Greetings pharmacy community! I am a pharmacy assistant in Nova Scotia and was asked by Devin (ages ago – sorry Devin!) to write a bit about the adventure I have been on to become a regulated pharmacy technician, and how I feel about the process.

When I began as a pharmacy assistant in 2007, regulation wasn’t even a thought in Nova Scotia. I was hired as a “pharmacy technician.” I was told to “listen to the pharmacist and do everything they ask you to do – they are your direct supervisor on shift, and you are there to support them and the work they do.” So I was trained on the job and became what my pharmacist needed me to be.

I loved my new job! I enjoyed helping my patients, and taking phone calls (even if I was confused as to which “little white pill” my elderly patients were looking to have refilled), filling scripts, and learning everything I could from my pharmacist. For the first time I felt like I had found purpose in what I was doing, and I was quite satisfied with my work. Yes, there were challenging times and tough questions, but there were funny moments as well.

To condense my tale, I ended up working at a very busy retail pharmacy that had a lot of unique things going for it.  As I was away from home, family and friends, I started looking at pharmacy websites and reading about the pharmacy technician regulation process that was happening in Ontario and Alberta.  I decided that this was the next step I wanted to take in my pharmacy career. To do this, I felt I  that needed a bit more knowledge of pharmacy laws, pharmacology, etc. In the summer of 2009, I purchased a few text books, and began to study the NAPRA, PANS, and NSCP websites in anticipation of writing the PEBC Evaluation Exam. I wrote the Evaluation exam in Halifax in April of 2010, with a room full of other hopeful candidates.

And then the waiting game began. As everything was new and nothing was in the Pharmacy Act, I, along with countless other assistants in Nova Scotia, could go no further. In 2011 we finally heard word that we could begin taking the four Pharmacy Technician Bridging Programs being offered through various colleges online (now only being offered by Selkirk College). I completed the final course through Humber College in the spring of 2012, and wrote the PEBC Qualifying Exam (MCQ and OSPE) in March of this year. It was a terrifying experience – so much rested on my abilities and knowledge, and at times I felt like I was failing miserably. I questioned whether I could ever be successful as a pharmacy technician. However, in May I received word that I passed the PEBC!

And then more waiting. Was the new Pharmacy Act ever going to get passed? No one was sure. I didn’t think that I would stick around Nova Scotia much longer, and so in July I started looking into the process to move to Ontario and pursue licensure through their process. Thank goodness that I didn’t! At the end of July we found out that the new Nova Scotia Pharmacy Act would be passed and in effect on the 6th of August! A bit more waiting as many changes were made in the Act (including the ability for pharmacists to give injections to their patients -go and get your flu shots!). Then news came that the NSCP would be offering jurisprudence exams for hopeful pharmacy technicians. I didn’t do much preparation as I used to spend hours on the website, but I did bring a binder stuffed to the hinges with everything I could think of to print. After all, you don’t necessarily need to know 100% of everything for pharmacy – but you do need to know where to find the information you need and how to interpret what you find. The exam was offered last week, and so now I am waiting on the results.

The final step is the Pharmacy Technician Assessment (PTA) which is being offered sometime after December, and once I am successful with this aspect, I should be ready to register as a pharmacy technician!

And so I return to Devin’s original request when he asked me to write for PharmAspire and talk about how the whole regulations process has been. I’d be lying if I said it was an entirely awesome, stress-free experience. Tears have been shed, and drinks have been consumed after exams. There has been so much preparation and anticipation; anxiety and agitation, but also excitement and that feeling of pride once another step in this five year process was achieved successfully.  I can say that I have learned so much through and from the process that I feel I can take on anything! My understanding of pharmacology is so much better (“Your little white pill? You have two on file. Were you looking for the one for your blood pressure or for your diabetes?”) and I feel like I am able to assist my patients more effectively and efficiently.  I am already putting to good use the knowledge that I have gained, and only hope that I can be utilized further once I am licensed to do so.

And so that’s been my journey thus far!

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.