Do you have a new pharmacist graduate joining your pharmacy team?
Before a pharmacist graduate from a Canadian pharmacy program that is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Program (CCAPP) can practise independently, licensees must confirm that they have been issued a practice permit for the clinical pharmacist register.
In order to be issued a practice permit, the graduate must meet all entry-to-practice requirements and have their application approved by ACP. They must
- Pass their Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) exams.
- Results for these exams are typically available in mid-July.
- Apply to and be approved for ACP’s clinical pharmacist register.
- You can check this using ACP’s “Find a pharmacy professional” tool.
- Graduates require confirmation from ACP that their application to the clinical pharmacist register has been approved before they are permitted to practise independently.
- ACP receives a large influx of applications to the clinical pharmacist register in July once the PEBC results are released, so it will take up to 15 business days to process applications.
As a reminder, as of June 2025, pharmacist graduates from a Canadian pharmacy program that is accredited by CCAPP are not required to complete ACP’s SPT Program if the graduate meets all other entry-to-practice requirements and applies to the clinical pharmacist register within one year of graduation. This change to SPT requirements does not mean that new pharmacist graduates are able to practise independently upon graduation; they must meet the other entry-to-practice requirements listed above first.
It is the licensee’s responsibility to ensure that every regulated member in a licensed pharmacy has a valid practice permit issued by ACP and the appropriate education, skills, training, and legislated authority required to perform the duties and responsibilities assigned to that regulated member. Every time a new team member is hired, the licensee must ensure they meet all requirements and hold a valid practice permit indicating their authorizations prior to scheduling them to work independently.
