Australian Pharmacist looking to become an ACT tech in the UK

[LeeHinch]

hello everyone. I would obviously like to carry on being a Pharmacist but I refuse to go back to uni and do my pre-reg again so i'd like to try and become an ACT . Would I be qualified enough to sit the course or exam ? Where could I look for further information ?
Thanks for your time any help would be greatly appreciated

[dizzyb23]

Hi and a very good morning to you. The normal way of getting to ACT stage is to pass your nvq2, then nvq3 and when ready, begin ACT training. The rules used to be for many course providers that you had to have been an NVQ 3 Tech for at least two years and also hold registration with the GPhC. The ACT course itself can take from six months up to two years to complete depending on were you work and you have to be working in a dispensary to complete it of course. There is no exam as such to sit, it is a long practical assessment of correctly checking anything up to 2000 items, training course induction days, many sessions with your pharmacist and when they think you are ready and you've correctly checked all your items without errors, then you have your formal practical assessment day. Pass that and you get your certificate.
But from your point of view, at your current place of work, they may find a way to put you straight onto the ACT course but I don't know if this would be ok or not. It could depend on who you are working for. Are you in the UK and do you have a job currently.
I have recently worked with a wonderful locum ACT who in his country is actually a facial reconstruction surgeon!!! He's saving up to do all his conversion stuff for here in UK but he had to get his NVQ 3 first then he did his ACT. The company he was with at that time said it was the only way he could do it.
Not sure if any of my ramblings will help you or not and you must also remember that working as an ACT in community is badly paid from about £9 an hour and a bit more if you work in hospital. If you do decide to go for it, and you need any help, just ask and we'll do our best for ya. Good luck and let us all know how you get on.

[jzd4rma]

hello everyone. I would obviously like to carry on being a Pharmacist but I refuse to go back to uni and do my pre-reg again so i'd like to try and become an ACT . Would I be qualified enough to sit the course or exam ? Where could I look for further information ?
Thanks for your time any help would be greatly appreciated

If I were you call up local hospitals and multiples to find out the possibilities, for the multiples all you have to do is call up a branch and get the contact number for learning and development or human resources to find out how you can go about to become an ACT

[sparkybw]

Given that pharmacy is no longer a shortage occupation in this country what makes you think that they would get a visa to work here? Any company would have to demonstrate that they couldn't find a suitable home applicant - which clearly isn't the case. I think it is unfair to allow people from other countries to believe that it is going to be easy to come here when the reality is the shutters are up as we haven't got jobs for our own.

And if you want to be a pharmacist or pharm tech, then Australia is crying out for them so why leave there to come to a miserable, grey, freezing cold country like this? I've just had to crawl out of bed to face a slippery, icy footpath down to the bus station, then a freezing cold bus to work, and then come home in the cold and dark - at 3pm! - you must be nuts to want to come here!

[LeeHinch]

Thanks for all of your input, this has been a really helpful starting point.

Given that pharmacy is no longer a shortage occupation in this country what makes you think that they would get a visa to work here?

I was born and lived in Manchester for 18 years i m pretty sure I don't need a visa ?!
You really shouldn't be to concerned with the current oversupply of pharmacists . If your good at what you do then there will always be work because there's a percentage of the workforce who just cruise along not really giving a #### .

Thanks for everyone's time

[sparkybw]

Typical. Gives half the story and then goes nah nah nee nah nah. What type of real Mancunian calls themselves an Australian anyway? People can only respond to the information given.

[LeeHinch]

sorry mate have fun in the snow

[Revolutionnaire]

Isn't pay and the lifestyle in Australia even better then the UK? I thought pharmacists were trying to escape over there, though I heard starting 5 years ago there was a saturation there and in New Zealand with each pharmacy having 3 Pharmacists working at the same time as normal. Would the saturation be the real reason why you want to come over?

Do you want to swap places with me? If we look alike, let's trade IDs

[Web Ferret]

Lee if you are still looking for a position PM me.