In fall 2024, the College will be transitioning from the Structured Practical Training (SPT) program to the Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) model for pharmacy technician applicants.
The last day for pharmacy technician applicants to apply for SPT was September 3, 2024. The last day to start SPT is September 16, 2024. Learn more
Common questions and answers about Structured Practical Training (SPT) are found below.
Volunteers are not covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). You should arrange for your own student accident insurance (sometimes called accidental death and dismemberment or AD&D insurance) that is comparable to WSIB. The College does not endorse any particular insurance carrier.
While you are completing the SPT activities, you will be required to perform some of the authorized acts (e.g., checking the technical aspects of prescriptions, accepting verbal prescriptions except for controlled substances, authorizing prescriptions transfers except for benzodiazepines and other targeted substances). A registered pharmacy technician or Part A pharmacist must directly supervise you while you are performing these acts.
You are not allowed to administer injections during your SPT.
Full-time SPT is based on a model of 35 hours a week for a minimum of 12 weeks. Being in the pharmacy more than 35 hours per week will not reduce the minimum 12 weeks of training. Two part-time models are also available.
For all three models of SPT, 18 hours per week must be completed under the supervision of your preceptor. The remainder of the time can be delegated to another supervising pharmacy technician or pharmacist as appropriate. This supervisor does not need to be a trained preceptor.
Successful completion of SPT is based on your demonstration of competence for entry-to-practice as outlined by NAPRA. By the end of your SPT period, your activities must be satisfactorily completed and your preceptor must be satisfied that you have met the required competency level by rating your performance as Satisfactory or better on the final assessment. If you are not able to demonstrate your entry-to-practice competence within the minimum duration, your SPT will be extended.
Either you or your preceptor should contact a registration advisor at regprograms@ocpinfo.com to discuss an extension to support further develop of your competence. Additional assessments will be added to monitor of your progress.
If you complete a minimum of four weeks of SPT before December 31, 2024, you will have the option to:
If you do NOT complete a minimum of four weeks of SPT before December 31, 2024, you will be required to undergo Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) to meet the practice-based registration requirement.
Although it is preferred that the training is completed on a continuous basis, the College understands that due to a variety of circumstances, you may need to take a break during your SPT. Email regprograms@ocpinfo.com (and copy your preceptor) to notify us of your break start and end dates and the reason for the intended break. You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging your request. Any pending assessments should be completed prior to the break. You will be required to extend your training to make up for the time that was missed. Prolonged breaks may negatively impact your competence and you may be required to further extend your training to attain the expected level of competence.
If you complete a minimum of four weeks of SPT before December 31, 2024, you will have the option to:
If you do NOT complete a minimum of four weeks of SPT before December 31, 2024, you will be required to undergo Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) to meet the practice-based registration requirement.
If your preceptor takes a break of up to two weeks, supervision of the training can be delegated to another pharmacy technician or pharmacist. This supervisor does not need to be a trained preceptor. For breaks longer than two weeks, the training should either be put on hold or supervision should be transferred to another trained preceptor. Preceptors who require breaks longer than two weeks should email regprograms@ocpinfo.com to notify us of the break start and end dates of, and the reason for the intended break.
You will have the option to:
If you would like to switch to a different preceptor, please email regprograms@ocpinfo.com with your request. A registration advisor will contact you to discuss your situation including the reason(s) for wishing to change your preceptor, and advise you about the timing and impact of changing your preceptor during your training.
If you complete a minimum of four weeks of SPT before December 31, 2024: After speaking with Registration Program staff, if you and your preceptor agree that you should switch to a different preceptor, you should ask your current preceptor to review any activities that you have already discussed and documented in the Training Portal and (if appropriate) approve them or post comments for you to address with your next preceptor. Both of you must complete any assessments that were due while you were training with your first preceptor, and your first preceptor must submit the Declaration of Incomplete Training through your Training Portal.
When you have found your next preceptor, you must email the following information to regprograms@ocpinfo.com:
Registration Programs staff will update your Training Portal file, including the due dates for all remaining assessments, and then email you and your new preceptor with confirmation of your new training location and start date. Your new preceptor will also be sent their confidential Skilsure login information.
If you do NOT complete a minimum of four weeks of SPT before December 31, 2024, you will be required to undergo Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) to meet the practice-based registration requirement.
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