General Overview:
Note: On May 20, 2010 the College of Pharmacists of BC hosted a webinar regarding the current status and process of pharmacy technician regulation in BC. For your convenience, the webinar is available for download in the sidebar. In order to view the webinar, you may be required to download and install the free codec indicated in the sidebar. Please note that there is a delay in the audio at the beginning of the webinar for approximately 1 minute, so please be patient.
- receive and transcribe verbal prescriptions from practitioners,
- ensure that a prescription is complete and authentic,
- transfer prescriptions to and receive prescriptions from other pharmacies,
- ensure the accuracy of a prepared prescription,
- perform the final check of a prepared prescription, and
- ensure the accuracy of drug and personal health information in the PharmaNet patient record.
There will be a transition process as both current technicians who are interested in pursuing regulation and new individuals entering the field acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to safely and effectively take on their new role as regulated pharmacy technicians.
Steps to Regulation:
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Steps to Regulation for Current Technicians:
Important: Current technicians will have a limited time to pursue regulation through this route as it is only intended to be offered for a five-year period (expires 2015). After that time, current technicians wishing to become regulated will have to take the ‘Future Technicians’ route and successfully complete a CCAPP accredited pharmacy technician program offered through a public or private college.
Although some of the specific details are still being developed the process is as follows:

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Step 1 – Minimum Criteria: In order to enter the process, a current technician must have worked in ‘pharmacy practice’ for a minimum of 2000 hours in the past 3 years. Specific duties defined as ‘pharmacy practice’ are identified on the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) website at www.pebc.ca (Note: if a current technician does not meet the minimum criteria they would seek regulation through the Future Technician route by enrolling in an accredited pharmacy technician program offered at a public or private college).
The PEBC Evaluating Exam, which is meant to help technicians assess their current knowledge level in pharmacy practice, is a 3 hour/150 multiple choice question exam. The exam is offered by the PEBC nationally two times per year in key locations across Canada. The next exam date has been set for September 18, 2010, deadline for applications is now closed. More details on the Evaluating Exam, including the exam sitting schedule, are available at: www.pebc.ca.
Technicians who feel that they already have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to challenge, through an exam, a particular bridging module may do so through a process referred to as Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). All bridging modules, with the exception of the Professional Practice module which is mandatory for everyone, are PLAR-eligible.
The Division of Continuing Pharmacy Professional Development in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of BC (UBC-CPPD) has partnered with the College in the delivery of the Bridging Program (including PLAR exams).
Each of the 4 Bridging modules is in various stages of development and modification and the most current information and registration is available at www.pharmacy.ubc.ca/cppd:
- Pharmacology (33 hours): In-class and PLAR available now, online TBD
(click here for course outline)
This course provides a practical, applied approach to pharmacology. Through a variety of learning tools such as assignments, quizzes, case studies and group work, the student will enhance his/her ability to practice competently and contribute to a safe patient care setting. Participants will gain basic knowledge related to the pharmacological uses of drugs within a variety of commonly encountered medical conditions.
Current information and registration is available at www.pharmacy.ubc.ca/cppd
- Professional Practice (45 hours): In-class and Online TBD, no PLAR - mandatory
(click here for course outline)
Students will be prepared for entry to practice in five main areas of focus: legal requirements, scope of practice, ethical principles, professionalism and communication skills. Through a variety of learning tools such as interactive case studies, assignments, quizzes and group work, the student will enhance his/her ability to practice competently within the professional practice framework.
- Management of Drug Distribution Systems (MDDS) (39 hours): In-class and PLAR available now, Online TBD
(click here for course outline)
This course will examine various drug distribution systems in pharmacy practice, and prepare learners to effectively manage operations in different practice settings to ensure safe and effective drug supply and distribution. Learners will explore distributive functions in institutional settings, as well as common drug plans and their formularies, adjudication challenges, inventory management elements and common business practices. Accurate product release within the parameters of the pharmacy technician role receives special emphasis.
Note: There will be a structured practical evaluation following this course (and managed by CPBC) to verify the learners ability to consistently perform accurate product release in the workplace (independent double check).
Current information and registration is available at www.pharmacy.ubc.ca/cppd
- Product Preparation (33 hours): In-class and PLAR available now, and Online TBD
(click here for course outline)
This course addresses the theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for safe and accurate preparation of sterile and non-sterile pharmaceutical products. For non-sterile preparation, students will focus on compounding practices for various internal and external preparations and specialty dosage forms, equipment and tools, professional guidelines, standards and legislation, pharmaceutical calculations, and documentation requirements. For sterile product preparation, areas of emphasis include infection control, aseptic technique, parenteral dosage forms, accurate calculations, appropriate use of equipment, and quality control. Best practices associated with the preparation of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) and antineoplastics are also covered.
Current information and registration is available at www.pharmacy.ubc.ca/cppd
(Note: The The Jurisprudence / Ethics Exam and the PEBC Qualifying Exam can be completed in either order).
(Note: If you have successfully completed the PEBC Evaluating Exam (or hold certification from PTCB-AB (up to 2008) or OCP (up to 2008), or have completed an accredited pharmacist degree program in Canada or the continental United States, which exempts you from having to sit the PEBC Evaluating Exam), you can choose to sit the PEBC Qualifying Exam prior to completing the Bridging Program, however, both PEBC and the College strongly recommend that you complete the Bridging Program first. The content within the Bridging Program is specific to the expanded scope of practice for regulated pharmacy technicians and should therefore help technicians prepare for the Qualifying Exam. It is also important to note that successful completion of the Qualifying Exam does not exempt you from the Bridging Program or the Jurisprudence/Ethics exam. You must successfully complete all the required steps prior to the College registering you as a regulated pharmacy technician).
Steps to Regulation for Future Technicians:
Although some of the specific details are still being developed the process is as follows:
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Step 1 – CCAPP Accredited Program: An accredited program is a program of study offered by either a public or private post-secondary institute that has met the accreditation standards for a regulated pharmacy technician program established by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). The CCAPP accreditation process ensures that accredited programs contain the necessary content to teach the competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) necessary for successful graduates to safely and effectively do the job of a regulated pharmacy technician.
In BC, there is currently one private College offering a CCAPP accredited Pharmacy Technician program: Thompson Career College. A number of additional public and private Colleges have applied to CCAPP for accreditation (Public Colleges: Vancouver Community College, Okanagan College and Selkirk College, Private Colleges: Insignia College of Health and Business, West Coast College of Health Care and CDI – Burnaby Campus) and if successful, anticipate offering an accredited Pharmacy Technician program later this year or early in 2011. To determine if the program you are currently in or considering enrolling in, is CCAPP accredited, consult the CCAPP website at http://www.ccapp-accredit.ca/documents/ for the most current listing of CCAPP accredited programs, and contact the individual College directly. To help alleviate confusion in the marketplace, the title of 'Pharmacy Technician' will be restricted in BC effective January 1, 2011, where colleges offering non-CCAPP accredited pharmacy technician programs will be restricted from calling themselves ‘pharmacy technician’ programs and will be required to rename them ‘pharmacy assistant’ programs or something similar.
The CCAPP accredited programs are a minimum duration of 34 weeks and consist of a minimum of 26 weeks classroom (25 hours/week in class or lab; 5 days/week), and 8 weeks of practicum experience (35 hours/week; 7 hours/day). The program curriculum covers the same broad content areas as found in the Bridging Program required for current technicians:
- Pharmacology
- Professional Practice
- Management of Drug Distribution Systems
- Product Preparation
Step 2 – CPBC Structured Practical Training (SPT): Once a student has graduated from a CCAPP Accredited Program, the next step is to successfully complete a Structured Practical Training (SPT) program; a supervised competency based training period within a pharmacy that includes regular assessment by a pharmacist or another regulated technician. The purpose of the SPT component is to provide soon to be regulated technicians with the opportunity to practice their skill-set in a supervised practical environment prior to assuming sole responsibility. SPT is currently under development by the CPBC and is targeted to launch in the summer/fall of 2010.
Step 3 – CPBC Jurisprudence / Ethics Exam: The requirement to successfully complete a Jurisprudence / Ethics Exam is consistent with the registration process for pharmacists and is designed to test relevant provincial legislation and ethics which is not included on the national PEBC Qualifying Exam. This exam is administered by CPBC and is expected to be available by the summer/fall of 2010.
(Note: in order to qualify to sit the PEBC Qualifying Exam, 'future technicians' must have graduated from a CCAPP accredited program. Although PEBC does not require candidates to have successfully completed SPT prior to sitting the Qualifying Exam, both PEBC and the College strongly recommend this step to be done first).
Stay Informed - Pharmacy Technician Regulation Email Updates:
If you are interested in receiving email updates on Pharmacy Technician regulation, please contact Mary Tan at in order to be added to our Pharmacy Technician email distribution list. Please provide her with your full name, email address, and workplace (if applicable).
Background in BC:
Based on the outcomes of these two documents, Board’s direction was to move forward with the initiative to regulate pharmacy technicians under the College of Pharmacists of BC and that the regulation of pharmacy technicians be on a voluntary basis.
This direction was reaffirmed by the College Board in June of 2009 with the recommendation to support the national process currently in place to regulate pharmacy technicians on a voluntary basis. At that time, the Board also established a task group of stakeholder representatives to oversee the ongoing development, implementation and evaluation of regulated technicians.
The College has been actively involved, at the national level, working in collaboration with many organizations and other regulatory authorities in developing the framework required for the regulation of pharmacy technicians.
Details regarding the key framework components can be found below:
1. Educational Outcomes for Pharmacy Technician Programs
2. Entry-to-Practice Competencies for Pharmacy Technicians
3. Accreditation of Pharmacy Technician Training Programs
Resources:
Associations, Organizations and Licensing Boards:
- Alberta College of Pharmacists
- American Association of Pharmacy Technicians
- American Society of Health System Pharmacists
- BC Pharmacy Association
- Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians
- Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians – Vancouver Branch
- Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs
- Canadian Pharmacists Association
- Canadian Pharmacy Technician Educators Association
- Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists
- National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities
- Ontario College of Pharmacists
- Pharmacy Technician Educators Council
- Moving Forward - Pharmacy Human Resources for the Future
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada - Pharmacy Technician Exam Information
- Pharmacy Gateway
- Pharmacy Technician Focus Groups: Executive Summary
- Pharmacy Technician Workforce in Canada - National Report
- Regulation of Pharmacy Technicians - Business Case Analysis
- TechWise: Hiring Smart
- White Paper on Pharmacy Technicians
bridging programs
- Pharmacology
- Professional Practice
- Management of Drug Distribution Systems (MDDS)
- Product Preparation
general information
- Steps to Regulation for Current Technicians
- Steps to Regulation for Future Technicians
- Stay Informed - Pharmacy Technician Regulation Email Updates
- Background
Pre-Registration Forms
Webinar
- Webinar - May 20, 2010
(Codec required to view webinar - click here for free download)
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