PHARMACY REGISTRATION UPDATE

ONTARIO COUNCIL OF HOSPITAL UNIONS/CUPE JANUARY 2011

Would you like more information? Would you like a speaker to come to a meeting with the pharmacy staff that your local represents to talk with them about the regulatory changes and CUPEs advice to them about their rights? The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE has a Pharmacy Working Group. To arrange a speaker or for more information, please contact the Chair, Denise Warner at: dwarner@cogeco.ca

Deadlines are fast approaching !

The Pharmacy Education Board of Canada (PEBC) Evaluation Exam this step must be completed by January 1, 2012. Two nal dates have been set up: SPRING 2011: Sunday, April 17, 2011. Application deadline is Monday, January 17, 2011. FALL 2011: Saturday, October 1, 2011. Application deadline is Friday, June 17, 2011. If you have already written the Certication Exam continue to Step Two. If you are NOT certied with the OCP you MUST write the Evaluation Exam.This step must be completed to continue. We encourage everyone to write this exam. Bridging Education Program This step must be completed by January 1, 2015. These courses are offered at your local community college and online. Please check your community college for details.

Pharmacy technicians ofcially became recognized as a new class of registrant with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) when its new Registration Regulation made under the Pharmacy Act was proclaimed on December 3. 2010. The passing of this regulation, authorizes the OCP to register qualied Pharmacy Technicians as a new and separate class of registrant.

Bridging education program:

Bridging education consists of four courses: Professional Practice Pharmacology Product Preparation Management of Drug Distribution

These course are offered at community colleges and online. Please check your area for details.

Completion of the PRBC qualifying exam. Structured practical evaluation ( SPE ) and training ( SPT ):
This step consists of a written and a practical component.

Completion of the OCP jurisprudence exam:

Everyone must complete this exam. It will be offered four times per year. You can then complete your application to be Registered. Becoming a regulated pharmacy technician is voluntary; however, regulation will restrict the title of pharmacy technician and therefore, those who choose not to become regulated, or are unsuccessful in becoming regulated, will no longer be able to refer to themselves as pharmacy technicians as of January 1, 2011 and will likely be called pharmacy assistants. Of course employers may require all current pharmacy technicians to meet the requirements as a Regulated Pharmacy Technician.

Problems?
Your Local Union MUST be involved. Article 9.14, Article 12.08 and Article 20.02 are three articles of the Collective Agreement where we can grieve to assert our rights. For more information attend the information session ( see page 1 ).