In the last couple of months there have been strong indicators that pharmacy technicians in Ontario are not only engaged, but ready and eager to pursue registration with the College. The enthusiasm for regulation is remarkable; in fact it far exceeds expectations – and capacity!

While the degree of early commitment is exciting and confirming, it has also created an unexpected situation. Technicians are ready and waiting to complete the steps for registration, even before the process is fully developed and widely available. Some technicians have reported frustration, as they find themselves competing to gain entry to programs that presently, have limited capacity.

On the bright side, the transition plan is on track and allows ample time for those wishing to pursue registration to complete the process. In the next while, access to education programs will increase as on-line courses are developed and classroom delivery becomes available in local communities and even some workplaces. Examinations will also expand to accommodate more people in more places, once fully implemented. So, although many of the activities are under development and will have limited availability through 2009, by the end of the year, full implementation will allow those technicians in transition to complete the process over the next five years.

Although momentum is growing and many pharmacy technicians are keen to move through the required steps as soon as possible, there are many others who feel uncertain and undecided about what regulation will mean to them; this is understandable. In these early days, many questions are yet to be answered; about the process, the cost, the time and the effort that will be involved. Even as these details emerge, an inability to predict the future impact of regulation on individual technicians and workplaces continues to make the decision a difficult one. The College would like to reassure pharmacy technicians, pharmacists and employers that there is no need to feel pressured to act immediately. There is plenty of time to consider the issues and plan for the transition. Whether you choose to move forward now, wait for increased availability of programs, extend the costs over a few years, or see how the marketplace responds… the choice is yours. Take your time, consider all of the aspects of regulation, and make the choice that is right for you and your career.

Click here to see the timelines related to regulations requirements