The CPBC Board recently approved fees for the 2026/27 registration year. Annual registration/licensure fees will increase 6% for pharmacists, 6% for pharmacy technicians, and 13.5% for pharmacies. CPBC will also charge a special fee next year to help fund several specific regulatory and technological upgrades.
As a non-profit organization, CPBC's goal is to operate on a cost-recovery basis, meaning the revenue we generate must cover the expenses associated with our regulatory activities and mandate. Like other organizations, inflation is increasing our costs, and we must continue to invest in maintaining and upgrading our operational capabilities. At the same time, our regulatory environment is becoming more complex.
The Board does not make decisions about fee increases lightly. Working with CPBC management, the Board reviews and determines the best ways to enable us to continue to meet our mandate to protect the public from harm and fulfill our regulatory responsibilities given current economic realities and changes to health regulation.
At the heart of this decision—and every decision we make—is our commitment to being an inclusive and collaborative regulator dedicated to supporting public safety, optimal health, and culturally safe, equitable pharmacy care for people across British Columbia.
CPBC is currently working to update our bylaws, processes, and requirements in preparation for the transition to the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), which comes into force on April 1, 2026. Compliance with the HPOA will include new requirements for oversight, quality assurance, cultural safety and anti-racism, as well as establishing new support programs, which regulatory colleges are responsible for funding, managing, and administering.
BC’s aging population, increasing pressure on the primary care system, and government health policy changes are leading to pharmacy professionals taking on new roles and expanded responsibilities and to an increasing reliance on pharmacies for delivery of needed clinical services above and beyond traditional dispensing. CPBC is continuing to address high-risk public safety issues, including unsafe opioid agonist treatment practices and drug diversion, while responding to the rapid introduction of new technologies in the health care environment. CPBC must update and strengthen its systems and policies to adapt to these changes and support effective regulation now and into the future.
Special Fee for 2026/2027
CPBC will charge a special fee next year to cover critical investments needed to upgrade several core systems including improved case management and evaluation tools, as well as the platforms that registrants rely on for registration, licence management, and communication. These upgrades are also necessary to meet the new requirements under the HPOA and to ensure CPBC can continue regulating effectively in a rapidly changing health system.
The special fee allows CPBC to address immediate short-term needs without relying on larger, compounding annual fee increases.
Please see specific fees below.
2026/2027 Fees
| registration/licence type | current annual fee | 2026/2027 annual fee (a) | 2026/2027 special fee (b) | 2026/2027 total (A+B) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $1,207 | $1,280 | $70 | $1,350 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $805 | $854 | $45 | $899 |
| Pharmacy Licence | $3,694 | $4,193 | $700 | $4,893 |