Pharmacy Technician (ANZSCO 311215)
Updated
What a Pharmacy Technician does
Fills and labels patients' prescriptions under the supervision of a Pharmacist. May record details of, place orders for, take stock of, and store medications and medical supplies and deliver them to patients.
- Also called
- Dispensary Technician
Key facts
- ANZSCO code
- 311215
- Skill level
- 2Associate degree, advanced diploma or diploma
- Skilled lists
- Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)Regional Occupation List (ROL)
- Assessing authority
- VETASSESS
- National shortage
- Regional shortage
Visa options
Occupation eligibility is one requirement; each visa page links to the rest.
Points-tested
- Subclass 189 Skilled IndependentNot on its occupation listsNot eligible
- Subclass 190 Skilled NominatedVia STSOLEligible
- Subclass 491, state or territory nominatedVia STSOL and ROLEligible
- Subclass 491, family sponsoredNot on its occupation listsNot eligible
Employer-sponsored
Main tasks
- operating equipment used in diagnosing and monitoring disorders of the heart, lungs, kidneys, nervous system and hearing, and in anaesthesia
- undertaking and assisting with medical analytical procedures and assisting Anaesthetists and surgical teams
- recording the electrical activity of the heart, from which the heart rate is measured, and pattern and rhythm interpreted
- taking, collecting and labelling blood, urine and other samples from patients
- preparing and staining slides and tissue sections for blood and histological examination
- performing diagnostic tests on tissues and body fluids and analysing the chemical constituents of blood, urine, faeces and tissues
- testing for diseases by looking for the presence of antibodies and the products of immune response in samples
- setting up, checking and maintaining operating theatres, anaesthetic workstations, life support machines and associated equipment
- referring prescriptions to Pharmacists and assisting in preparing medications
- operating and maintaining equipment used in diagnosing and monitoring of breathing or sleep disorders
Shortage by state
- NationalRegional shortage
- ACTShortage
- NSWRegional shortage
- NTShortage
- QLDRegional shortage
- SARegional shortage
- TASRegional shortage
- VICRegional shortage
- WARegional shortage
State and territory nomination
For the 190 and 491, each state and territory also has its own occupation list.
Common questions
What does a Pharmacy Technician do?
Fills and labels patients' prescriptions under the supervision of a Pharmacist. May record details of, place orders for, take stock of, and store medications and medical supplies and deliver them to patients. Also called: Dispensary Technician. (ABS ANZSCO description.)
Is Pharmacy Technician on the skilled occupation list?
Yes. Pharmacy Technician (ANZSCO 311215) is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and Regional Occupation List (ROL) (lists in force from 14 December 2024). It is listed for the 186, 190, 482, 491 and 494 visas.
What is the ANZSCO code for Pharmacy Technician?
311215. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO codes for skilled visas.
How can a Pharmacy Technician migrate to Australia?
The occupation lists Home Affairs publishes include Pharmacy Technician for the Subclass 186, Subclass 190, Subclass 482, Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visas. Being on a list is one requirement among several; each visa's page links to Home Affairs for the rest.
Who assesses Pharmacy Technician for an Australian visa?
VETASSESS, the skills assessing authority listed for 311215.
Is Pharmacy Technician in demand in Australia?
Jobs and Skills Australia rated it "Regional shortage" nationally in its 2025 Occupation Shortage List, with ratings for each state and territory shown above.