Pharmacy Technician

When should I apply?

Authorisation does not alter established working conditions, but when health workers change jobs or renew their contracts it is probable that documentary proof of authorisation will be requested.

For professional practitioners encompassed by the Transitional Regulations (not currently available in English), the deadline for application expires on 31 January 2007. It is therefore not necessary to apply immediately. The professional title may be used without authorisation until the end of 2002.

Conditions of authorisation

There are two ways of obtaining authorisation as pharmacy technician:

1. Presentation of certified copy of leaving certificate as pharmacy technician.
2. Applicants should document that they fulfil the conditions stated in Transitional Regulations, section 5 cf. section 2. Should the applicant not be in possession of documentation, authorisation may be granted should she/he have worked as pharmacy technician fulltime for at least five years (or corresponding part-time) during ten years. Professional experience related to posts involving less than 50% of full time may not be included. Eventual maternity leave is taken into account. Professional work experience must be confirmed through the submission of special certification forms to be filled in by the employer (currently only in Norwegian).

Applicants with EEA education/training and possible authorisation as pharmacy technician

For this group, applications will be processed in accordance with Council Directive 89/48/EEC, cf. 92/51/EEC (with subsequent amendments). This does not grant right of recognition, but the Directive contains rules governing the granting of authorisation. These rules have been incorporated in a separate EEA Regulation of 21 December 2000, see Ch. VII. The main rule is that the education/training not deviate to any marked degree from the requirements as to competence laid down by Norwegian regulations (Norw. "læreplan").

Applicants with other foreign qualifications as pharmacy technician

For applicants with foreign qualifications from outside the EEA, it is required that such qualification be judged as the professional equivalent of Norwegian certificate, cf. Health Personnel Act, section 48, subsection 3a. Such assessment is made by the applicant's documentation of her/his own qualification as described in curricula, work experience etc. representing the equivalent of curricula related to Norwegian education/training (Norw. "læreplan"). Applicants will be expected to be acquainted with Norwegian health services. In certain cases external advisers will assist SAFH in making an assessment. Advisers do not make the final decision but provide professional advice which SAFH takes into account when assessing applicants' qualifications. Only when foreign qualifications have been evaluated will processing of an application for authorisation be finalised.

Updated 08.09.2011