Non-Sterile Compounding Supervisor Training Course

At the March 2024 Board meeting, the Board approved mandatory training for new compounding supervisors in all pharmacies and current compounding supervisors in pharmacies where standards are not being met. The decision to require OCP-approved training was in response to operational assessment data showing standards are not being fully met, in part due to insufficient training of compounding supervisors. This decision follows the principles of right-touch regulation in which a regulatory response is required if the risk of harm to patients is high.

In a community pharmacy, the Designated Manager (DM) is the non-sterile compounding supervisor unless they have assigned this role to another pharmacist or a pharmacy technician.

In a hospital setting, the pharmacy manager/department head of the hospital pharmacy is the non-sterile compounding supervisor, unless they have assigned this role to a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

A “new” non-sterile compounding supervisor is defined as someone who is new to the role. Any pharmacist or pharmacy technician who is assigned as a non-sterile compounding supervisor on or after February 5, 2026 is responsible for taking this mandatory training course. If you became a new compounding supervisor before this date, this requirement does not apply. However, we strongly encourage all registrants in a non-sterile compounding supervisor role take the training course to meet any self-identified learning needs and goals (e.g., if you feel like you need to reinforce your existing training, are coming back from an extended leave, or are taking this position in a new pharmacy with a higher level of requirements in place).

Current non-sterile compounding supervisors in community and hospital pharmacies are required to complete the training course to address identified gaps if an operational assessment reveals that a pharmacy does not fully meet the standards. In this event, the College operations advisor will assign the training course as part of the action plan in the pharmacy’s assessment report.

The non-sterile compounding supervisor training course was designed to be taken in its entirety; however, there may be circumstances in which College operations advisors recommend or require completion of select modules from the training course. These will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

The mandatory training goes into effect immediately: February 5, 2026.

New non-sterile compounding supervisors are required to complete the training course within three months of starting the role, although it is preferred that they complete the training course before starting.

Current non-sterile compounding supervisors whose pharmacies are not meeting the standards will have one month to complete the training course; however, College operations advisors may extend this period as appropriate to the circumstances.

The final exam must be taken in order to confirm completion of this mandatory training course.

The final exam must be taken to generate a certificate of completion. Non-sterile compounding supervisors should retain a copy of their certificate for their records and ensure it is available to the College upon request, for auditing purposes. The College will collect the documentation it needs to verify the requirements have been met when it is appropriate to do so.

College operations advisors will follow-up with non-sterile compounding supervisors whose pharmacies have not met the standards after their pharmacy assessments to confirm completion of the training course.

New compounding supervisors will need to self-declare they have completed the mandatory training course. (See FAQ: “I am starting a new role as a compounding supervisor. How do I self-declare that I have completed the training?”)

New non-sterile compounding supervisors will need to sign in to the OCP Portal and confirm they have completed the mandatory training under the Authorized Training tab.

Yes, this course is free of charge and open to anyone. Anyone who wishes to supplement or refresh their training is encouraged to take the course (e.g., moving to a new pharmacy with a different level of requirements in place, returning to the non-sterile compounding supervisor role after an extended leave).

Registrants who choose to complete this training course voluntarily are not required to self-declare in the OCP Portal and can retain their certificate of completion for their own records.