As reported in the Jan/Feb 2000 issue of Pharmacy Connection, the Ontario College of Pharmacists has agreed to the principles of a Mutual Recognition Agreement. This agreement for the profession of pharmacy in Canada was worked on through the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA). Signatories include the provincial regulatory authorities and Yukon Territory. When put into effect, the Mutual Recognition Agreement will expedite the movement of pharmacists across Canada with out imposing unreasonable or discriminatory requirements.
General
We agree to present this Agreement to our provincial and territorial boards for review and approval by December 31, 1999. Copies of this agreement will be filed with each of the provincial and federal Labour Mobility Coordinators.
Purpose
We, the undersigned, enter into this Mutual Recognition Agreement in order to comply with our obligations under the Agreement on Internal Trade, Chapter 7 (Labour Mobility). The purpose of this Mutual Recognition Agreement is to establish the conditions under which a pharmacist who is licensed/registered in one Canadian jurisdiction will have his/her qualifications recognized in another Canadian jurisdiction that is a Party to this Agreement.
Mobility Principles
1. There is a threshold level of competent 1 practice required for public protection.
2. Each province and territory respects the fact that other provinces and territories set and implement standards for competent practice in good faith.
3. There is more than one method to achieve and assess competence.
Agreement
1. We, the undersigned, agree that the practice of pharmacy has a high degree of commonality across Canada.
2. We, the undersigned, agree that the Professional Competencies for Canadian Pharmacists at Entry-to-Practice (April 26, 1997), developed by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) and forming the basis of NAPRA’s Model Standards of Practice for Canadian Pharmacists (April 5, 1998), the National Model Licensing Program, and the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada’s “Educational Outcomes,” is representative of the high degree of commonality in the practice of pharmacy among the signatories of this Agreement. It is understood that these documents will evolve over time as required to meet the needs of the Canadian public.
3. We, the undersigned, agree to abide by this Mutual Recognition Agreement among provincial and territorial regulators and will take action in our respective jurisdictions to make legislative and regulatory amendments to give effect to the terms of this Agreement.
4. We, the undersigned, agree to recognize the qualifications of a pharmacist who is licensed/registered in the jurisdiction of a signatory on July, 2001 and to register/license such pharmacist into an equivalent or comparable part of the register.
Further, we agree to recognize the qualifications of a pharmacist who is licensed/registered in the jurisdiction of a signatory after July 1, 2001 under the following conditions:
- He/she has completed an accredited 2 degree program in pharmacy
- He/she has attained the language requirements of the jurisdiction at a level consistent with the “Language Fluency Requirements for Licensure as a Pharmacist in Canada,”
- He/she has attained the competencies prescribed in “Pharmacy Jurisprudence Competencies for Licensure as a Pharmacist in Canada,” and can demonstrate competence in jurisprudence specific to the province in which registration is being sought,
- He/she has successfully completed a structured practical training program consistent with “A Framework for Assessing Canadian Pharmacists’ Competencies at Entry-to-Practice Through Structured Practical Training Programs,”
- He/she has successfully completed a licensing examination based on the “Professional Competencies for Canadian Pharmacists at Entry-to-Practice (April 26 1997),” and approved by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities.
5. We, the undersigned, agree at the time of application, the applicant will have:
- Met other provincial/territorial requirements specific to his/her moral character, reputation, and professional standing, requirements specific to his/her scope of practice, and
- Provided evidence, where applicable, that they have successfully met the standards set out in the National Continuing Competence Program, or until such time that this Program is implemented, those standards set out in a continuing competence program of their current jurisdiction.
Maintenance and Administration of the Agreement
This Agreement is a dynamic and evolving instrument that may be amended. We, the undersigned, agree to initiate periodic reviews of the Agreement no less than every two years after July 1, 2001.
Withdrawal
A signatory may withdraw from this Agreement, six months after it gives notice with rationale to all other parties of its intention.
Notification for New or Modified Provincial/ Territorial Qualifications or Requirements
When a signatory is proposing to add or amend a licensure requirement that might impact on this Agreement, we, the undersigned agree to notify all other signatories of the proposed change and the particulars thereof, and afford them an opportunity for its review prior to implementation.
Footnotes
1. To be well qualified, capable, fit, sufficient, and/or adequate
2. Accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP), or accredited by a body recognized by CCAPP, or determined to be equivalent to a CCAPP accredited program by a provincial pharmacy regulatory authority or determined to be equivalent to a CCAPP accredited program by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC). The Mutual Recognition Agreement will expedite the movement of pharmacists across Canada without imposing unreasonable or discriminatory requirements
