In order to practice as a pharmacy technician in Newfoundland and Labrador, you are required to register with the Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board (NLPB).
NLPB does not require that all pharmacy support staff become registered pharmacy technicians; however, some employers may determine that this is the most appropriate path for their organization and require that some or all of their staff become registered. Regardless, the title of “pharmacy technician” is restricted under the Pharmacy Act, 2012, and therefore, those who choose not to register with NLPB, or are unsuccessful in the process, may not refer to themselves as pharmacy technicians and will have to use another title, such as “pharmacy assistant”.
Registration Requirements for Pharmacy Technicians
In addition to meeting general requirements for registration with NLPB, as detailed on the Registration Requirements page, pharmacy technicians must also meet specific education, practical training, and examination requirements. For specific information regarding the registration process, please choose the appropriate option below:
- New Graduates of CCAPP-Accredited Programs
- Pharmacy Technicians from Other Canadian Jurisdictions
- Pharmacy Technicians Resuming Practice after an Absence
Practical Training Requirements
Applicants for registration as a pharmacy technician must complete a minimum of 280 hours of practical training under the supervision of an approved preceptor. This training is in addition to any experiential training completed as part of an accredited pharmacy technician education program.
Before applying to complete practical training, applicants must first pre-register with NLPB. Once pre-registered, applicants may then apply to NLPB to complete practical training by submitting the application below. Applicants are encouraged to allow sufficient time for processing of these applications – 5-7 business days is generally recommended. Applicants are not permitted to begin the program until they receive notification from the NLPB that the application has been approved.
Successful applicants will receive an email which includes:
- approval to complete the Pharmacy Technician Practical Training Program;
- a manual containing a variety of activities designed to evaluate the applicant’s ability to apply their learned knowledge and skills in a real-world setting; and
- an evaluation form to be completed and submitted by the preceptor at the end of the training period.
The manual of activities fall within the registered pharmacy technician’s scope of practice and are based on competencies set forth in the NAPRA Professional Competencies for Canadian Pharmacy Technicians at Entry to Practice (2014).
For more information regarding the practical training requirements, please review the Practical Training Requirements for Registration as a Pharmacy Technician Interpretation Guide.
Register as a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technicians and New Pharmacy Technician Graduates who intend on practicing in Newfoundland and Labrador can begin the process of registering with NLPB by completing and submitting the following application:
Current students of Canadian CCAPP-accredited pharmacy technician education programs and applicants for practical training can pre-register with NLPB by completing and submitting the following application:
The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for some individuals in their ability to meet the requirements to register or re-register as pharmacy technicians with NLPB, for details regarding registration policies and procedures during this time, please refer to the following section of the NLPB website:
For additional resources, including NLPB Registration Exam information, visit the Registration Requirements page.
For a list of applicable fees and timeline estimates, visit the Fees & Timelines page.
For more information, contact NLPB Registration at registration@nlpb.ca.
