- $880 subsidised
- $4,560 full fee
- Certificate III
- $2,130 subsidised
- $7,330 full fee
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Certificate II
- Not listed
- Certificate III
- $3,102 subsidised
- $6,182 full fee
Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, checked 20 September 2026. “Not listed” means the TAFE doesn't show that fee online. Private colleges set their own fees.
The pharmacy certificates compared
Both certificates lead to work as a pharmacy assistant in a community pharmacy. The Certificate III goes further into advising customers, while the Certificate II covers the basics of the role. Some can be studied online at one or more providers.
- Certificate II in Community PharmacyThe usual entry point, with no entry requirements, so school leavers and career changers can both enrol. Covers serving customers, recommending everyday health products, payments and keeping stock ordered.How long6 months
- Certificate III in Community PharmacyGoes further into common complaints such as coughs, colds, skin conditions and allergies, so you can recommend products and know when to refer someone to the pharmacist.How long6 to 9 months
Jobs you can do with this study
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, not a starting salary.
- PharmacistWhat you needBachelor degree, then further trainingMedian pay$101,700In demand
- Pharmacy AssistantWhat you needA pharmacy certificateMedian pay$57,800
“In demand” means the job is on the national skills shortage list. Check the course and provider are approved for the work you want, as rules differ by state.
Still not sure which one fits you?
Answer a few quick questions about your time, state and budget, and we'll show the courses that suit you.
Questions people ask
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.