The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada

Registered Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians -Invitation to Participate in the PEBC Qualifying Examination - Part II (OSCE / PhT-OSPE)

The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) invites qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to consider participating in the PEBC Qualifying Examination - Part II (OSCE and/or PhT-OSPE).

Since 2001, the PEBC Qualifying Examination for pharmacists has consisted of two components: Part I, the multiple-choice question examination given in two half-day sessions; and Part II, a performance assessment, approximately 3 hours in length, given on a third day. Part II is known as an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). It is designed to assess communications/interpersonal skills, the application of knowledge to simulations of commonly encountered patient scenarios and other aspects of professional competence that do not lend well to written examinations. The competencies to be assessed through both the written and practice-based exams are those adopted (or adapted) by all member provinces of the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA).

In 2010, PEBC implemented the new PEBC Qualifying Examination for pharmacy technicians, also consisting of a multiple-choice examination (Part I) and performance-based examination (Part II), the Objective Structured Performance Examination (PhT-OSPE). The examination will be implemented in provinces as they move forward with regulation of pharmacy technicians. Once licensed in their own province, pharmacy technicians will be integrated into all PEBC examination administration and assessment processes.

PEBC Assessors

Many assessors find that involvement as an assessor is both personally and professionally rewarding. Although many return year after year there is always a need for new assessors. Each year, PEBC invites interested pharmacists who have been licensed in Canada for at least two years and who are currently providing or directly supervising patient care services (including dispensing, clinical and/or drug information services) to apply as assessors for both the OSCE and the PhT-OSPE. PEBC also invites interested PEBC-certified pharmacy technicians to apply as assessors for the PhT-OSPE.

Please refer to the PEBC Assessor Application Form (attached) for further eligibility details.

It is particularly important that registered pharmacists be involved in assessing candidates for pharmacist licensure as the examination reflects both the health care needs of the public and the standards of the profession. Likewise, it is important that PEBC-certified pharmacy technicians be involved as assessors in the PhT-OSPE.

The complete list of interested assessors is submitted for annual review by the licensing bodies, for confirmation that all assessors are members in good standing on an 'active' register and are not under investigation. In provinces where pharmacy technicians are not yet regulated, this list is reviewed by PEBC to verify their certification.

Professional Competencies for Pharmacy Technicians

PEBC very much appreciates the interest shown by practicing pharmacists and newly PEBC certified pharmacy technicians in PEBC's Pharmacy Technician Qualifying Examination - Part II (PhT-OSPE). As this is an emerging new profession, it is important that all participants in the examination support the vision for the new profession and the expanded role of the regulated pharmacy technician in the pharmacy and in the health care system as a whole.

PEBC has based the examination on the NAPRA competencies, as outlined in the document:  www.napra.org/Content_Files/Files/Professional_Competencies_for_Canadian_Pharmacy_Technicians2007.pdf. More information about the role and regulation of pharmacy technicians is available on the provincial regulatory bodies' websites.  If you have questions about the PEBC examination, the competencies being assessed or your eligibility to be an assessor, please contact our Chief Administrator, Jane Cassidy (email address: j.cassidy@usask.ca ) or our Chief Examiner, Linda Suveges (email address: linda.suveges@usask.ca ).

 2012 Dates & Locations: PEBC QE - Part II (OSCE / PhT-OSPE)

  tbc = to be confirmed