Canadian Pharmacy Technicians

Why Become Certified

There is no better time to become a pharmacy technician in Canada than right now.

In Canada, you are not required to be certified in order get a pharmacy technician job. However, the majority of job postings are seeking candidates who are either enrolled in a pharmacy technician training course or have their certification.

In order to become certified, you must have completed pharmacy technician training recognized by the Pharmacy Technician Board of Canada (PTEB). Most schools and programs are recognized, and those that are not can be through an application process. You are then required to pass the certification exam with a score of 75% or higher. Visit the PTEB website for more details on the Canadian pharmacy technician certification exam.

Keeping Your Certification

The current standards of practice in Canada recommend that certified pharmacy technicians work a minimum of 400 hours each year and complete 10 hours of continuing education.

In Alberta the rules are slightly different. In order to maintain your certification in Alberta, pharmacy technicians must clock 600 hours over a 3-year period.

In any case, it is your responsibility to maintain records of your work and continuing education hours for recertification.

Pharmacy Technician Schools in Canada

Canadian pharmacy technician schools are listed here by province. You may also consider an online pharmacy technician course. Online pharmacy technician courses are a great way to train for the certification exam without interfering with your current schedule.

Because the regulatory standards for pharmacy technician education are still in development in both the US and Canada, the PTEB recognizes most schools from both countries.

Online Pharmacy Technician Resources

The Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians (CAPT) is a non-profit, professional organization for pharmacy technicians and the best resource for anyone interested in becoming a pharmacy technician in Canada. Their website lists:

• Industry events
• Pharmacy technician jobs
• Pharmacy technician courses in Canada
• Certification information for each province

The Pharmacy Technician Board of Canada (PTEB) is the national board for certification of pharmacy technicians in Canada. Their website offers detailed information on the certification process, the test, fees and continuing education options for all Canadian pharmacy technicians.

The Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists was founded in 1939 and is a strong advocate for improving the pharmaceutical practice. They have branches in every province and are an excellent resource for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Canada.

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board of Alberta (PTCB) is the certifying body for pharmacy technicians in Alberta. Because Alberta has slightly different policies regarding certification, you may want to visit their website. However, there is a movement toward unifying all provinces under the PTEB.