Preceptor Criteria

Pharmacists wishing to serve as preceptors must normally meet the following criteria:

  • Be currently licensed to practise pharmacy and be in good standing with the provincial regulatory body with no restrictions placed upon their practice.
  • Have been actively practising pharmacy for a minimum of 12 months.
  • Have a minimum of three months “on site” experience, to provide adequate familiarity with systems and patients.
  • Have completed one of the following free online preceptor education courses: Dalhousie University Preceptor eLearning Course or the University of British Columbia's Practice Educator Development Modules, or other acceptable preceptor education program.
  • Be willing to accept responsibility for providing learning opportunities and supervising the student during the practice experience, normally through being directly involved with the student for at least half of the student's time at the practice site.
  • Be willing to assess student performance by providing feedback on a regular basis and completing required evaluation forms.
  • Must not be immediately related to the student (i.e. connected by blood relationship, marriage, conjugal relationship or adoption).
  • Must not have a relationship with the student that could preclude the preceptor giving an honest and unbiased assessment of the student’s performance or could be perceived as a conflict of interest (e.g., have a business, financial or contractual relationship with the student; or have an otherwise close relationship with the student).
Site Criteria

The practice site should:

  • Display high standards of pharmacy practice and meet all legal and professional standards.
  • Support experiential learning by allowing the preceptor and student sufficient opportunity to interact in a teacher-student role.
  • Provide an environment that allows the student access to work space and required reference materials.
  • Ensure that all pharmacists at the site are in good standing with the provincial regulatory body with no restrictions on their practice.
  • Where applicable, have been licensed and in operation for at least 6 months; and provide adequate opportunities for the student to complete the required learning activities and interact with patients.