Pharmacy Technicians on the Road to Regulation Focus on ...

egistration Q&A
Susan James, BScOT, MPA
Manager, Registration Programs
QI have heard that the OCP Pharmaceutical
Jurisprudence Exam is changing from having a
four year expiry date to a three year expiry date. Is
that true and when would the change happen?
Yes this is true. The proposed Registration Regulation
(available on the OCP website) states that when an applicant
applies to become a pharmacist they must have
successfully completed the jurisprudence exam within
three years of when they have met all of the other requirements
for the issuance of a certificate of registration. This
requirement also applies to the jurisprudence exam for
pharmacy technicians.
The shift from four years to three years for currency
of the exam is due to the frequency with which the laws
affecting pharmacy practice have been changing. For
example, over the last couple years there have been significant
changes to the Regulated Health Professions Act,
the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act, the <strong>Pharmacy</strong>
Act and the regulations under each of these Acts; and
more changes to these regulations are anticipated over
the next few years.
This change in the currency of the exam will occur
when the proposed Registration Regulation takes effect.
The regulation is currently in the final stage of approval
with the government and while we cannot predict exactly
when it will be approved, we do expect it will be within
the next few months (by fall 2010). It is therefore important
to consider if you will be able to complete all of
the registration requirements to become a pharmacist (or
pharmacy technician) within three years of completing the
jurisprudence exam.
QIs it true that the government provides bursaries
for students attending the International
<strong>Pharmacy</strong> Graduate (IPG) program at the University of
Toronto?
Yes. As stated on the Ministry of Training, Colleges and
Universities website (at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/
tcu/adultlearning/faqs.html) “The Ontario Bridging Participant
Assistance Program (OBPAP) provides bursaries
of up to $5,000 to cover direct education costs (tuition,
books and equipment) for participants attending non-
OSAP approved, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
(MCI) funded bridge training programs offered by Ontario
colleges or universities”.
The IPG program at U of T is one of the approved
programs under this new bursary program. Individuals
currently registered in the program or who plan to register
in the program before March 31, 2011 should request an
application for the bursary from the Financial Aid Office
of the university or speak with the program administrator
of the IPG program. Funding is based on student financial
need, as defined by the policies of the university. This is
currently a pilot program and it is not known if funding
will continue beyond the above date. More information
is available on the Ministry website.
24 pharmacyconnection • May/June 2010