Restricted titles, set out in Section 15 of the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Profession Regulation, indicate that individuals have specific levels of education, skill, and role definitions. Use of the titles by unqualified individuals misleads colleagues and the public, and diminishes the work done by those legitimately qualified to use the titles.
Pharmacy technician is a restricted title that can only be used by individuals registered on ACP’s pharmacy technician register. An individual registered on ACP’s provisional pharmacy technician register may be identified as a provisional pharmacy technician.
Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, licensees, and pharmacy owners – please review the designations used to identify individuals working in pharmacies, and ensure that restricted titles are respected and complied with.
Owners and licensees – please refrain from using restricted titles during hiring processes, unless it is a requirement for the successful candidate to be registered on one of these registers.
Section 15 of the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Profession Regulation sets the title restrictions.
Authorization to use titles, etc.
15(1) A clinical pharmacist may use the following titles, abbreviations and initials:
(a) pharmacist;
(b) clinical pharmacist;
(c) pharmaceutical chemist;
(d) druggist;
(e) apothecary;
(f) registered pharmacist;
(g) Ph.C.;
(h) R.Ph.
(2) A provisional pharmacist may use the titles pharmacy intern and pharmacist intern.
(3) A courtesy pharmacist may use the following titles, abbreviations and initials:
(a) pharmacist;
(b) pharmaceutical chemist;
(c) druggist;
(d) apothecary;
(e) registered pharmacist;
(f) Ph.C.;
(g) R.Ph.
(4) A student pharmacist may use the titles pharmacy student and pharmacist student.
(5) A clinical pharmacist and a courtesy pharmacist with an earned doctoral degree in pharmacy or a related area recognized by the Council may use the title doctor or the abbreviations Pharm.D. and Dr. in conjunction with the practice of pharmacists.
15.1(1) A pharmacy technician and a courtesy pharmacy technician may use the words “registered” and “regulated” and may use the following titles, abbreviations and initials:
(a) pharmacy technician;
(b) pharmacy technologist;
(c) dispensary technician;
(d) dispensary technologist;
(e) Pharm.Tech.;
(f) Ph.T.;
(g) R.Ph.T.
(2) A provisional pharmacy technician may use the title provisional pharmacy technician.
For more on role definitions, you can refer to the Transition Times issue on technicians.
