BC's COVID-19 ResponseThe situation regarding COVID-19 continues to evolve here in BC, Canada and other jurisdictions in the world. The College of Pharmacists of BC is working closely with the Ministry of Health and other partners to support the response to this new illness as part of BC’s health system. The College will provide any updated information or guidance for pharmacy professionals as it becomes available. Please follow updates provided on bcpharmacists.org/COVID19 Pharmacy professionals exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should follow the COVID-19 testing process developed for all British Columbia health care workers. |
Temporary Registration Now Available to Support BC’s COVID-19 Response
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. In BC, BC's Provincial Health Officer declared a public health emergency on March 17, 2020.
Given the anticipated increased demand for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to help with BC’s response to the pandemic, the College developed amendments to Health Professions Act Bylaws to enable eligible individuals to apply for temporary registration with the College to provide pharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The amended bylaws are in now in effect.
Temporary Registration Now Active
Under section 45. (1)(b) of the College’s Health Professions Act Bylaws, temporary registration is now activated. On March 16, 2020, as part of BC’s COVID-19 response, Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC's Provincial Health Officer, requested all health regulators to begin the emergency registration of non-practising or retired health-care professionals, including professionals from other jurisdictions and the armed forces.
Individuals who may be eligible for temporary registration with the College of Pharmacists of BC during the COVID-19 pandemic, include:
- Former Registrants
- Non-Practicing Pharmacists
- Pharmacy graduates (including UBC) who are not yet full Pharmacists
- Pharmacy Students from Outside of BC
If you are interested in applying for temporary registration to contribute to BC’s response to the COVID-19 response, use the following chart to determine your options for temporary registration with the College.
Temporary Registration options
Eligible individuals may apply for temporary registration with the College to provide pharmacy services during this emergency period. Unlike other types of registration classes, temporary registration is granted only for the period of the declared emergency and it will end on a date determined by the Registrar or the Registration Committee.
There are four classes under this type of registration and their differences are summarized in the table below:
Class |
who is eligible to apply? |
scope of practice |
---|---|---|
Temporary Pharmacist |
|
Can perform restricted activities/pharmacy services as if they are a full pharmacist, including drug administration by injection and intranasal route if applicable. |
Temporary Pharmacy Technician |
|
Can perform restricted activities/pharmacy services as if they are a pharmacy technician. |
Temporary Limited Pharmacist |
|
Can perform restricted activities/pharmacy services under the direct supervision of a full pharmacist. |
Temporary Student Pharmacist |
|
Can perform restricted activities/pharmacy services under the direct supervision of a full pharmacist. |
Eligible applicants may apply for temporary registration through the College's Temporary Registration Application Process.
Options for pharmacy professionals who were registered within the last 90 days
Former registrants and non-practising registrants who were registered as a Full Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician with the College within the past 90 days have two options to become registered:
- Apply as a Temporary Pharmacist or Temporary Pharmacy Technician, or
- Reinstate their Full Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician registration and use the PDAP exemption.
A Professional Development and Assessment Program (PDAP) exemption has been provided for the remainder of 2020 registrant renewals as well as to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who wish to be reinstated after holding non-practicing and/or former status for less than 90 days since they were last a Full Pharmacist.
The table below summarizes the major differences between the two options for this group of individuals:
|
Option #1: Temporary registration |
Option #2: reinstatement < 90 days |
---|---|---|
Application Type |
Temporary Registration |
Reinstatement < 90 days ("Late Renewal") |
Validity of Registration when Granted |
Until the Registrar/Registration Committee has declared that the public health emergency is over |
1 year from the registration expiry date as a Full Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician |
CE Requirements |
None |
Exempted |
Application Requirements (HPA Bylaws) |
HPA Section 45 |
HPA Section 53 |
Fees |
CRC Fee only |
Annual Registration Fee and CRC if applicable (Late fee waived) |
For those who wish to proceed with the second option, contact the Registration Department at [email protected] to initiate your reinstatement application.
UBC Fourth Year Pharmacy Students
Once a UBC pharmacy student graduates, they will no longer be registered as a Student Pharmacist with the College. Until then, they can continue providing pharmacy services under the direct supervision of a full pharmacist as a Student Pharmacist.
After graduation, if they wish to continue providing pharmacy services before they meet all the registration requirements as a full pharmacist, they may:
- Apply as a Temporary Limited Pharmacist, or
- Apply as a Limited Pharmacist.
|
Temporary Limited pharmacist |
limited pharmacist |
---|---|---|
Application Type |
Temporary Registration |
Limited Pharmacist Registration Note: this type of application must be reviewed by the Registration Committee before registration can be granted. |
Validity of Registration when Granted |
Until the Registrar/Registration Committee declared that the public health emergency is over |
1 year when granted by the Registration Committee |
Application Requirements (HPA Bylaws) |
HPA section 45 |
HPA Section 44 |
Fees* |
CRC Fee only |
Annual Registration Fee and CRC if applicable |
*fee not transferrable/refundable
Pharmacy students who have graduated, but not yet become a full pharmacist, may apply for temporary limited pharmacist registration through the College’s Temporary Registration Application Process.