Thinking About a Career as a Pharmacy Technician in Ontario? You need to Get Certified

Pharmacy Technician are now a new class of registrant.

Ontario became the first province to officially regulate pharmacy technicians today.

Pharmacy technicians will be recognized under a new class of registrant by the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP). Starting next week, only those people registered as Pharmacy Technicians with the Ontario College of Pharmacists can legally use “Pharmacy Technician” as their title in the province.

“The passing of this regulation, which authorizes our College to register qualified Pharmacy Technicians as a new and separate class of registrant, signifies a major milestone for Ontario and the entire pharmacy profession,” said Bonnie Hauser, OCP President.

“The regulation of pharmacy technicians will enable pharmacists to take on an enhanced role in the provision of comprehensive patient care services to the public.”

OCP has been working towards regulating pharmacy technicians since 1998. They theorized doing so would allow technicians to take more responsibility for certain dispensing activities, while allowing pharmacists to expand their services and improve patient care.

“As Registrar, I am very proud of the leadership demonstrated by both the College and the Ontario government in making Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to formally regulate Pharmacy Technicians as a new health profession,” said Deanna Williams, OCP Registrar.

The OCP’s regulations should be published on E-laws by December 7, 2010 allowing them to register Pharmacy Technicians after that date.