Changes to the ACP Structured Practical Training (SPT) Program – effective October 15, 2015

Changes to the Structured Practical Training (SPT) program rules came into effect on October 15, 2015. Changes have also been made to the Notification of Preceptor Siteand the Certification of Completion of Structured Practical Training forms.

Please visit our website at https://pharmacists.ab.ca/forms#SPTforms to access the new forms.

What has changed?

1. The maximum SPT hours allowed per week has been increased to 44 hours.
   • Approval from ACP for 44 hours per week is no longer required. Hours above 44 hours per week will NOT be approved or recognized.
      
2. All preceptors must have been licensed practicing pharmacists in Alberta or in another Canadian jurisdiction for a minimum of two years. 
   • Individuals who have started internship before October 15, 2015 with a preceptor who does not meet this requirement will be allowed to continue, providing that they remain with the current preceptor and complete the SPT level(s) by December 31, 2015 without taking a break between levels.
      
3. ACP will no longer allow split internship levels. 
   • The minimum hours required for each level must be completed with one preceptor and at one pharmacy location. Interns who are currently completing a SPT level under two preceptors will be allowed to continue until December 31, 2015.

Interns and preceptors are also reminded of the following rules:

• A preceptor must not be in a close personal relationship with the intern, cannot be related to the intern (in-laws included) and cannot reside in the same residence as the intern.
   
• All SPT hours must be completed in Alberta, with an ACP licensed pharmacist as preceptor within an ACP licensed pharmacy or institutional (i.e. hospital) setting.

Criteria for extension of provisional pharmacist practice permits:

• Interns are registered on the provisional pharmacist register and provided a practice permit for a period of two years from their initial date of registration to allow for completion of requirements for licensure. If requirements for licensure have not completed within the two year period, the intern may apply for an extension.

• Individuals who have successfully completed the PEBC Qualifying Exam Part I and II (MCQ and OSCE), MAY be granted an extension for up to 1 year depending on the circumstances of the request.  
   
• Those who have not completed the PEBC Qualifying Exam Part I and II (MCQ and OSCE), will not be granted an extension to their practice permit and their ACP file will be closed. These individuals may reapply to ACP once they have successfully completed both parts of the PEBC Qualifying exam. At the time of reapplication, they will be provided a practice permit for a maximum of 1 year to allow for completion of SPT hours and the ACP jurisprudence exam.