New pharmacy: Application for a pharmacy licence (Step 2)

The following steps occur after the licensee applicant or the proprietor’s representative has received conditional acceptance of their letter of intent and a letter of intent (LOI) number.

When the pharmacy has met the Foundational Requirements: Guidance Document for Opening a Licensed Pharmacy and is ready for the pre-opening inspection, the licensee applicant, who meets the licensee criteria, may proceed with the following steps to apply for a new pharmacy licence. The licensee should submit the information below at least 45 days prior to the proposed pharmacy opening date.

Application

1. Prepare the following documentation. All documentation must be in PDF format.
   • Licensee applicant documentation
     • Licensee statutory declaration.
       • The statutory declaration must be declared before a notary public or a commissioner for oaths within the past six months. Out-of-province declarants must use a notary public.
     • Licensee undertaking.
     • Licensee applicant questionnaire.
     • Enhanced Police Information Check (completed within the last six months).
     • Licensee and Proprietor Education Programs (LPEP) Statement of Completion.
       • The proposed licensee must complete Licensee Fundamentals even if you have previous licensee experience.
       • If you have already completed the Licensee Fundamentals, you do not have to redo the program.
       • Note: Licensee Development will not be accepted for new pharmacy applications.
     • If you have been a registered member with any regulated profession in Canada in the past 10 years, you must provide a current (within one year) letter of standing from the other jurisdiction(s).
       • Proprietor documentation
         • Proprietor form.
           • The statutory declaration must be declared before a notary public or a commissioner for oaths within the past six months. Out-of-province declarants must use a notary public.
         • Enhanced Police Information Check for the proprietor’s representative that was completed within the past six months.
         • Licensee and Proprietor Education Programs (LPEP) Statement of Completion.
           • The proprietor’s representative must complete Proprietors Education Program (PEP) or Licensee Fundamentals. This applies even if you are or were previously a proprietor’s representative of a pharmacy.
           • If the proprietor’s representative has already completed Licensee Fundamentals or PEP, they do not have to redo the program.
           • Note: if the proprietor’s representative and licensee are the same person, they must complete Licensee Fundamentals and they do not have to complete PEP.
         • If the proprietor’s representative has been a registered member with any regulated profession in Canada in the past 10 years, they must provide a letter of standing from the other jurisdiction(s).
         • Corporate documents if the owner is a corporation.
           • Corporation’s proof of filing (last annual return) showing
             • the names and addresses of the directors of the corporation;
             • the names and addresses of each major shareholder, including percentage of voting shares; and
             • any changes made since filing this last annual return.
           • If you are a new corporation and have not yet had to file an annual return, submit a copy of your certificate of incorporation showing the names and addresses of all the directors of the corporation and the names and addresses of each major shareholder.
           • The information on your proof of filing or certificate of incorporation must match the owner and major shareholder information as indicated for the pharmacy.
         • Pharmacy-related documentation
           • A floor plan depicting the physical facilities, intended use of space, and layout of the entire licensed pharmacy. This plan must comply with the floor plan requirements guide, and any submissions that do not comply with this guide will be rejected.
           • If the pharmacy shares premises with another business (e.g., medical clinic), you must complete the shared premises form.
             • You must also provide an additional floor plan depicting the overall facilities, space and layout of the premises.
           • Pharmacy inspection readiness form
             • Ensure all required images have been added to the digital evidence submission template and are ready to be submitted once a ShareFile account is provided.

2. Complete and submit application. This must be completed by the licensee applicant.
   • Access the new pharmacy: application for a pharmacy licence (step 2) (in myACP); all applications can be found in New applications.
     • The application will require you to upload the supporting documentation prepared in step 1 (at least 11 separate attachments).

3. Application decision.
   • Complete applications are reviewed in the order in which they are submitted and may take up to 15 business days to assess and process. Incomplete applications will result in further delays.
   • ACP will notify you via email once a decision has been made or if we have any questions regarding your application. If the application is accepted, you will be provided a ShareFile account via email to upload your completed digital evidence submission template.

Inspection

A pharmacy practice consultant will review the submitted digital evidence. If the digital evidence is accepted by the pharmacy practice consultant, the pre-opening inspection will be scheduled on the first available date within three to four weeks of digital evidence acceptance.   

The pharmacy must be in a fully functional state during the pre-opening inspection, otherwise you may incur a re-inspection fee and further delay. Along with the pharmacy practice consultant, you will complete the pre-opening inspection according to the foundational requirements: compliance checklist. Any deficiencies identified by the pharmacy practice consultant during the pre-opening inspection must be corrected and evidence of the corrections must be provided prior to the licence being issued.

Pharmacy licence

When the pharmacy practice consultant has confirmed compliance with all legislative requirements, the licensee must complete these final steps prior to operating the pharmacy:

1. Provide payment.
   • The college’s fees are outlined in the ACP fee schedule; only the following payment methods will be accepted:
     • Visa,
     • Visa Debit,
     • Mastercard, or
     • Debit Mastercard.
   • Your pharmacy licence will not be issued until payment is received.

2. Enter the opening date for the pharmacy.
   • When the licensee is ready to open the pharmacy, the licensee must access the pharmacy profile in myACP and enter their official opening date. Click on “View my Profile,” scroll down to the “My pharmacy” section, and enter the “Initial open date” under “Demographics” in the “Contact” tab.
   • The new pharmacy licence will be mailed to the pharmacy.