I am thinking of re-training as a dispenser then maybe as an ACT - does anyone know what the salary is for a trainee dispenser with Boots? Does the salary increase once you have completed your NVQs/ qualified?
It varies from store to store. Some have London weighting etc.
You start off on Sales Assistant pay, and get a payrise (after nagging enough) once you have completed your 6 month probationary period.
Once you have done your Medicine Counter Assistants course, you will get a small payrise- sometimes people skip this stage, but if you do, it can cause problems when it comes to Unit 10 of the NVQ3. How long this takes will vary. You will be promised a set amount of training time per week, and will be lucky if you get a fraction of that.
Then you would have to do the NPA Dispensary Assistants Course - this takes around 6 months to complete on average (can be done quicker if you're experienced) then once you have the certificate for that course, you should get a payrise (once again, this usually involves a lot of nagging)
I have posted off the final module of my NVQ 3 and am waiting to hear back- am currently on £8.50/hour with 6 years with Boots in a store which gets London weighting. I started as a 16 year old sales assistant on £3.50/hour (although it was a while ago now)
I have been assured that I will get a payrise once I have my NVQ3 certificate. As to how much that will be, I don't know- have been quoted 3 different figures!
Thank you very much - that is just the sort of information I have been struggling to find. I even asked Boots themselves but they would not give anything away and said salary would 'be discussed at interview stage'!
Like I said- there are massive variations- I have only outlined the route that I, and the majority (but not all) of my colleagues have taken! Hence why they say that it is discussed at interview!
I have heard that Boots no longer give a payrise on completion of NVQ3 only once you are ACT qualified? and then they tie you in or you have to pay fees back if you leave within a certain time
You don't get a pay raise when you have your NVQ3 certificate, only when you become a registered technician will you get a pay raise! I have been waiting for over 2 months for my registration number now, so thats two more months without a pay raise
I'm afraid they have also stopped that payrise, you only get your fees back but no payrise, I have been told that I will only get my rise once I qualify as an ACT (hopefully June) but I was banking on a payrise for becoming registered as well but nothing at all
I know this post is a bit old now but thought I'd add mine! I'm on £7 an hour as a trainee dispenser, I work for an independent though. Previously worked for a big company and it was min wage.
Hmmm... I work for a big supermarket chain. Have been a qualified (NVQ2) dispenser for 8 years, have loads of responsibilities and experience; also do most of the work actually, pharmacist is just there to make it legal.!! Half way through yr2 technician course. Have been told I get £1 per hour raise when I qualify. What kind of incentive is that? I will then be on £7.50 per hour. It hardly seems worth the stress and deadlines. At present a checkout operator earns exactly the same as me!! Where is the justice?
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