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

The College has submitted proposed amendments to Regulation 202/94 (under the Pharmacy Act) to the Ministry of Health regarding registration and quality assurance activities. While the timing for approval of these changes by the government has not been set, the College is providing registrants and applicants with information regarding how these changes would affect registration and quality assurance processes. More specific information will be posted when it is available.

The major changes under the proposed amendments related to registration are:

• Elimination of the pharmacy student class of registration, as provisions in the Regulated Health Professions Act and the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act allow pharmacy students to practice under supervision.
• Creation of a pharmacy technician intern class of registration, who can practice to scope under supervision after graduation while completing the practice-based assessment and other registration requirements.
• Addition of pharmacy technicians to the two part register (Part A and Part B).
• Requirement to complete the education program, the PEBC Qualifying exam, the Jurisprudence exam and a practice-based assessment (PACE or SPT) within two years of an application to be registered as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

The major changes under the proposed amendments related to quality assurance are:

• Incorporation of pharmacy technicians into the quality assurance program.
• Replacement of the 600 hour practice requirement over three years with routine assessments of competence and a self-declaration of competence at annual renewal.

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.