Pharmacy Technician National Bridging Education Program
/ Programme Passerelle National de Formation de
Technicien(ne) en PharMacl seiscca/orecoriaging

CAMPUS:
Online

Program Summary

The National Pharmacy Technician Bridging Education
Program was developed to assist individuals already
working in the role of pharmacy technician to
upgrade their skills to align with changes in the scope
of practice, without returning to school to complete
an entire training program.

The ultimate goal is a national strategy that will
enable regulated pharmacy technicians to re-locate
and work anywhere in Canada, without the need to
re-qualify. The development of consistent competency
requirements and standards enables the regulated
pharmacy technician to carry out and be accountable
for technical responsibilities related to pharmacy
practice.

FOUR PROGRAM COURSES

— Professional Practice (39 Hours)
— Product Preparation (33 hours)
— Pharmacology (33 hours)

— Management of Drug Distribution Systems
(39 hours)

PRIOR LEARNING ASSESS-
MENT & RECOGNITION

Pharmacy technicians may be able to demonstrate
the necessary competencies addressed in one or
more of the Bridging courses. As a result, a Prior
Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
Challenge Examination process has been established
to enable candidates to earn educational credit for
what they already know.

Three of the four Bridging Program courses are
PLAR-eligible. The Professional Practice course is
mandatory for all participants and is not eligible for
PLAR since it provides an essential foundation for
the pharmacy technician’s new and expanded role.
See the course descriptions for more information on
PLAR.)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Bridging Education Program was developed
and introduced in Ontario in 2008, and then adapted
for use in Alberta and British Columbia in 2010.
However, as more and more provinces began the
steps towards regulating pharmacy technicians, it
became clear that a national curriculum was needed
to support consistency in the knowledge and skills
of all pharmacy technicians across Canada in order
to facilitate labour mobility. Thus, in 2012, NAPRA
secured funding from the Government of Canada’s
Inter-provincial Labour Mobility Initiative to revise
the existing bridging programs in Alberta, British

170 Selkirk College Academic Calendar 2018-19

Course of Studies

Course Name Credit
PTECB 130 Pharmacology Online 2
PTECB 131 Product Preparation Online 2
PTECB 132 Management of Drug Distribution Systems Online 3
PTECB 133 Professional Practice Online 3

Columbia and Ontario in order to create a program
that was more suitable for national delivery. The
ultimate goal is a national strategy that will enable
regulated pharmacy technicians to re-locate and
work anywhere in Canada, without the need to
re-qualify. Delivery partners for Pharmacy Technician
Bridging Education include the Pharmacy Regulatory
Authorities in all participating jurisdictions.

The program is designed to provide current
pharmacy technicians with the knowledge, skills
and abilities necessary to take on the additional job
responsibilities of a regulated technician. Selkirk
College will offer each course online.

Admission Requirements

Although regulation of pharmacy technicians is not
currently in place in all jurisdictions/provinces, it is
anticipated that completion of Bridging Education will
be a mandatory requirement for individuals intending
to pursue registration/licensure in any Canadian
jurisdiction/province.

Before taking any of the Bridging courses, candidates
are advised to contact the Pharmacy Regulatory
Authority (PRA) in their jurisdiction to determine if
Bridging is required and to identify any additional
requirements that may impact their eligibility or
suitability to complete the Bridging Program. In
some jurisdictions there may be time limits or
pre-registration requirements that they need to know
about first.

Note: Requirements and completion sequence vary from
one jurisdiction to another.

Details on registration/licensure requirements in
specific jurisdictions are available on each PRA’s

web site. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure
that they meet the applicable registration/licensure
requirements in their jurisdiction. Students who do
not meet the eligibility criteria or deadlines in their
jurisdiction may jeopardize their ability to continue
with the registration/licensure process. A list of PRAS
in the various provinces and territories of Canada is
available on the NAPRA website.

Program Courses

PTECB 130 -PHARMACOLOGY

The course provides a practical, applied approach
to pharmacology. Through a variety of assignments,
quizzes, case studies and group work, students

will enhance their ability to practice competently
and contribute to a safe patient care setting.
Participants will gain basic knowledge related to the
pharmacological uses of drugs within a variety of
commonly encountered medical conditions.

PLAR is available for this course. All PLAR exams

will be set up according to the number of students

in need of a particular PLAR exam. No set dates

have been organized; each student request will be
considered and organized monthly for each PLAR
exam. Contact with the coordinator will determine the
date and time of exams.

Note: Before any attempt at the Pharmacology PLAR
exam, a pharmacy technician must complete the
Pharmacology Checklist (Demonstration of Devices) and
have their work checked and signed by an assessor. The
checklist and PLAR information is available from the
NAPRA PLAR website.

Textbook Required: Moscou K, Snipe K. Pharmacology
for Pharmacy Technicians 2013 (2d edition). ISBN:
978-0-323-084970.

PTECB 131 - PRODUCT PREPARATION

This course addresses the theoretical knowledge
and practical skills essential for safe and accurate
preparation of sterile and non-sterile pharmaceutical
products. For non-sterile preparation, students will
focus on equipment and tools and compounding
practices for various internal and external
preparations and specialty dosage forms. For

sterile product preparation, topics include aseptic
technique, parenteral dosage forms, appropriate use
of equipment, TPN, chemotherapy medications and
quality control. Pharmaceutical calculations receive
particular emphasis.

PLAR is available for this course. All PLAR exams
will be set up according to the number of students

selkirk.ca/programs