CON *NECT, in partnership with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) and through funding from the ministries of Health & Long-Term Care (MHLTC) and Training, Colleges & Universities (MTCU) is leading the curriculum development of a Bridging Education Program for Pharmacy Technicians. This program is designed to assist Pharmacy Technicians currently working in the profession to meet new regulatory requirements and expanded practice capabilities introduced by the Ontario government with the Health System Improvement Act, 2007. The proposed Registration Regulation states that Pharmacy Technicians who are currently in the profession (i.e. graduates of programs prior to or without CCAPP accreditation, or on-the-job trained) and who wish to pursue OCP registration must complete the approved Bridging Program. The 162-hour Bridging Program addresses skills and knowledge Pharmacy Technicians need to meet these requirements.
CON*NECT and OCP are working with the colleges who are accredited to deliver the full-time Pharmacy Technician Program to develop curriculum for the Bridging Program and have established an Advisory Committee with provincial representation from the field. The Heads of Pharmacy Technicians from all 10 colleges have actively supported the project from the initial stages of the project and will continue to be involved through development and delivery.
Delivery of the Professional Practice course and the Pharmacology courses are through the Continuing Education Divisions of Centennial, Fanshawe, Humber, Lambton, Niagara, Sheridan and St. Clair Colleges in winter 2009. Other courses and colleges will be delivering in spring and fall 2009. Since delivery of the bridging program is restricted to the colleges that offer accredited, full-time pharmacy technician programs, delivery affiliations are being established with other colleges province-wide to ensure provincial access. Demand is expected to be strong, as the Ontario College of Pharmacists estimates that currently there is a core group of approximately 5,000 pharmacy technicians eligible for the training, and another group of 5,000 who may choose to pursue registration during the 7-9 year training window.
CON*NECT’s current project priorities include development of an on-line version of the curriculum and prior learning assessment approaches for three courses in the program.
For more details on this project, or for information about the Bridging Project, please contact:
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