Canada · Qualifying examCE requirements in three provinces
| Ontario (OCP) | BC (CPBC) | Alberta (ACP) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | No set hours or activities | 15 hours a year | 15 CEUs per cycle |
| Accredited learning | Not specified | At least 5 of the 15 hours | See ACP's CCP Manual |
| Other rules | Keep a learning portfolio for at least 5 years | At least 3 hours on Indigenous cultural safety, humility and anti-racism | Any prescribed learning, plus two tenet descriptors |
| Period | Ongoing | Each licence year | December 1 to November 30 |
How much continuing education do BC pharmacy technicians need?
At least 15 hours a year, logged on at least 6 learning records in the PDAP Portal. At least 5 hours must be accredited, for example by CCCEP, UBC CPPD, ACPE or MAINPRO, and at least 3 hours must cover Indigenous cultural safety, cultural humility and anti-racism; those 3 count toward the 15. Keep originals for 2 years after your licence expiry, because renewals are audited at random.
Alberta and Ontario
In Alberta, the technician CCP cycle runs December 1 to November 30. You document at least 15 CEUs related to your practice, complete any learning the Competence Committee prescribes, and answer one descriptor under the Active Learner tenet and one from another tenet. Everything goes in through Academy before you can renew your practice permit.
Ontario's College says it doesn't set a required number of learning activities or hours each year, though it notes some provinces set 15 to 20. Instead, Part A technicians keep a learning portfolio with at least an education action plan and a CE log, and keep the records for five years.
Where technicians find CE
PEBC's reading list names a few CE websites: the Canadian Healthcare Network (with Tech Talk CE lessons), Pharmacy Technician's Letter and rxBriefCase. Check that a course counts as accredited in your province before relying on it for BC's 5 accredited hours.
Sources: CPBC · ACP · OCP and 1 more. Checked October 2026.
- CPBC: Professional Development and Assessment Program ↗
- ACP: CCP annual requirements ↗
- OCP: Learning portfolio ↗
- PEBC: Pharmacy Technician References and Learning Resources (PDF) ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.