Registering Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians

All pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in British Columbia must register with the College in order to practice in the province. In addition, all pharmacies in the province must be approved and issued a licence from the College in order to operate.

The College registration process ensures that pharmacy professionals meet the ‘entry to practice’ standards and possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to be able to provide safe pharmacy care. Registrants must meet annual professional development and continuing education requirements to demonstrate ongoing competence in professional practice. Registration is valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually.

Registrants must also complete a criminal record check and carry professional liability insurance as a requirement of their registration.

The College is responsible for maintaining a register which lists all the registered pharmacy professionals and licensed pharmacies in BC, and makes information related to limits, conditions, suspensions or cancellations of a registrant publicly available on the College website.

2020/21 Registration Statistics

Licencing Pharmacies

As the licensing body for all pharmacies in the province, the College regulates the ownership and operation of BC pharmacies in accordance with the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (PODSA), the Health Professionals Act (HPA), and the Regulations and bylaws of the College pursuant to these Acts.

Community, Hospital and Telepharmacy Licences are valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually.

2020/21 Licensure Statistics

Temporary Registration Supports BC'S COVID-19 Response

Given the anticipated increased demand for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to help with BC’s response to the pandemic, in April 2020, the College developed amendments to the Health Professions Act Bylaws to enable eligible individuals to apply for temporary registration with the College to provide pharmacy services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Individuals who may be eligible for temporary registration with the College during the COVID-19 pandemic, include:

  • Former Registrants
  • Non-Practising Registrants
  • Pharmacy Graduates (including UBC) who are not yet Full Pharmacists
  • Pharmacy Students from Outside of BC

Following its implementation in April 2020, over 93 individuals received Temporary Registration from the College during the 2020/21 fiscal year. Eligible individuals are able apply for temporary registration with the College to provide pharmacy services during this emergency period. Unlike other types of registration classes, temporary registration is granted only for the period of the declared emergency and it will end on a date determined by the Registrar or the Registration Committee.

There are four classes under this type of registration and their differences are summarized in the table below:

Class Who is Eligible to Apply? Scope of Practice
Temporary Pharmacist
  1. Currently registered as the equivalent of a full pharmacist in another jurisdiction in Canada or in the United States, and have no limitations, restrictions or conditions on practice; OR
     
  2. Former registrant who was registered as a full pharmacist within the last 3 years; OR
     
  3. Non-practising pharmacist who was registered as a full pharmacist within the last 3 years.
     
 Can perform restricted activities/pharmacy services as if they are a full pharmacist, including drug administration by injection and intranasal route if applicable.
Temporary Pharmacy Technician
  1. Currently registered as the equivalent of a pharmacy technician in another jurisdiction in Canada, and have no limitations, restrictions or conditions on practice; OR
     
  2. Former registrant who was registered as a pharmacy technician within the last 3 years; OR
     
  3. Non-practising pharmacy technician who was registered as a pharmacy technician within the last 3 years.
     
 Can perform restricted activities/pharmacy services as if they are a pharmacy technician.
Temporary Limited Pharmacist
  1. Pharmacy graduates who have completed their Structural Practical Training (SPT) requirements but not all the required assessments for registration; OR
     
  2. Pharmacy graduates who have completed their Jurisprudence Exam, PEBC Evaluating (if applicable) and Qualifying Exams, but not their SPT.
     
 Can perform restricted activities/pharmacy services under the direct supervision of a full pharmacist.
Temporary Student Pharmacist
  1. Pharmacy students enrolled in a recognized pharmacy education program outside BC.
     
 Can perform restricted activities/pharmacy services under the direct supervision of a full pharmacist.

 

Eligible applicants may apply for temporary registration through the College's Temporary Registration Application Process.

Learn More: News – Temporary Registration Now Available to Support BC’s COVID-19 Response

Remote Options for Jurisprudence Examination

The College partnered with Prometric to administer the JE as a computer-based examination. The JE may be taken on-site at a Prometric Test Center or as a remotely proctored online examination at a location that meets the requirements.

Learn More: Jurisprudence Exam Information

 

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