Posted on 16 October 2026
Our LearnersOur QualificationsEventsOpen Polytechnic New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy ākonga (learner) Anne Handley used to work as a pharmacist, but a change of focus has seen her make the switch to become a pharmacy technician instead.
Anne became a pharmacist decades ago, before she took a break while looking after her young children.
Now that her children have grown up, she has been working as a pharmacy technician in Auckland, which required her to get a NZ Certificate in Pharmacy.
The change to becoming a pharmacy technician has enabled her to continue to give back to the profession in a different way.
As she approaches retirement age, Anne wants to have a job that she can do well for many years to come.
Anne's technician role gives her flexibility to continue her charity work and manage family commitments while supporting her local community.
“While I still love working in a pharmacy, I have decided that it’s better for me to be a pharmacy technician instead of a pharmacist,” Anne explains.
“Working as a pharmacy technician in a community pharmacy enables me to be connected with the local community and contribute to a dispensary team delivering valuable healthcare."
“I enjoy the job, as well as the people I work with and the customers.”
Proving that you can make a career change at any stage of life, Anne started the NZ Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician – Core) (Level 4) back in February 2025, before progressing to the NZ Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician – Advanced) (Level 5).
Anne has enjoyed her studies through specialist online learning provider Open Polytechnic.
“On the whole it’s been great,” Anne says.
“It’s good having flexibility regarding study time.”
She has found it useful to be able to put her studies into place at her workplace, with the practical and dispensing elements her favourite.
According to John Allen, Senior Academic Staff Member in Pharmacy, Open Polytechnic programmes are not only popular with pharmacy technicians new to the industry.
“We are also seeing enrolments from experienced pharmacists who are no longer on the practicing register and are looking to move into pharmacy technician roles,” John explains.
“It’s great to have a diverse range of ākonga with various amounts of industry experience coming into our Open Polytechnic programmes.”
It's World Pharmacy Technician Day on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
The theme for this year’s World Pharmacy Technician Day is “More than just a tech”, to recognise hardworking pharmacy technicians.
Open Polytechnic offers three pharmacy qualification programmes.
The NZ Certificate in Pharmacy (Introduction to Pharmacy Practice) (Level 3), NZ Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician – Core) (Level 4) and NZ Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician – Advanced) (Level 5).