Upcoming Changes to the College’s Registration and Quality Assurance Regulations

The Ministry of Health is actively working towards approving amended registration and quality assurance regulations that the College submitted to government. While the exact timing for government approval of changes to Regulation 202/94 under the Pharmacy Act has not been set, the College is providing registrants and applicants with information regarding how these changes would affect registration and quality assurance processes.

Once approved, the major changes under the proposed amendments related to registration are: 

  • Elimination of the pharmacy student class of registration. This aligns with the practice of other health professions where students do not register with their regulatory body but rather practice under supervision based on authority in the Regulated Health Professions Act and the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act.  
  • Creation of a pharmacy technician intern (intern technician) class of registration so that pharmacy technician graduates can register with the College and practice to scope under supervision while they complete their final entry-to-practice requirements.   
  • Introduction of a Part B Register for pharmacy technicians who do not provide patient care. 
  • Requirement to complete the PEBC Qualifying exam, the Jurisprudence, Ethics and Professionalism exam and a practice-based assessment (PACE or SPT) within two years of an application to be registered as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.  

Once approved, the major changes under the proposed amendments related to quality assurance are: 

  • Pharmacy technicians required to participate in the College’s Quality Assurance Program
  • Elimination of the requirement for registrants to practice 600 hours within three years. Instead, registrants will need to self-declare annually that they have maintained competence to practice and undergo an assessment of competence when selected. 

The College will be reaching out to the groups affected by each of these changes with more specific messaging as we prepare for implementation. Please refer to the FAQs below. 

Page updated: October 27, 2023