Process to Move from Part B to Part A
Part B registrants (do not provide patient care) wishing to move to Part A of the Register (provide patient care) must first notify OCP of their wish to do so by emailing RegPrograms@ocpinfo.com. You must complete all requirements to move to Part A of the Register within 12 months.
Pharmacists
To move to Part A of the Register, Part B pharmacists must successfully complete the following two requirements:
- Knowledge Assessment with a remote proctor, and
- Practice Assessment
You must complete both the Knowledge Assessment and the Practice Assessment within 12 months of notifying OCP of your intention to move to Part A.
Knowledge Assessment
- The Knowledge Assessment is a standardized, computer-based assessment
- The Knowledge Assessment assesses pharmacists’ ability to apply clinical knowledge as well as current legislation, ethics and scope of practice to patient care scenarios
- OCP will share a link to schedule your online, proctored (supervised) Knowledge Assessment
- Tips for preparing for the Knowledge Assessment can be found here.
Practice Assessment
- The Practice Assessment focuses on the processes used to deliver patient care in a registrant’s place of practice through feedback and discussion with a College practice advisor.
- There are three options to meet the Practice Assessment requirement. You must successfully complete one of these options. Review the three options listed below and notify OCP in writing at RegPrograms@ocpinfo.com of your choice.
Option 1: Practice Assessment by a College practice advisor at practice site of your choice (3 hours)
- When you are ready to undergo the practice assessment, notify OCP by emailing QA@ocpinfo.com. OCP staff will schedule the practice assessment at your practice site, based on the practice advisor’s availability. You will receive an email notifying you of the date and time, and additional information about the practice assessment.
- Prior to your practice assessment, gather several examples of your engagement in patient care at your practice site.
- In a community practice setting this includes new and refill prescriptions, adaptations, renewals and medication reviews. You will need to share these examples with the community practice advisor.
- In a hospital or other healthcare facility practice setting (e.g., family health team, long-term care) this includes a workup of newly admitted/rostered patients, new medication order reviews, provision of ongoing care, patient education/drug information and/or medication reconciliation. You will need to share these examples with the hospital practice advisor.
- You must complete your practice assessment during your practice preparation period as a Part B pharmacist. More information is found in the “Preparing for the Practice Assessment” section below.
Option 2: Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) at assessor’s practice site (3 weeks)
- If you are ready to undergo assessment for re-entry to practise patient care independently as a pharmacist but do not have a site where you can undertake a practice assessment, contact OCP at RegPrograms@ocpinfo.com.
- OCP staff will assign a PACE assessor and PACE assessment site based on your preferred geographic location and on assessor availability.
- You must complete your PACE during your practice preparation period as a Part B pharmacist. More information is found in the “Preparing for the Practice Assessment” section below.
Option 3: Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada’s Objective Structured Clinical Exam for Pharmacists (OSCE) (6 hours)
- The Pharmacist OSCE is offered twice a year, in May and November, in multiple cities across Canada. Please complete the PEBC Non-Certification Qualifying Exam Application form.
Preparing for the Practice Assessment
If you wish to practise performing the controlled acts in a pharmacy before attempting your practice assessment, you must:
- Complete and submit this form to notify OCP in writing of the name and address of your intended practice site, the supervising Part A pharmacist(s) who will directly supervise your practice (i.e., must be physically present), and the anticipated start date for your practice preparation. Your practice preparation period can last up to six months. You may request another six months to practise without committee approval. An extension beyond 12 months requires committee approval.
- Obtain personal professional liability insurance and, if you are volunteering your time, the required personal accident insurance (sometimes called accidental death and dismemberment or AD&D insurance). Pharmacy managers/owners or PACE assessors may require this personal accident insurance before allowing you to volunteer or be assessed in their pharmacy. Liability insurance providers or other insurance carriers may offer this additional type of insurance. OCP does not endorse any particular insurance carrier.
Pharmacy Technicians
To move to Part A of the Register, Part B pharmacy technicians must successfully complete the following requirement:
- Practice Assessment
You must complete the Practice Assessment within 12 months of notifying OCP of your intention to move to Part A.
Practice Assessment
- The Practice Assessment focuses on the processes used to deliver patient care in a registrant’s place of practice through feedback and discussion with a College practice advisor.
- There are three options to meet the Practice Assessment requirement. You must successfully complete one of these options. Review the three options listed below and notify OCP in writing at RegPrograms@ocpinfo.com of your choice.
Option 1: Practice Assessment by a College practice advisor at practice site of your choice (3 hours)
- When you are ready to undergo the practice assessment, notify OCP by emailing QA@ocpinfo.com. OCP staff will schedule the practice assessment at your practice site, based on the practice advisor availability. You will receive an email notifying you of the date and time, and additional information about the practice assessment.
- Prior to your practice assessment, gather several examples of your engagement in patient care at your practice site. Patient care examples are found on the Pharmacy Technician Practice Assessments webpage.
- You must complete your practice assessment during your practice preparation period as a Part B pharmacy technician. More information is found in the “Preparing for the Practice Assessment” section below.
Option 2: Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) at assessor’s practice site (3 weeks)
- If you are ready to undergo assessment for re-entry to practise patient care independently as a pharmacy technician but do not have a site where you can undertake a practice assessment, contact OCP at RegPrograms@ocpinfo.com.
- OCP staff will assign a PACE assessor and PACE assessment site based on your preferred geographic location and on assessor availability.
- You must complete your PACE during your practice preparation period as a Part B pharmacy technician. More information is found in the “Preparing for the Practice Assessment” section below.
Option 3: Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada’s Objective Structured Performance Examination (OSPE)
- The Pharmacy Technician OSPE is offered twice a year, in April and September, in multiple cities across Canada. Information on how to apply is available on the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada’s website.
Preparing for the Practice Assessment
If you wish to practise performing the controlled acts in a pharmacy before attempting your practice assessment, you must:
- Complete and submit this form to notify OCP in writing of the name and address of your intended practice site, the name of the Part A pharmacist or Part A pharmacy technician who will supervise your practice, and the anticipated start date for your practice preparation. Your practice preparation period can last up to six months. You may request another six months to practise without committee approval. An extension beyond 12 months requires committee approval.
- Obtain personal professional liability insurance and, if you are volunteering your time, the required personal accident insurance (sometimes called accidental death and dismemberment or AD&D insurance). Pharmacy managers/owners or PACE assessors may require this personal accident insurance before allowing you to volunteer or be assessed in their pharmacy. Liability insurance providers or other insurance carriers may offer this additional type of insurance. OCP does not endorse any particular insurance carrier.
General Questions
How Do I Prepare for my Practice Assessment to Move to Part A?
Once you have notified OCP that you wish to move to Part A, you may perform the controlled acts in a pharmacy under direct supervision (i.e., supervisor is physically present) of a Part A pharmacist or Part A pharmacy technician (for Part B pharmacy technicians only). Initially, you should observe the Part A registrant in practice, and then transition to providing patient care under supervision as appropriate based on your level of competence.
What if I am Unsuccessful on the Knowledge Assessment or Practice Assessment?
If you are unsuccessful on the Knowledge Assessment or the Practice Assessment, you may repeat the assessments. You are responsible for your own remediation when preparing to undertake the second attempt. If you require more than two attempts to pass one or both of these assessments while trying to move from Part B to Part A, you will be charged a cost recovery fee for each subsequent assessment attempt.
College Contact: RegPrograms@ocpinfo.com