When pharmacist Randeep Kaur sits down to complete her Continuing Competence Program (CCP) requirements every year, she knows what she’s looking forward to. The Prescribed Learning Activities (PLAs) are required learning modules for all pharmacy professionals, with topics selected by the Competence Committee in consultation with Council and ACP.
“I find the PLAs to be very helpful and useful tools to help improve my pharmacy practice,” she said. “They help me make sure my pharmacy practice understanding is current, get myself updated to new or changing guidelines, or just learn something new!”
Randeep knows she is not alone. Before ACP moved to evolve the CCP, the college surveyed pharmacy professionals extensively about every aspect of the program. As a member of the Competence Committee at that time, Randeep saw the resulting data that highlighted that PLAs were a part of the program where pharmacists and pharmacy technicians found value. Many of them see the activities as a key connection to the college and their profession, and an opportunity to catch up on new developments in pharmacy practice in Alberta.
In the past, PLAs have covered patient assessment, privacy, documentation, scope of practice, and even helped regulated members to absorb and understand the new standards of practice.1
“When PLAs are focused on new or updated standards and guidelines it is a great way for pharmacy professionals to get themselves updated,” said Randeep.
As a member of ACP Council, pharmacy technician Nina Dueck was there when the evolved program was presented.
“As Council, we had to assess whether the new program supports professional growth, encourages reflective practice, and helps to fulfill our mandate of protecting the public,” she said.
When Council reviewed the evolved program, Nina agreed that the PLAs were an essential component, having experienced the positive impact that past PLAs had in creating a greater understanding between the pharmacy professions.
“Pharmacy technicians and pharmacists work in the same field, but our scopes of practice are different,” she said. “Pharmacists often have an idea of what we do, but they don’t always know all of what technicians can offer. PLAs helped to address that gap.”
She also uses the PLAs as an opportunity to reflect on her own practice over the year.
“Doing the activities is a bit of a reset for me, where I pause and reflect on whether my current practice still aligns with expectations and standards,” said Nina. “Pharmacy evolves so fast and our daily practice is so busy, and these activities sometimes highlight areas we might not otherwise have had the time to think about.”
Nina believes that pharmacy professionals gave positive feedback on the activities because of the clear way they are structured, and the careful selection of relevant annual subject matter by the Competence Committee.
“From my experience, these activities are most helpful when I feel like they’re relevant and timely, and the committee does a great job of that,” she said.
Randeep wrapped up her time serving on the committee in June 2025, but she remembers the in-depth discussion and decision-making process that goes into selecting the PLAs.
“The committee uses an evidence-based approach to find learning topics that help pharmacy professionals to improve their practice,” she said. “There are always diverse perspectives in the group from pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who have various backgrounds and we try our best to select a learning activity which will be beneficial to everyone.”
As a pharmacist, Randeep joined the committee to have a larger positive impact on pharmacy practice in Alberta, and she believes the evolution of the CCP and the continuation of PLAs is part of that.
“I was looking for an opportunity to contribute towards the growth of the pharmacy professions beyond my day-to-day practice,” she said. “I think that by being on the committee I was able to make a positive contribution towards the growth of the pharmacy professions.”
- PLAs from previous years are accessible to all pharmacy professionals through the Learning Activities Archive inside Academy. ↩︎
