Do you wish to become a Pharmacy Technician in Ontario but do not know how? Consider this article your guide on how to become a Pharmacy Technician in Ontario!
Ontario, Canada’s second largest province after Quebec, is her most populous province with over one-third of the entire Canadian population — an estimated 15 million Ontarians.
According to national statistics from NAPRA there are only 5, 298 Pharmacy Technicians in Ontario and 5, 025 pharmacies for this vast population of 15 million persons.
From the ages of 60-100, the possibility of needing medical attention increases significantly. This age category, 60 -100, according to Wikipedia’s demographic of Ontario constitutes about 24.14% of Ontario’s population – approximately 3.6 million Ontarians.
What this means is that, on average, for this set of the Ontarian population that is likely to need medical attention, of which Pharmacy Technicians will be needed, there is just 1 Pharmacy Technician to every 683.47 persons. Startling, isn’t it?
See the big picture, these figures spell an acute shortage of Pharmacy Technicians for Ontario and resultantly, it translates to demand more Pharmacy Technicians.
If you wish to become a Pharmacy Technician, then you’re on a good track!
Don’t bat an eyelid, this article will show you have proven steps – including requirements and examinations – to become a Pharmacy Technician in Ontario.
Skills And Qualities That You Must Have As A Pharmacy Technician In Ontario
To become a Pharmacy Technician you are required to have certain inherent and acquired skills which are relevant to the favorable outcome of your career such as:
Personal Skills:
- Paying attention to details
- Dependability
- Effective communication
- Problem-Solving capacity
- Stress management
- Flexibility
- Open to learn
- Organizational ability
- Team working ability
Task Related Skills:
- Compliant with laws
- Efficient at inventory management
- Processing insurance claims
- Computer Savvy
Technical Skills:
- Up-to-date in terms of knowledge
- Maintaining pharmacy equipment
- Swift at preparation for medical procedures
With these skills to hone your abilities and overall performance, you will become a neplus ultra of a pharmacy technician. Now, let’s find out ways how to become a pharmacy technician in Ontario.
4 Proven ways on how to become a Pharmacy Technician in Ontario
To practice as a pharmacy technician in Ontario, there are four methods that lead to the achievement of your goal. Each of these methods has steps you must take.
This information is according to the information provided by the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP)
Method One:
CCAPP-Accredited Canadian Pharmacy Technician Program
Basically this method four basic steps thus:
- Complete an approved education program and a number of other requirements
- Structured Practical training
- Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) jurisprudence exam in order to register with the Ontario College of Pharmacists according to its licensing requirements.
Note: graduates from programs holding “qualifying” accreditation status at the time of graduation are not considered eligible.
Step 1:
Pre-register with the College
- Create an online account
- Pay the pre-registration fee
- Submit supporting documentation
Step 2:
Structured Practical Training
- Successfully complete Structured Practical Training Login to your account to apply
Step 3:
Jurisprudence Exam
- Successfully complete the Jurisprudence Exam
- You may complete this exam at any point after you have pre-registered with the College
- Login to your account to apply online
- Pay the Jurisprudence Exam fee
Step 4:
PEBC Qualifying Exam
- Successfully complete Parts I and II of the PEBC Qualifying Exam for pharmacy technicians
- This exam is administered by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada
- You must submit your PEBC number to the College so that your results can be confirmed
Step 5:
The final application for Certificate of Registration as a Pharmacy Technician
- Obtain personal professional liability insurance
- Submit police background check
- Login to your account to apply
- Pay the final application fees
- Pharmacy technician final application fee
- New registrant annual fee
- Complete the Declaration of Good Character
- Update your personal and practice information
Bear in mind that many of these requirements for registration have expiry dates to ensure that your knowledge, skills, and judgment are current at the time of your final application.
Estimated Time And Costs
A graduate from a CCAPP-accredited pharmacy technician program completes their registration process within six months, all things being equal.
Estimated fees paid to OCP are $625 plus the annual fee. These fees are outlined in the College By-Laws.
Estimated fees paid to third parties are $1,760 plus the annual liability insurance premium.
Accredited Pharmacy Technician Programs in Ontario
Do you know the accredited pharmacy technician programs in Ontario?
Don’t search so much, we’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of all the accredited program in Ontario.
- Algonquin Careers Academy – Mississauga, ON
- Algonquin Careers Academy – Ottawa, ON
- Anderson College of Health, Business and Technology – Mississauga, ON
- Centennial College – Toronto, ON
- Collège Boréal – Sudbury, ON
- Collège Boréal – Toronto, ON
- CTS Canadian Career College – Barrie, ON
- CTS Canadian Career College – North Bay, ON
- CTS Canadian Career College – Sudbury, ON
- Georgian College – Barrie, ON
- Fanshawe College of Applied Arts & Technology – London, ON
- Fleming College – Peterborough, ON
- Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning – Toronto, ON
- Kingston Learning Centre – Kingston, ON
- La Cité collégiale – Ottawa, ON
- Lambton College – Sarnia, ON
- Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology – Hamilton, ON
- National Academy of Health and Business – Mississauga, ON
- Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology – Welland, ON
- Sault College – Ste Saint Marie, ON
- Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning – Brampton, ON
- St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology – Windsor, ON
- Westervelt College – London, ON
Method Two
International Pharmacy Technician Applicants:
Internationally Educated Pharmacy Technician Applicant
Are you are an internationally educated pharmacy technician applicant, the steps below are meant for you to register as a pharmacy technician in Ontario.
If you do not have an international pharmacy degree or diploma that is recognized by the PEBC, you cannot pursue registration as a pharmacy technician through this pathway. Instead, you must graduate from a CCAPP-accredited Canadian pharmacy technician program.
Step 1:
PEBC Certification Process
- Successfully complete the PEBC Pharmacy Technician International Evaluation to become eligible to apply for the PEBC Pharmacy Technician Qualifying Exam.
- This assessment process is administered by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada.
- Your education and professional credentials must be evaluated and ruled acceptable as part of the PEBC application process
Step 2:
Bridging Education
- Successfully complete the bridging education.
- Canadian Health Care System, Culture and Context for Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals course
- Internationally Educated Pharmacy Technician Bridging Program
- You must provide to the College satisfactory evidence from the bridging education providers that you have successfully completed the bridging course and program before you may proceed to Step 3
Note: An alternative option to this bridging education would be to successfully complete a CCAPP-accredited pharmacy technician program and register with OCP through the registration pathway for CCAPP graduates.
Step 3:
Pre-register with the College
- Create an online account
- Pay the pre-registration fee
- Submit supporting documentation including a notarized copy of your pharmacy degree or diploma
Structured Practical Training (SPT)
- Successfully complete SPT
- Login to your account to apply
Jurisprudence Exam
- Successfully complete the Jurisprudence Exam
- Login to your account to apply
- Pay the Jurisprudence Exam fee
Step 4:
PEBC Qualifying Exam
- Successfully complete Parts I and II of the PEBC Pharmacy Technician Qualifying Exam
- You may complete this exam at any point after you have successfully completed Step 1
- The exam is administered by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada
- You must submit your PEBC number to the College so that your results can be confirmed
Step 5:
The final application for Certificate of Registration as a Pharmacy Technician
- Obtain personal professional liability insurance
- Submit police background check
- Submit evidence of language proficiency
- Login to your account to apply
- Pay the final application fees
- Pharmacy Technician – New Applicant Registration
- Complete the Declaration of Good Character
- Update your personal and practice information
Estimated time and costs
Many of the requirements for registration have expiry dates to ensure that your knowledge, skills and judgment are current at the time of your final application.
Timelines can vary depending on the PEBC evaluation process and the format selected for each of the bridging education courses.
Estimated fees paid to OCP are $625 plus the annual fee. These fees are outlined in the College By-Laws.
Estimated fees paid to third parties (excluding the PEBC evaluation process) are $5,025 plus the annual liability insurance premium.
Method Three
International Pharmacy Technician Applicant (Passed On First Attempt):
Are you a pharmacy technician applicant — who passed PEBC Qualifying Exam on the first attempt?
If you are such, applicants who passed both parts of the PEBC Qualifying Exam for pharmacy technicians on the first attempt, then steps below to register as a pharmacy technician in Ontario.
Step 1:
Pre-register with the College
- Create an online account
- Submit supporting documentation
- Pay the pre-registration fee
Step 2:
Structured Practical Training (SPT)
- Successfully complete SPT for pharmacy technician applicants
- Login to your account to apply
Step 3:
Apply to Register as a Pharmacy Technician
- Login to your account to apply
- Pay the pharmacy technician final application fee
- Your application will be referred to the Registration Panel
- Submit your request to the Panel
- The Panel will decide if any additional education and/or training is required
- You must accept the Panel’s decision in writing before your pharmacy technician registration will be processed
Further Requirements: Successfully complete any further education and/or training as directed by the Panel.
Step 4:
Jurisprudence Exam
- Successfully complete the Jurisprudence Exam
- Login to your account to apply
- Pay the Jurisprudence Exam fee
Step 5:
The final application for Certificate of Registration as a Pharmacy Technician:
- Obtain personal professional liability insurance
- Submit police background check
- Login to your account to apply
- Submit evidence of language proficiency
- Pay the remaining final application fees
- New registrant fee
- Complete the Declaration of Good Character
- Update your personal and practice information
Estimated time and costs
Many of the requirements for registration have expiry dates to ensure that your knowledge, skills and judgment are current at the time of your final application.
An international pharmacy technician applicant who passed both parts of the PEBC Qualifying Exam on their first attempt plans ahead to meet application deadlines, and is able to complete each requirement in the minimum time may complete the remaining registration process within 4.5 months. Their entire registration process could be completed within 10 months.
Estimated fees paid to OCP are $625 plus the annual fee. These fees are outlined in the College By-Laws.
Estimated fees paid to third parties (excluding the PEBC evaluation process) are $2,040 plus the annual liability insurance premium.
Method Four
Pharmacy technician licensed in Canada outside of Ontario:
If you are a pharmacy technician currently licensed in Canada, albeit outside the province of Ontario, then follow these steps to register in Ontario and become a Pharmacy Technician in the province:
Step 1:
- Pre-Register with the College
- Create an online account
- Pay the pre-registration fee
- Submit supporting documentation
- You must arrange to have a letter of good standing sent to the College from the pharmacy regulator of any Canadian province or territory where you have an active license.
Step 2:
- Jurisprudence Exam
- Successfully complete the Jurisprudence Exam
- Login to your account to apply
- Pay the Jurisprudence Exam fee
Step 3:
- Final application for Certificate of Registration as a Pharmacy Technician
- Obtain personal professional liability insurance
- Submit police background check
- Login to your account to apply
- Pay the final application fees
- Pharmacy technician final application fee
- New registrant annual fee
- Complete the Declaration of Good Character
- Update your personal and practice information
Estimated time and costs
Quite a number of the requirements for registration have expiry dates.
This to ensure that your knowledge, skills and judgment are still current at the time of your final application.
A pharmacy technician licensed in another Canadian province with proper fore-preparations to meet application deadlines will most likely complete their entire registration process within three months.
The estimated fees paid to the College are $625 plus the annual fee. These fees are outlined in the College By-Laws.
Estimated fees paid to third parties are $30 plus the annual liability insurance premium.
Conclusion:
With this article, I do hope you have become abreast with the process of becoming a pharmacy technician in Ontario.
On a candid note, the entire process of studying and becoming a pharmacy technician in Ontario is not without its rigmaroles.
Taking all these into consideration, just one word, coupled with the knowledge garnered from this article, will be an ideal guide – perseverance!
With all these, I’m certain of a Pharmacy Technician in Ontario!
You!