Pharmaceutical-commercial employee
Pharmaceutical commercial employee (PKA) is the job title in Germany for a commercially oriented apprenticeship in the pharmacy .
This article describes the situation in Germany. In Austria the professional title PKA stands for the profession of pharmaceutical-commercial assistant .
history
The PKA profession was developed in 1993 from the profession of pharmacy assistant , whereby the job description was also changed: The main areas of responsibility of the pharmacy assistant were goods management and supporting activities (in particular, processing mail several times a day and working with pharmaceutical staff ).
In the PKA job description, additional focus is now on the commercial and administrative activities that typically occur in a pharmacy . The intention was to entrust the PKA with more back-office work ( bookkeeping , billing of prescriptions , incoming mail, writing invoices / delivery notes, office organization, etc.).
On August 1, 2012, the new regulation on vocational training for pharmaceutical-commercial employees (PKA) came into force, which replaced the training regulation of March 3, 1993 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 1456 ).
education
The following section does not yet take into account the ordinance that came into force on August 1, 2012 .
No specific school-leaving qualification is required as a prerequisite for training as a PKA. In practice, most of the trainees have a secondary school diploma . The PKA training usually takes three years (two years for university entrance qualifications). The PKA training is a dual training , i.e. it takes place in the pharmacy and in the vocational school. Classes in the vocational school impart basic knowledge of business administration, commercial arithmetic (including bookkeeping), marketing, advertising and numerous other commercial aspects of everyday pharmacy. In addition, you learn important things about medicines, crop protection, cosmetics, diet products and much more
1st year of training
Storage of goods; Drugs and dosage forms; Drug groups; Occupational safety, environmental protection, energy and material use; Technical language; Word processing; Pricing; Sales preparation; Position of the pharmacy in the system of health care and in the economy; Labor and social law; Vocational training
2nd year of training
Pricing; Activities according to the pharmacy regulations; Occupational safety, environmental protection, rational use of energy and materials; Procurement of goods; Drugs and dosage forms, drug groups; Groups of goods for use on humans; Consulting and Sales; Use of pharmacy-specific terminology; Office organization; Information and communication focus, word processing; Commercial management and control
3rd year of training
Statistics; Sales preparation; Advertising and sales promotion; Services; health protection and first aid; Groups of goods for use on humans; Consulting and Sales; Labor and social law; Pricing; Prescription accounting; Storage; Merchandise management systems; Commercial management and control; Procurement of goods; Drug groups; Drugs and dosage forms; Activities according to the pharmacy regulations.
Areas of activity
After completing their vocational training, pharmaceutical and commercial employees find employment opportunities in public pharmacies and hospital pharmacies . They can also work in drugstores , pharmaceutical laboratories , pharmaceutical production and pharmaceutical wholesaling .
pharmacy
Tasks in the pharmacy:
- Inventory of drug stocks
- Executing the orders
- Control of incoming goods
- Storage, labeling and sorting of goods
- Filling and packaging of pharmaceuticals
- Doing commercial work, e.g. B. Checking delivery notes and invoices as well as health insurance bills
- Support of the pharmaceutical pharmacy staff in the manufacture of their own products, etc. a. Stirring ointments, making capsules, mixing preparations that have already been weighed in
- Advice, information, sale of common pharmacy goods such as B. Cosmetics, diet products, bandages, nursing articles, (no longer relevant for exams since 2012: pesticides)
- Design and decorate shop windows
The PKA is not allowed to dispense pharmacy-only and prescription-only drugs in the pharmacy.
Job market
The career prospects for PKA are closely linked to the situation of pharmacies . In the case of unavoidable job reductions, PKA are usually discharged before PTA ( Pharmaceutical-Technical Assistant ), as the latter are entitled to dispense drugs.
Merit
Regarding the situation in Germany: The PKA salary in the pharmacy depends on the years of employment and the chamber district in which the activity is carried out. The wage tariff, which has been in force since September 1, 2018, provides guidance on payment, according to which the remuneration is between 1,806 euros (1st year of employment) and 2,211 (from the 14th year of employment). The following exceptions apply: In North Rhine, since January 1, 2018, it has been exactly 1,755 euros (1st to 2nd year of employment) to 2,150 euros (from the 10th year of employment). There is no collective bargaining agreement in Saxony. The collective agreements in the pharmacy sector are concluded between ADEXA - Die Apothekengewerkschaft and the Employers' Association of German Pharmacists (ADA) or the collective bargaining association of pharmacy managers (TGL) North Rhine.
further education
- Qualification and specialization opportunities
- Participation in courses, courses or seminars e.g. B. on EDP in the commercial and business management area, training on cash register systems, decoration and product presentation, training of trainers, work techniques in retail
- Advancement training (based on relevant professional experience)
- Commercial specialist
- Commercial assistant
- Pharmaceutical representative (checked)
- Business economist at evening school (e.g. controlling , IOM, personnel management , marketing as a focus)
- Pharmacy technician
Professional chamber
As the body responsible for the operational side of PKA training, the State Chamber of Pharmacists approves training contracts, carries out the final exams and is the point of contact for all questions from trainers and young professionals. Fundamental problems are discussed by the vocational training committee and the training committee.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Pharmaceutical clerk in Berufenet the Federal Employment Agency
- ↑ collective agreement. Retrieved November 22, 2018 .
- ↑ Taifvertrag Rhine. Retrieved November 22, 2018 .