The CPhM dedicated webpage on the new Controlled Substances Regulations can be accessed through the following link:

Controlled Substances Regulations Webpage

July 17, 2026

Friday Five (July 17, 2026)

The July 17, 2026 edition of the Friday Five is now available.

  1. Continuing Competency Matters 
  2. New Examination Accommodations Policy 
  3. Call for Applications – Council Vacancy 
  4. CPhM Open Consultations 
  5. Pharmacy Workforce Wellness Ad-Hoc Committee 
  6. Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events

Continuing Competency Matters 

As discussed in previous Continuing Competency Matters, the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) Quality Assurance (QA) Committee has reviewed and considered feedback on the initial changes proposed for the Continuing Competency Program (CCP). The QA Committee followed a series of principles both when developing the proposed CCP changes and when reviewing this feedback.  

These principles are as follows (illustrated below (https://cphm.ca/principles-for-cphm-visionary-continuing-competency-program-framework/)): 

  • Foundational principle: historically, CCPs have included a range of programs such as continuing education, on-site assessments, and OSCE-type assessments. Best practices continue to evolve, and CPhM’s revised CCP will include evidence-informed, best practices that fulfill CPhM’s regulatory requirements. 
  • Core principles take into consideration pharmacists’ engagement and workload: 
    • Value existing pharmacists’ activities: integrate CPhM requirements, such as Safety IQ, into the revised CCP and recognize learning in daily practice; 
    • Limit additional requirements: ensure additions are feasible for CPhM to administer and for pharmacists to complete in daily practice; 
    • Lighten where possible: review current CCP requirements and eliminate or lighten. 
  • Building principles emphasize that CPhM and pharmacists have a common goal of quality pharmacy practice: 
    • Respect pharmacists’ commitment to quality practice; 
    • Support pharmacists’ efforts to continuously enhance their practice by facilitating use of practice data and coaching for success. 
  • Apex principle is clarity: clear, direct statements of what pharmacists must do to fulfill CCP requirements. 

Based on these principles and the feedback received, the QA Committee revised the recommended CCP changes to focus on a visionary CCP framework that can be used as a guide for the steps necessary to develop, evaluate, and implement the revised CCP.  CPhM Council approved the Visionary CCP Framework in late June, and work is now underway to update the CPhM webpage Q&A, and to develop visual representations and descriptions of the program. Registrants will be updated via subsequent Continuing Competency Matters and via the https://cphm.ca/continuing-competency-program-project/#Publications as this information becomes available. 

As an initial response to feedback, the QA Committee emphasizes that the CCP is a program comprised of several components that work together to enable CPhM to fulfill their regulatory responsibilities. The Knowledge Application Assessment (KAA) is only one component, and the revised Visionary CCP Framework shifts from single KAA on a five-year cycle towards longitudinal assessment, as briefly described in the https://cphm.ca/friday-five/friday-five-september-26-2025/#ContinuingCompetencyMatters. More information will be provided and registrants can refer to the American Board of Family Medicine https://www.theabfm.org/continue-certification/exam/(ABFM Longitudinal Assessment) for descriptions.  

The second component of the Visionary CCP Framework is Continuous Quality Improvement that integrates Safety IQ or medication  incident management, to avoid duplication, minimize additional requirements, and value existing efforts. This component allows pharmacists to focus on their individual practice needs, including those working in speciality practices.  

Pilot testing of the CCP components has also been included in the development and evaluation plan, with the webinar describing the upcoming KAA pilot that is being targeted to run in the early fall of 2026. Offered with the support of the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP), CPhM will be seeking up to 85 practising pharmacists (63 community, 18 hospital and 4 other practice sites) to participate in the pilot project. Individual results on the pilot will be unknown to CPhM with only anonymized, aggregate scores reported, and pharmacists who complete the pilot will be awarded accredited CEU.   

More detail will be available in the next Continuing Competency Matters. Pharmacists wishing to  participate or interested in receiving more information about the pilot can click here:  https://forms.office.com/r/3LMpyVAT8d 

Please note that the current call for volunteers for CCP pilot is only open to full registered practicing pharmacists. Currently, CPhM does not fully regulate pharmacy technicians. Once CPhM transitions under The Regulated Health Professions Act, CPhM will have a similar responsibility to assure competency of pharmacy technicians, like with registered pharmacists. 

New Examination Accommodations Policy 

The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is committed to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility to better serve all people living in Manitoba. CPhM provides equitable access and reasonable accommodations for applicants participating in any CPhM-administered examinations and assessments. 

In line with this, CPhM Council has approved a new Examination Accommodations Policy to improve consistency, efficiency, and standardization in how accommodations are accessed and operationalized.   

More information, including a FAQ, can be found be found on the Jurisprudence Examination | College of Pharmacists of Manitoba webpage. 

Call for Applications – Council Vacancy 

The Appointments Committee, College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM), is seeking one pharmacist to fill a vacant position on Council. The successful candidate will serve out the remainder of a three-year term, expiring May 2028.  

Registrants who are interested are asked to review the application information, complete the online application form, and submit your resume, by Friday, September 4, 2026.  

CPhM Council is the governing body responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organization and ensuring that CPhM meets its mandate to uphold the public interest while regulating the practice of pharmacy professionals.     

The Council consists of members of the public appointed by the Minister and registrants selected by the CPhM Appointments Committee, and appointed by Council.   

For more information about the CPhM governance framework please see https://cphm.ca/about-the-college/self-regulation/.   

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter. If you require clarification or assistance regarding an application to be considered for an appointment to Council, please contact info@cphm.ca. 

CPhM Open Consultations 

Consultation on Proposed Amendments to the Pharmaceutical Regulation to Allow Pharmacy Students to Administer Drugs and Vaccines (closes July 26, 2026) 

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care (MHSLTC) has proposed amendments to the Pharmaceutical Regulation to enable pharmacy students the ability to administer drugs and vaccines if they have completed the requisite training and are under direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist authorized to administer drugs and vaccines.  

We encourage you to review the proposed changes and provide your feedback. More information about this consultation can be viewed here: https://cphm.ca/pharmaceutical-regulation-amendment-students-consultation/.   

Consultation on Proposed Revisions to Practice Direction: Sale of NAPRA Schedule 3 Drugs (non-prescription, pharmacy only sales) (closes August 5, 2026) 

Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are no longer scheduled by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA). Current Health Canada restrictions on point-of-sale of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine combination products (including natural health products and non-prescription drug products) mimic NAPRA Schedule 3 restrictions. However, Health Canada’s restrictions are technologically neutral, meaning these products can be sold online.   

This has presented a gap in that CPhM’s Practice Direction on the Sale of NAPRA Schedule 3 Drugs prohibits online sales of pharmacy self-selection products but only for NAPRA Schedule 3 drugs. The proposed revisions clarify that this Practice Direction applies to self-selection pseudoephedrine and ephedrine products, even if these are not listed in NAPRA Schedule 3.   

To read more about these revisions and to provide feedback in the consultation survey, please visit https://cphm.ca/consultation-on-proposed-revisions-to-practice-direction-sale-of-napra-schedule-3-drugs-non-prescription-pharmacy-only-sales/.  

Consultation on a New Inter-Provincial/Territorial Pharmacy Care Practice Direction (closes August 12, 2026) 

The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) is seeking feedback from pharmacy professionals, system partners, and the public on a proposed new Inter-Provincial/Territorial Pharmacy Care Practice Direction. 

This Practice Direction will set requirements for:  

  • pharmacists in Manitoba providing care to patients in another Canadian province or territory, and   
  • pharmacists in another Canadian province or territory providing care to patients in Manitoba.    

We invite you to read the proposed Inter-Provincial/Territorial Pharmacy Care Practice Direction and provide your feedback. More information, including the link to the survey, can be found by visiting  https://cphm.ca/consultation-on-a-new-inter-provincial-territorial-pharmacy-care-practice-direction/. 

Pharmacy Workforce Wellness Ad-Hoc Committee 

The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM) Strategic Plan 2025 – 2027: Future-Pharmacy Regulation reflects a forward-looking approach to pharmacy regulation in Manitoba. CPhM is committed to empowering Manitoba’s pharmacy workforce through proactive initiatives that drive quality care and support progressive, professional practice through right-touch pharmacy regulation.   

To support this strategic plan, while also recognizing the important work pharmacy professionals do in keeping members of the public safe, CPhM Council recently established and appointed members to the Workplace Wellness Ad-Hoc Committee. This Ad-Hoc Committee’s purpose is to advise Council on strategies, policies and regulatory approaches that support pharmacy workforce sustainability, professional well-being, and safe pharmacy practice environments in Manitoba, which are key to the delivery of safe, quality pharmacy care. The Ad-Hoc Committee will review evidence, identify system-level risks, and recommend actions that align with CPhM’s mandate to protect the public by ensuring safe, competent, and ethical pharmacy practice.  

For more information on this Ad-Hoc Committee, including its roles, duties, and responsibilities, please visit https://cphm.ca/resource/pharmacy-workforce-wellness-ad-hoc-committee-terms-of-reference/. 

Professional Development Opportunities & Upcoming Events

2026 – 2028 Mandatory Professional Development – Effective Communication in Pharmacy Practice 

Optimizing Prescription Writing: Essentials and Updates in 30 Minutes 

  • Click here to access the prerecorded webinar 
  • 1.0 CEU

University of Manitoba College of Pharmacy’s Essentials in Advanced Patient Care for Pharmacists Micro-Certificate Program  

Interested pharmacists can visit the program website for detailed information and to begin the application process. For further inquiries, please email PharmacyPD@umanitoba.ca.   

Canadian Society of Healthcare-Systems Pharmacy Fundamentals of CAR T-Cell Therapy