Major changes are coming to ACP’s application criteria for pharmacists wishing to become pharmacy licensees and individuals wishing to become proprietor’s agents.
As of October 1, 2020, all pharmacists applying for a new pharmacy licence (i.e., pharmacists applying to be licensees) and the associated proprietor’s agents must meet the new criteria and provide additional information about themselves. These new requirements will provide assurance to ACP that the prospective licensee or proprietor’s agent is qualified and capable of fulfilling their legislative responsibilities and the proposed pharmacy will be operated in compliance with the legislation that governs pharmacy practice in Alberta.
The new criteria require pharmacy licence applicant to be a clinical pharmacist in good standing with ACP, submit a criminal record check, and complete Part A and Part B of ACP’s Licensee Education Program (LEP).
Further to the above criteria, a pharmacy licence applicant must demonstrate they have the qualifications, experience, and/or support to fulfill their role as a licensee and is expected to meet at least two of the following attributes:
- The applicant has been registered on ACP’s clinical pharmacist register or as a pharmacist in another Canadian jurisdiction for the past two consecutive years or more.
- In the past five years, the applicant has served as a licensee or the equivalent in a Canadian jurisdiction for at least one year, without being subject to discipline proceedings.
- In the past 10 years, the applicant has served as a proprietor of one or more pharmacies in Alberta for at least two consecutive years, where there have been no discipline proceedings.
- The applicant will practise in a licensed pharmacy where the proprietor’s agent is a regulated member in good standing with ACP.
- The applicant will practise in a licensed pharmacy where, in the past five years, the proprietor’s agent has served as a licensee in Alberta for at least one year, without being subject to discipline proceedings.
- The applicant will practise in a licensed pharmacy where, in the past 10 years, the proprietor has owned one or more pharmacies in Alberta for at least two consecutive years, where there have been no discipline proceedings.
Pharmacy licence applicants may provide additional information to ACP to support their application and, upon application, the registrar may approve an applicant upon considering other qualifying attributes.
Additional information about the prospective proprietor’s agent will also be gathered and assessed to ensure that the proposed proprietor’s agent is suitable to fulfill their obligations of a proprietor. Applicants to be a proprietor’s agent must submit a criminal record check and complete the Proprietor’s Self-Assessment or Part B of the LEP. If the proprietor’s agent is a regulated member with ACP, they must be in good standing.
These new criteria apply to prospective licensees and proprietor’s agents who wish to open a new pharmacy and apply for a new pharmacy licence. The new criteria also apply to pharmacists applying to be the licensee or individuals applying to be the proprietor’s agent of an existing pharmacy.
If you are currently a licensee or proprietor’s agent of a pharmacy, these changes do not directly impact you unless you intend to open a new pharmacy or apply to be a licensee or proprietor’s agent of a different pharmacy.
If you continue to be the licensee of your current pharmacy, you are required to complete Part B of the LEP and submit your statement of completion when you renew your pharmacy licence in 2021 (deadline May 31, 2021).
It is ACP’s primary responsibility to ensure safe and effective pharmacy care for Albertans. The registrar must be satisfied that licensees are qualified and capable of fulfilling their obligations. These obligations include providing pharmacy services without undermining patient safety, the quality of patient care, or the integrity of the drug distribution system.
For more information on applying for a pharmacy licence, visit the New pharmacies page on the ACP website.
