Process to Move from Part B to Part A

What can a Part B registrant do while preparing to move to Part A, and what can they not do?

For the purpose of preparing for their chosen practice assessment, a Part B registrant (with written approval from the Registrar) may perform the listed controlled acts* in a pharmacy under the direct supervision of a Part A pharmacist, or a Part A pharmacy technician (for Part B pharmacy technicians only).

If the Part B registrant has chosen the PACE option for their practice assessment, they will be assessed on their ability to safely and independently practice with minimal guidance under their assessor’s supervision. If the Part B registrant has chosen the practice assessment by a College practice advisor option, they should demonstrate preparedness and provide patient care examples based on their experience performing the controlled acts. Therefore, it is crucial that a Part B registrant be given sufficient opportunities during their practice preparation period to perform the controlled acts under the direct supervision of their supervisor.

All other terms, conditions, and limitations on a Part B registrant’s certificate of registration continue to apply. For example, a Part B pharmacist cannot:

Supervise a pharmacy or the part of the pharmacy where drugs are kept
Supervise the practice of the profession by another person
Be a Designated Manager (DM) of a pharmacy (as defined in the Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act)

*Note: Controlled acts performed for the purposes of providing a publicly funded drug or service must be in accordance with Ministry of Health policies, which may limit participation to Part A registrants. Please refer to the Ontario Public Drug Programs Executive Officer Communications for the latest updates and program requirements. Additionally, while the Part B registrant may be able to perform a controlled act, for example prescribe for the purposes of adapting or extending a prescription, they may not be able to bill for this act under the Ontario Drug Benefit Program. In the case that these acts are billed under the supervisor’s name and OCP number, there should be clear documentation on who was involved in the provision of that service.

How do I prepare for my practice assessment to move to Part A?

Once you have completed and submitted the application form to notify OCP that you wish to move to Part A, you may perform the controlled acts in a pharmacy under direct supervision (i.e., supervisor must be physically present) by the Part A registrant(s) listed on the form; Part A pharmacy technicians may only supervise Part B pharmacy technicians. Initially, you should observe the Part A registrant(s) in practice and then transition to providing patient care under supervision as appropriate based on your level of competence. Please see the Supervision of Pharmacy Personnel Policy for more information on the level of supervision required.

Who can be a supervisor? Is any training required?

Any Part A pharmacist or a Part A pharmacy technician (for Part B pharmacy technicians only) may be a supervisor. If training and coaching pharmacy professionals is new to the supervisor, they are encouraged to complete modules 1, 3 and 6 of this preceptor training program and to review the Part B registrant’s desired scope of practice.

The Part B registrant must have consent from the Part A registrant to be their supervising Part A registrant and must notify the College in writing of the supervisor’s name and practice site and their anticipated start date of practice. A Part B registrant may have more than one supervisor; however, all supervisors must be listed on the application form.

What is the accountability of the Part A supervisor?

The Part B registrant and the Part A supervisor will have shared accountability for the Part B registrant’s actions, including errors and how they learn from them.

Part B registrants who are practising in preparation for the practice assessment are required to hold personal professional liability insurance.

What level of supervision is required when supervising Part B registrants?

Direct supervision (i.e., the supervisor is physically present on the premises) is required when supervising a Part B registrant, in accordance with the Supervision of Pharmacy Personnel Policy. The Part B registrant should observe the Part A registrant in practice and transition to providing patient care under supervision as appropriate based on their level of competence. The degree of oversight of the Part B registrant’s practice may be adjusted based on their demonstration of competence. The Pharmacy Connection article, Six Things to Consider when Supervising Pharmacy Practice, is an additional helpful resource in determining the level of supervision needed. The level of supervision may change over the course of a supervisory relationship. For example, the Part A supervisor may allow the Part B registrant to work more autonomously as they progress, based on the supervisor’s judgement and observations of the Part B registrant’s competence.