November/December 2008 - Ontario College of Pharmacists

pharmacy technician regulation
Pharmacy Technicians
Demonstrate Tremendous
Commitment for Regulation
In the last couple of months there have been strong indicators
that pharmacy technicians in Ontario are not only engaged, but ready and
eager to pursue registration with the College.
The enthusiasm for regulation is remarkable; in fact it far exceeds
expectations – and capacity!
W
hile the degree of early commitment is exciting
and confirming, it has also created
an unexpected situation. Technicians are
ready and waiting to complete the steps for registration,
even before the process is fully developed and
widely available. Some technicians have reported frustration,
as they find themselves competing to gain entry
to programs that presently, have limited capacity.
On the bright side, the transition plan is on track and
allows ample time for those wishing to pursue registration
to complete the process. In the next while, access
to education programs will increase as on-line courses
are developed and classroom delivery becomes available
in local communities and even some workplaces.
Examinations will also expand to accommodate more
people in more places, once fully implemented. So, although
many of the activities are under development
and will have limited availability through 2009, by the
end of the year, full implementation will allow those
technicians in transition to complete the process over
the next five years.
Although momentum is growing and many pharmacy
technicians are keen to move through the required
steps as soon as possible, there are many others
who feel uncertain and undecided about what regulation
will mean to them; this is understandable. In these
early days, many questions are yet to be answered;
about the process, the cost, the time and the effort
that will be involved. Even as these details emerge,
an inability to predict the future impact of regulation
on individual technicians and workplaces continues to
make the decision a difficult one. The College would
like to reassure pharmacy technicians, pharmacists
and employers that there is no need to feel pressured
to act immediately. There is plenty of time to consider
the issues and plan for the transition. Whether you
choose to move forward now, wait for increased availability
of programs, extend the costs over a few years,
or see how the marketplace responds… the choice is
yours. Take your time, consider all of the aspects of
regulation, and make the choice that is right for you
and your career.
pharmacyconnection • November/December 2008
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