Temporary Registration for the COVID-19 Pandemic is Ending
In March 2020, Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer, declared a public health emergency in BC related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of BC’s response to the pandemic emergency, Dr. Henry asked health profession regulators to provide emergency registration for non-practising or retired health professionals and professionals from other jurisdictions or the armed forces. In response, the CPBC board amended the bylaws to establish four temporary registrant classes that were intended to be available for the duration of the pandemic emergency.
In July 2024, Dr. Henry announced the end of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. As other health profession regulators in BC have already done, CPBC is now moving to close its four temporary registrant classes.
After June 30, 2025, CPBC will not accept any new applications for registration as a temporary pharmacist, temporary limited pharmacist, temporary student pharmacist, or temporary pharmacy technician.
For current registrants in one of the temporary registrant classes, registration in these classes will be cancelled on a date to be determined. CPBC will be providing more information soon to all current temporary registrants about the ending of their temporary registration, which will include a reasonable advance notice period leading up to the cancellation date. CPBC expresses its appreciation to all temporary registrants who offered their services to help people in British Columbia during the pandemic. Current temporary registrants are encouraged to apply for registration in the regular class of registrants corresponding to their temporary registration (e.g., temporary pharmacist to full pharmacist). Meanwhile, the CPBC bylaws continue to apply to all temporary registrants including the requirements that must be met to maintain temporary registration for a period longer than 12 months.
For applicants whose applications for registration in one of the four temporary registrant classes were received by CPBC on or before June 30, 2025, CPBC will be providing more information soon to those applicants about the disposition of their applications.