pharmacy technician presentation june 2015

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Regulation of Pharmacy Technicians in

Newfoundland and Labrador

The Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board (NLPB)

• Our Vision• Advancing pharmacy care for a safe and healthy community.

• Our Mission• The Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board protects the people of

the province by governing the profession of pharmacy to ensure quality and ethical care.

• Lines of Business• Registration of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students

and pharmacies• Measure and support competencies of pharmacists and pharmacy

technicians• Resolve complaints about pharmacy practice and operations• Define and maintain scopes of professional practice

Advancing Pharmacy Care for a Safe and Healthy Community

The History…


Road to Registering Technicians – National


• 2007: National initiative supported by the CPhA Blueprint for Pharmacy

• 2007: Development of National Competencies for Pharmacy Technicians at entry to practice

• 2008: Development and delivery of National Exams (PEBC)

• 2011: Development of National Standards of Practice for Pharmacy Technicians

• 2013: Revision of National Competencies to re-align with Standards of Practice and pharmacist documents

Cross Country Status

• Technicians currently registered in:• AB• BC• NB• NS• NL• ON


What has been happening in NL?

• 2011: Board adopted and recognized bridging program courses from other jurisdictions

• 2012: Began formal discussion with Department of Health & Community Services re: legislative changes

• Dec 2012: Pharmacy Act, 2012 – enabled the registration of pharmacy technicians and protection of title

• June 2013: Board adopted the National Standards of Practice

• November 2014: Pharmacy Regulations, 2014 – finalizes registration process


Pharmacy Act, 2012

• 17.(1) The board shall register…a pharmacy technician where he or she• (a) applies in a manner and form prescribed by the board;• (b) provides proof satisfactory to the board that he or she• has graduated from a pharmacy technician educational program accredited by

CCAPP, or• was previously registered, in good standing in another province or territory of

Canada

• (c) successfully completes a pharmacy technician licensing examination…• (d) provides proof … that he or she has successfully completed the PEBC

qualifying exam• (e) provides proof that he or she has obtained professional liability insurance

coverage in a form and amount satisfactory to the board;• (g) has a working knowledge of the English language…• (h) pays the fees set by the board … and• (i) meets the other requirements that may be prescribed by the regulations.


Pharmacy Act, 2012

• 17.(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the board may register an applicant as a pharmacy technician where he or she• applies for registration no later than December 31, 2017;• provides proof …that he or she worked a minimum of 2000 hours as the

equivalent of a pharmacy assistant in the 3 year period immediately before the date of application

• provides proof …that he or she successfully completed a pharmacy technician bridging program approved by the board; and

• has met the requirements in paragraphs (1)(c) to (i)


Pharmacy Regulations, 2014

• 6. (1) In addition to the requirements in section 17 of the Act a person applying to be registered as a pharmacy technician shall provide• (a) a current certificate of conduct satisfactory to the board…;

• (b) photo identification acceptable to the board; and

• (c) proof satisfactory to the board that he or she completed the required period of practical training approved by the board.

(2) The practical training period referred to in subparagraph (1)(c) shall be• (a) in addition to any pharmacy technician practice experience required

as a part of the applicant’s pharmacy technician education program;

• (b) completed in accordance with the policies and standards developed by the board relating to practice experience requirements;

• (c) conducted at a pharmacy or other facility approved by the board; and

• (d) completed under the preceptorship of a pharmacist or pharmacy technician approved by the board. Advancing Pharmacy Care for a Safe and Healthy Community

How Will You Get There?

Steps to Regulation – Transition Path


Transition – PEBC Evaluating Exam

• Eligibility criteria• Minimum of 2000 hours of work in the field of pharmacy in

the 36 months prior to the exam• Some flexibility is given on a case-by-case basis

• Offered in the Spring and Fall of each year• Next Sittings:• October 17, 2015 (registration deadline – June 26, 2015)• April 24, 2016 (registration deadline – January 13, 2016)


Transition - Bridging Education Program

• National Pharmacy Technician Bridging Education program available via traditional classroom or online delivery (www.napra.ca)• Online program delivered by Selkirk College in British Columbia

– accessible to residents of all provinces (www.selkirk.ca) • Consists of 4 courses that may be completed in any order on an

individual basis over a period of time (usually within 3 years)• Management of Drug Distribution Systems• Pharmacology• Product Preparation• Professional Practice

• All courses with the exception of Professional Practice are eligible for “challenge” via completion of an in-person “Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition” (PLAR) exam


http://www.napra.ca/

http://www.selkirk.ca/

Transition – Practical Training Program

• Documented evaluation with an approved preceptor• Evaluates the candidate’s competency in a

number of areas• Verification of final check• Receiving a verbal order from a prescriber• Receiving / sending a transferred prescription from

another pharmacy• Communication skills

• May be completed over an undetermined period of time – usually 4-12 weeks


PEBC Qualifying Exam

• Eligibility criteria:• Graduation from a CCAPP-accredited pharmacy technician program; or• Successful completion of the PEBC Evaluating Exam (until Dec 2018)

• Two components:• Part I - Multiple choice written component• Part II - Objective Structured Practical Exam “OSPE” component

• Offered in the Winter and Summer of each year• Next Sittings:• Part I – September 12, 2015 (registration deadline already past) • Part II – September 13, 2015 (registration deadline already past)• Part I – April 3, 2016 (registration deadline – December 11, 2015)• Part II – April 2, 2016 (registration deadline – December 11, 2015)


NLPB Registration Exam

• Similar to current exam for Pharmacists• Covers Legislation and Standards of Practice specific to

NL

• 2 parts:• Part I – Multiple Choice Questions (70%)• Part II – Long Answer Questions (30%)

• Bi-monthly regular sittings (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec)• May also be written at a special sitting for an additional

fee• See the NLPB Registration Examination Information Guide


http://www.nlpb.ca/media/NLPB-Information_Guide-Registration_Exam-Oct2013.pdf

Almost There!

• Final Steps• Professional Liability Insurance• Registration Fees• Continuing Professional Development


Steps to Regulation – CCAPP Path


Steps to Regulation – CCAPP Path


• Graduates of CCAPP-accredited pharmacy technician programs are not required to complete:• PEBC Evaluating Exam• Pharmacy Technician Bridging Education Program

• Other than that, the requirements are the same

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Approximate Costs of Pharmacy Technician Registration


Questions?

Contact Us:

Visit our Pharmacy Technician Regulation News page at www.nlpb.ca

Register for our contact list by sending your full name, email address, and

workplace to [email protected], with the subject line “Pharmacy Technician

Contact List”

Call (709) 753-5877, ext. 202


http://www.nlpb.ca/

mailto:[email protected]

pharmacy technician presentation june 2015

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