When checking prescriptions, can students enrolled in an educational program to become a pharmacist or pharmacy technician sign the prescription dispensing record?

Yes. The Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act (DPRA) s149 permits pharmacy students and pharmacy technician students under direct supervision of a Part A pharmacist who is physically present, to perform their respective therapeutic and/or technical checks to dispense prescriptions. Students should document their actions, reflecting which step(s) of the process they performed and are responsible for, on the dispensing record.

The College does not require a specific documentation method or format for “signing” a prescription by the student or the supervising pharmacist. This depends on the software, technology, and workflow in place, which differs between pharmacies. As with any activity performed by a student, there must be a way to readily identify the supervising pharmacist who is responsible and accountable for the student. The Designated Manager/pharmacy administrator should establish expectations and operational procedures on documentation to support students and supervising pharmacists. Refer to the Supervision of Pharmacy Personnel Policy for more information. Consideration should be given to situations outside of the College’s mandate, such as third-party billing and audits. Students should consult their educational institutions for guidance on documentation during experiential learning.