ACP’s new standards came into effect on February 1, 2025, which means the updated requirements for supervising pharmacy students, provisional pharmacists, and provisional pharmacy technicians are now in effect.
The Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians include a number of changes to supervision requirements for all pharmacy students, provisional pharmacists, and provisional pharmacy technicians.
Supervision requirements
Previously, direct supervision was required for all pharmacy students and indirect supervision was permitted for provisional registrants if they completed certain entry-to-practice requirements (e.g., Structured Practical Training program). While supervisors must continue to be present, onsite, and available to monitor and support the actions of the pharmacy student or provisional registrant, after a period of direct supervision, a supervisor may adjust the level of supervision based on
- the restricted activity,
- the student or provisional registrant’s performance, and
- the preceptor’s confidence that they can perform the restricted activity safely and effectively.
In other words, based on the supervisor’s discretion and assessment of their pharmacy student or provisional registrant, they may decrease the level of supervision, allowing the student or provisional registrant to practise with less oversight and guidance.
Regardless of the level of supervision, the supervisor must always be present and remains responsible and accountable for the actions of their student or provisional registrant. Direct supervision, meaning the supervisor is directly present to observe, guide, monitor, and promptly intervene, is always required when a pharmacy student or provisional pharmacist is administering a drug by injection.
Work experience notification forms no longer required
Pharmacy students and provisional registrants no longer need to submit work experience notification forms. Previously, these forms were used to provide notification of where pharmacy students and provisional registrants were practising and to ensure a pharmacist or pharmacy technician (if applicable) was supervising and taking responsibility for the student or provisional registrant.
Now, regulated members provide their employment information and licensees provide the names of the regulated members who are employed at the pharmacy directly via myACP. Licensees and regulated members are reminded to keep their information up to date in myACP.
Updated Structured Practical Training program coming soon
In December 2024, Council approved revised Structured Practical Training (SPT) program rules for pharmacists. While the revised SPT program is still under development, supervision requirements have been updated to align with the expectations described in ACP’s new standards and apply to those who are currently participating in the SPT program for pharmacists or pharmacy technicians.
Remember, a pharmacist must always be present and on site when the pharmacy is open to the public. For more information about supervision requirements, visit the Supervision webpage.
