Structured Practical Training (pharmacist)

In this Section

Structured Practical Training (SPT)is the supervised, competency-based training period that enables candidates (provisional pharmacists enrolled in the SPT program) to apply their knowledge and skills in different practice sites for the purposes of learning and completing assessments of readiness for independent practice as a pharmacist in Alberta.

To complete SPT, candidates must complete online learning activities and in-person practical experiences where the candidate demonstrates competencies in a manner consistent with expectations for professionalism and ethical conduct. These competencies are described in the Professional Competencies for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians at Entry to Practice in Canada developed by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA).

The objective of the SPT program is for the candidate to develop competence and confidence in applying the knowledge and skills required to be a pharmacist and be assessed for practice readiness. Candidates must complete their SPT under the supervision and oversight of an approved preceptor (or co-preceptors), at an approved pharmacy, and in accordance with the SPT rules. Skill development and assessment of the candidate are the primary intent of the program, not the accumulation of hours. By the end of the SPT program, candidates are expected to be ready to use their clinical and technical skills confidently in the provision of person-centred care, embody the characteristics of a pharmacy professional, and be trusted to practise within the healthcare system and their communities.

The SPT program consists of online learning modules and a minimum of two in-person practical experiences, each a minimum of 320 hours. Additional hours can be expected in order to demonstrate entry-to-practice competencies and successfully complete the assessment at the end of each practical experience.

Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) graduates

Recent Canadian pharmacy graduates (within one year of graduation) are exempt from completing the SPT program if the graduate meets all other entry-to-practice requirements and applies to the clinical pharmacist register within one year of graduation from the CCAPP-accredited pharmacy program.

If it has been more than one year since graduation, Canadian graduates are required to complete the SPT program.

Candidates getting started

SPT prerequisites (Prior to starting SPT)

Before starting the SPT program, you will need to complete the following steps:

  1. Register on the provisional pharmacist register (in myACP). 
  2. Complete ACP’s Jurisprudence Learning Module.
  1. Successfully complete ACP’s Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam.
  2. Review the SPT rules.
  3. Complete the SPT Overview (available in Academy under the SPT program).
  4. Complete the Online Learning (available in Academy under the SPT program).
    • You must complete the following Online Learning modules:
      • Professionalism module,
      • EDI and cultural safety module, and
      • Pharmacy Perspectives – Providing safer spaces.
    • You must complete the mandatory Online Learning modules to complete the SPT program. You may complete the modules before, during, or after your practical experiences. The time it takes for you to complete the online modules cannot be counted towards the minimum hours required to complete a practical experience.

Enrolling in and starting a practical experience

You must complete the SPT prerequisites listed above prior to enrolling in a practical experience. Once you have completed all prerequisites, you must complete the following steps to enroll in and start a practical experience:

  1. Seek an eligible practice site and pharmacist(s) to be your preceptor(s) in accordance with the SPT rules.
    • Pharmacists are required to complete preceptor training requirements in Academy to be eligible to act as preceptors.
    • You must complete each practical experience under one preceptor or two preceptors who are co-precepting. If you have co-preceptors, both pharmacists must meet the eligibility requirements and be approved before starting a practical experience.
    • The preceptor(s) must be available to supervise you for the majority of your time (four days per week or 75 per cent of scheduled hours).
  2. Once you’ve identified an eligible practice site and preceptor, collect the following information.
    • Pharmacy’s name and licence number.
    • Preceptor’s name and registration number.
      • If you have identified co-preceptors, you will need to provide this information for both pharmacists who have agreed to be your preceptors.
    • Preceptor acceptance form.
      • The pharmacist who has agreed to be your preceptor must complete and provide you a signed copy of this form.
      • If you have identified co-preceptors, you will require a completed Preceptor acceptance form from both pharmacists who have agreed to be your preceptors.
  3. Complete and submit the Structure Practical Training enrollment form in myACP.
    • You will be required to provide the information you collected in Step 2. You will also be required to disclose any potential, perceived, or actual conflicts of interest.
    • You and your preceptor(s) will receive an email notification once ACP has approved the preceptor(s) and practice site. This may take up to 15 business days. You may only access your practical experience in Academy after ACP has approved the preceptor(s) and practice site.
  4. Once ACP has approved your preceptor(s) and practice site, you must complete the Prior learning self-assessment before you start your practical experience.
    • To access the Prior learning self-assessment, go to Academy, click on Structured Practical Training, and then click on the applicable practical experience (I or II).
    • Your practical experience does not start until you have completed the Prior learning self-assessment.
    • Ensure you complete the Prior learning self-assessment in a timely manner, otherwise your progress in the SPT program may be delayed.

Q&A

Candidates are required to find their own practice site and preceptor(s) that meet the criteria outlined in the program rules. ACP does not provide a pre-approved preceptor list.

No, to meet the program’s objectives, a candidate is required to complete each practical experience under one preceptor (or approved co-preceptors) and at one site. If a candidate changes a preceptor or site before completing a practical experience, they must restart the practical experience with the new preceptor or at the new site. Previously completed hours may not be carried over.

No, the candidate must have different preceptors for each practical experience. Each practical experience must be completed at a different practice site.

 

The preceptor should be supervising the candidate for the majority of the candidate’s time (four days per week or 75 per cent of scheduled hours) since they are responsible for assessing the candidate and monitoring their progress.

To facilitate a good learning environment, a preceptor may not have more than two candidates under their preceptorship at the same time.

The most likely reason is that there are slides in the Jurisprudence Learning Module that you have yet to complete.

  • If you have completed the Jurisprudence Learning Module, you should be able to access your certificate of completion by clicking the link in the bright orange banner along the top of the slide. If a certificate of completion is not available, it means you have yet to complete the Jurisprudence Learning Module.
  • To identify which slides have not been completed, you should click on the “progress” bar (located on the left-hand side of the module). You will need to complete any slides that are not darkened in colour. You will have to repeat this step for each chapter.
  • If you have just completed the Jurisprudence Learning Module and have received the certificate of completion, you may have to wait up to one hour before you can complete the SPT enrollment form. Please try enrolling at least one hour after you have obtained the certificate of completion.

Interns completing the former SPT program

On May 15, 2025, ACP launched a new SPT program for pharmacists. The new program aligns with the updated Professional Competencies for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians at Entry to Practice in Canada and ACP’s new standards and will better prepare provisional pharmacists for entry to practice.

As of May 15, 2025, provisional pharmacists, unless stated otherwise, are required to complete the new SPT program.

What if you have already started the former SPT program?

As of May 15, 2025, provisional pharmacists who have completed Level 1 and started or proceeded beyond Level 2 of the former SPT program may continue in the former SPT program in accordance with the former SPT rules until December 1, 2025.

This option is only appropriate if you are actively participating in the SPT program (e.g., 30 to 40 hours per week), and are confident that you can complete the program before December 1, 2025.

If you are unable to complete the former SPT program by December 1, 2025, you will be required to start over in the new SPT program. Hours completed in the former SPT program will not be transferred to the new SPT program.

If you are

  • not actively participating in the SPT program,
  • just started Level 2, or
  • not confident that you can complete the former SPT program by December 1, 2025,

We strongly encourage you to switch to the new SPT program. The new program will better prepare you for entry to practice and you won’t be pressured to complete the program by December 1, 2025. You may wish to discuss your options with your current preceptor if applicable.

The former SPT program will continue to be facilitated in the SPT portal and will be administered in accordance with the former SPT rules.

According to the SPT rules, internationally educated pharmacist graduates, unless exempt, are required to complete the Certificate to Canadian Pharmacy Practice (CCPP) program prior to starting Level 3 of the SPT program.

For more information on the former SPT program, please refer to the Intern’s ManualPreceptor’s Manual, and the SPT rules.

Q&A

If you have not yet started Level 2 of the former SPT program, you must complete the new program. Even if you’ve completed Level 1 of the former SPT program, you must switch to the new SPT program. Any previously completed hours in Level 1 of the former program will not be transferred.

If you have started or proceeded beyond Level 2 of the former SPT program, you may choose to switch to the new program or continue in the former program. If you choose to continue in the former program, you must complete the former program by December 1, 2025. Choosing the option to complete the former program is only appropriate if you are actively participating in the SPT program (e.g., 30 to 40 hours per week) and are confident that you can complete the program before December 1, 2025. If you do not complete the former SPT program by December 1, 2025, you will be required to start over in the new SPT program.

Only provisional pharmacists who have started or proceeded beyond Level 2 by May 15, 2025, are permitted to continue in the former SPT program.

To “start” a level, you must enter eligible preceptor/site information on the profile page of the SPT portal and then your preceptor must log into the SPT portal to accept their responsibility for your training before May 15, 2025. If you wish to continue in the former SPT program, please log in to the SPT portal before May 15, 2025, to ensure you have officially started or proceeded beyond Level 2. If you do not officially “start” Level 2 by May 15, 2025, you must switch to the new SPT program.

If you have already started Level 2, please ensure that you are actively participating in the SPT program (e.g., 30 to 40 hours per week) and are confident that you can complete Levels 2 and 3 of the program before December 1, 2025. If you do not complete the former SPT program by December 1, 2025, you will be required to start over in the new SPT program.

As of May 15, 2025, when the new SPT program launched, provisional pharmacists can no longer start Level 1 or 2 of the former SPT program. Provisional pharmacists must complete the new SPT program available in Academy.

Yes, you can switch to the new SPT program. The new program will better prepare you for entry to practice. However, any hours completed in the former SPT program will not be transferred to the new SPT program.

We strongly encourage you to switch to the new SPT program if you are not actively participating in the SPT program, if you have just started Level 2, or if you are not confident that you can complete the former SPT program by December 1, 2025.

No, you cannot transfer any hours between programs. The two programs are completely different and therefore not transferrable. The new program has different rules, structure, activities, and assessments.

If you are unable to complete the entire former SPT program by December 1, 2025, you will be required to start over in the new SPT program. Hours completed in the former SPT program will not be transferred to the new SPT program.

No, the former program is to be administered in accordance with the former SPT rules which do not require the preceptor to complete mandatory training.

However, if you are switching to the new program, your preceptor is required to complete the mandatory preceptor training and meet the eligibility requirements in accordance with the new SPT rules.

No, the former program is to be administered in accordance with the former SPT rules. Level 2 is a minimum of 450 hours and Level 3 is a minimum of 100 hours. The hours listed are minimums. Successful completion of each level requires demonstration of the required competencies and additional time may be required to demonstrate these competencies.