CPPD delivers educational programs that will improve and expand your current knowledge to optimize patient outcomes, keep you up to date with the latest developments in the field of pharmacy, and help you attain your professional development goals.
Through our online learning platform, you will have the flexibility and convenience to fit learning into your busy lifestyle. The online presentations allow you to access content in the comfort of your home, office or anywhere there is internet access.
Canvas Catalog How-To
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Course List
2-Spirit Identities and Supporting Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Learning in Pharmacist Training Programs
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 2 CEU | CE Hours: 2 hours | BC-2025-006-ISP |
Expiry Date: March 1, 2026
This course takes a decolonized approach to integrating sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) concepts and topics into pharmacy education. In a video presentation, Dr. Jaris Swidrovich discusses the impacts of colonization on queerness and Two-Spirit identities. This presentation is followed by a few examples that explore how to integrate SOGIE into didactic and experiential pharmacy education.
Allergic Rhinitis
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2023-016-ISP
Expiry Date: September 20, 2025
Allergic rhinitis is a common condition that is frequently ignored, underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed and mistreated. Many patients will often self-select OTC products for treatment, which can lead to prolonged symptoms, adverse effects, and poor clinical outcomes. This session will review the pathophysiology and therapeutics of allergic rhinitis, and outline a systematic approach to assessing and treating patients presenting with this condition. The goal is to provide pharmacists with the knowledge to confidently diagnose and recommend treatment for patients with allergic rhinitis symptoms.
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Breaking News in Osteoporosis
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-019-ISP
Expiry Date: October 15, 2025
A much-anticipated update to the Canadian Osteoporosis guidelines was released in October 2023. The updated guidelines include significant changes to the management of patients with osteoporosis, including new medications, updated lifestyle recommendations and changes to monitoring of patients living with osteoporosis. This session will provide participants with an overview of the guidelines with key recommendations for pharmacists.
Clinical Management of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2022-013-ISP
Expiry Date: December 5, 2025
A new standard of care and provincial guideline was published at the end of 2019 for people with an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and clinically diagnosed conditions related to high-risk alcohol use. AUD impacts individual health and has large societal costs. In spite of high prevalence, high-risk drinking and AUD frequently go unrecognized and untreated in the health care system.
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Communication with Primary Care Providers
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2021-005-ISP
Expiry Date: November 23, 2025
This presentation will review information to educate pharmacists on improving their communication with primary care providers. Specific guidance will be given to attendees to allow them to build effective and influential notes for primary care colleague.
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Contraception Part I – Hormonal Contraception, Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), and Permanent Contraception
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1.5 CEU | CE Hours: 1.5 Hour BC-2023-014-ISP
Expiry Date: July 8, 2025
Being able to plan a pregnancy can have positive impacts on health, education, workplace and financial stability. Currently, nearly one-third of Canadian women will have at least one abortion. These sessions will provide pharmacists with practical contraceptive training in how to guide patient use of effective forms of contraception.
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Contraception Part II – Emergency Contraception
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 0.5 CEU | CE Hours: 0.5 Hour BC-2023-015-ISP
Expiry Date: July 8, 2025
Being able to plan a pregnancy can have positive impacts on health, education, workplace and financial stability. Currently, nearly one-third of Canadian women will have at least one abortion. These sessions will provide pharmacists with practical contraceptive training in how to guide patient use of effective forms of contraception.
Ditch the Itch – Managing Dermatitis in Children Part I and Part II
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 2 CEU | CE Hours: 2 Hour BC-2024-018-ISP
Expiry Date: October 15, 2025
In the first part of the session, Dr. Rehmus will review presentation and management of mild-moderate atopic dermatitis. She will discuss known comorbidities associated with atopic dermatitis, treatment options, routine home care and a variety of clinical presentations. In the second part of the session, she will discuss other forms of dermatitis including seborrheic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic dermatitis, nummular dermatitis and diaper dermatitis. Distinguishing features and management plans for these conditions will be reviewed.
Emerging Topics on Psychotropics: Ketamine in Treatment Resistant Depression
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 hour BC-2024-008-ISP
Expiry Date: May 15, 2026
This course provides details of the current understanding of ketamine for treatment resistant major depression. Learners will be able to identify the emerging role of ketamine in depression and gain knowledge on this therapy. This course includes the proposed pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of ketamine for treatment of depression, the current evidence regarding its efficacy and safety, and reviews guideline recommendations on the topic.
Emerging Topics Related to Psychotropics: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 hour BC-2024-007-ISP
Expiry Date: April 17, 2026
The course provides an overview of PTSD and briefly reviews guideline recommended treatment options. Learners will be able to describe the development, pharmacology and proposed clinical effects of MDMA and the role of MDMA assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of PTSD. This course also includes an update on available literature on this topic.
Emerging Topics Related to Psychotropics: Psychotropic Medications in Pregnancy and Lactation
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1.5 CEU | CE Hours: 1.5 hours BC-2024-009-ISP
Expiry Date: July 15, 2025
This course provides an overview of psychotropic medication use during pregnancy and lactation. Learners will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to answer patient and health care provider questions regarding the use of psychotropic medications in pregnancy and lactation.
History of LGBTQ+ Identities in Medicine and Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in the Classroom
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1.5 CEU | CE Hours: 1.5 hours | BC-2025-005-ISP |
Expiry Date: March 1, 2026
This course seeks to provide an overview of the history behind the medicalization of gender and sexuality. In a video presentation, Dr. Logan Smilges goes through the sexological and psychoanalytic era that pathologized gender and sexual minorities, and the current depathological era and its societal implications. This presentation is followed by an activity which applies this information to address common identity-based conversations in the classroom.
Introduction to Ordering and Interpretation of Laboratory Tests for Pharmacists
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 3 CEU | CE Hours: 3 hour BC-2025-001-ISP
Expiry Date: January 15, 2026
This course is designed to provide an overview of ordering and interpreting laboratory tests for pharmacists in BC. It will detail what tests to order for monitoring of patients, how to interpret a laboratory result and apply findings to patients and principles of laboratory stewardship to ensure appropriate usage of laboratory tests in pharmacy practice.
The course will include assessment questions and patient scenarios to apply the learnings to cases you will encounter in practice with a practical lens.
Laboratory Tests for Chronic Disease Management Cases
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 2 CEU | CE Hours: 2 hours | BC-2025-002-ISP |
Expiry Date: April 26, 2026
This course is designed to provide you an opportunity to apply the ordering and interpreting laboratory tests to patient scenarios. You will determine what tests to order for monitoring of patients, how to interpret a laboratory result and apply findings to patients and principles of laboratory stewardship to ensure appropriate usage of laboratory tests in pharmacy practice.
MACS – Acne Vulgaris
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1.5 CEUs | CE Hours: 1.5 Hours BC-2024-002-ISP
Expiry Date: January 31, 2026
This course provides an overview of acne vulgaris and its treatment options to aid pharmacists prescribing for minor ailments. Learners will become more comfortable assessing a patient with acne, differentiating between different types of acne lesions, selecting an appropriate topical product, and providing counselling tips to ensure treatment success. This course includes a simplified assessment approach and end of module cases to help learners understand and test their accumulated knowledge and skills.
MACS – Case-Based Learning: Contraception
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 2 CEUs | CE Hours: 2 Hours BC-2023-020-ISP
Expiry Date: August 15, 2025
This course provides an opportunity for pharmacists to learn how best to select, discuss, prescribe and counsel patients on hormonal contraceptives. Learners will receive practical advice on how to utilize available resources to assess and manage potential contraindications, drug-drug interactions related to hormonal contraceptives and when to refer patients to physicians. This course comes with clinical cases along with SOAP format and suggested responses for pharmacists to review.
MACS – Case-Based Learning: Emergency Contraception
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2023-021-ISP
Expiry Date: August 15, 2025
This course addresses key considerations such as continuity of care, health care navigation for trauma care and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) screening when providing emergency contraceptive recommendations through a patient centered care approach.
MACS – Dyspepsia
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1.5 CEUs | CE Hours: 1.5 Hours BC-2024-011-ISP
Expiry Date: May 30, 2026
This course provides an overview of dyspepsia and its associated treatment options to aid pharmacists prescribing for minor ailments. Learners will become more comfortable assessing a patient presenting with dyspepsia, differentiating between subtypes of dyspepsia, selecting appropriate medication treatment options, providing counselling and formulating a monitoring and follow-up plan. This course includes a simplified assessment approach and end-of-module cases to reinforce understanding of the accumulated knowledge and skills.
MACS – Fungal Skin Infections
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1.5 CEUs | CE Hours: 1.5 Hours BC-2024-003-ISP
Expiry Date: January 31, 2026
This course provides an overview of superficial fungal skin infections (ringworm, jock itch, athlete's foot) and their treatment options to aid pharmacists prescribing for minor ailments in British Columbia. Learners will become more comfortable collecting information and describing skin lesions using appropriate terminology, assessing for fungal skin infections, selecting appropriate topical therapy and providing counselling tips to ensure treatment success. This course includes a simplified assessment approach and end of module cases to help learners understand and test their accumulated knowledge and skills.
MACS – Headache
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1.5 CEUs | CE Hours: 1.5 Hours BC-2024-012-ISP
Expiry Date: May 30, 2026
This course provides an overview of the assessment and treatment of headaches. Learners will become familiar with the typical symptoms and be able to differentiate between patients with headaches eligible for Minor Ailment Services by pharmacists and those presenting with migraines or other headache disorders requiring referral. This course includes a segment about lifestyle and non-pharmacological treatment measures to recommend to patients experiencing headaches.
MACS – Oral Ulcers
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-013-ISP
Expiry Date: May 30, 2026
This course provides learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to appropriately assess their patients with oral ulcers and make therapeutic recommendations to help them manage their symptoms. This course includes a step-wise approach to how pharmacists can manage patients presenting with oral ulcers, as well as a case to help tie the content together. After completing this course, learners will feel more confident in conducting minor ailments consultations for patients with oral ulcers.
MACS – Shingles
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-014-ISP
Expiry Date: May 30, 2026
This course provides an overview of shingles (herpes zoster) and its treatment to aid pharmacists in assessing and prescribing for minor ailments in British Columbia. Learners will become more comfortable collecting information, describing the presentation of shingles, assessing a patient with shingles, and selecting appropriate treatments. Additional topics such as considerations for acute pain and postherpetic neuralgia pain management, and shingles prevention through vaccination are also reviewed. This course includes a simplified assessment approach and end-of-module case to help learners understand and test their accumulated knowledge and skills.
MACS – Threadworms and Pinworms
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEUs | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-004-ISP
Expiry Date: January 31, 2026
This course provides an overview of the timeline, epidemiology, and the treatment of Pinworm (Threadworms) infections. Learners will become familiar with the typical symptoms and use this knowledge to assess an extensive differential of diseases. This course includes a segment about the diagnostic tests used to confirm a Pinworm infection and an assessment to test your knowledge.
MACS – Tobacco Use Disorder
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 2 CEUs | CE Hours: 2 Hours BC-2023-022-ISP
Expiry Date: August 15, 2025
This course provides pharmacists with an overview of tobacco use disorder and details how to approach patients to encourage them to cease tobacco use and address their nicotine dependence. Learners will explore how and what to assess, the different pharmacotherapy options that can be prescribed, what to monitor, and when to follow up. This course highlights many of the high-quality resources already available to both patients and practitioners alike in British Columbia.
MACS – Vaginal Candidiasis
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-015-ISP
Expiry Date: May 30, 2026
This course provides learners an overview of the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to assess patients presenting with signs and symptoms of vaginal candidiasis. Patients may present with symptoms of vaginal itch, irritation, redness and discharge. Learners will be presented with the steps for assessment and development of a treatment and monitoring plan. This course includes a case study for learners to enhance their understanding of the course materials.
New Cardiology Trials and Tools
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2022-010-ISP
Expiry Date: November 8, 2025
Evidence for medications in cardiovascular disease comes out an alarmingly fast rate, making it difficult to keep up-to-date. This session will discuss some of the key new evidence and guidelines on cardiovascular conditions such as heart failure, hypertension, and coronary artery disease, as well as tools to help you apply the evidence to practice.
Opioid Stewardship
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2022-009-ISP
Expiry Date: November 8, 2025
Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to play a key role in reducing opioid related harm and improve patient care. Opioid stewardship is an approach to safe and effective opioid use for pain management. This presentation will review main principles of opioid stewardship and their application in clinical practice.
Pharmacist Interventions to Improve Outcomes in Children
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2022-011-ISP
Expiry Date: November 16, 2025
Children represent a unique and complex population who utilize the health care system for a vast array of reasons. While medications are among the most common therapeutic interventions used to treat medical conditions for these patients, misunderstanding and confusion about medications can result in poorer outcomes and continued use of health services. Pharmacists are an accessible group of healthcare professionals to children and their caregivers who have concerns about medications. This presentation provides practical information for how pharmacists can improve health outcomes in this population.
Pharmacist Prescribing for Minor Ailments and Contraception (PPMAC): Regulatory Education Module
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free
Expiry Date: April 30, 2026
This mandatory module introduces a new regulatory framework to enable pharmacists in British Columbia to prescribe for minor ailments and contraception in a safe, effective, and ethical manner. This regulatory framework has been established collaboratively by the College of Pharmacists of B.C. and the Ministry of Health.
Practical Administration of Sublocade Injection
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 0.75 CEUs | CE Hours: 45 minutes BC-2024-006-ISP
Expiry Date: February 14, 2026
This course is relevant for health care providers administering extended-release subcutaneous buprenorphine (Sublocade) for the management of opioid use disorder. This course provides a brief introduction of product storage considerations, a step-by-step guide to subcutaneous injection, and patient-specific considerations.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2022-012-ISP
Expiry Date: November 15, 2025
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can be helpful for some patients for certain conditions but evaluations have suggested overuse/inappropriate use as well. This presentation will summarize practical ways in which pharmacists can optimize PPIs in their patients.
Psychedelic Pharmacy – New Frontiers in Psychiatry
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-021-ISP
Expiry Date: October 15, 2025
The emergence of Psychedelic-assisted Therapy (PAT) as a new treatment paradigm for Canadians experiencing end-of-life distress, treatment-resistant depression and PTSD requires understanding of both safety and efficacy. This session delivers an essential primer on PAT, focussing on psilocybin and MDMA. Through a brief discussion of current clinical research, participants will receive an overview of PAT neuroscience and pharmacotherapy. Review of the current regulatory landscape of PAT in Canada will lead to the emerging role of psychiatric pharmacists in PAT medication management.
Slow and Steady: Initiating and Supporting Tapers of Controlled Substances in Community Pharmacies
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2023-018-ISP
Expiry Date: October 15, 2025
Attitudes and expectations around the use of opioids and benzodiazepines have changed significantly over the past 5–10 years, and many patients and prescribers are struggling with the need for dosage reductions. Community pharmacists are in a unique position to help. This presentation provides patient-educational principles and collaborative tools to enable pharmacists to help initiate, support and sustain medication taper plans.
The Next Step Pharmacist Facilitator Training Program
Series
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): Varies
This course series consists of 5 modules, and was designed to support pharmacist facilitators (PF) in their role as student pharmacist mentors.
- Module 1: Pedagogy
- Module 2: Inclusive Teaching Practices
- Module 3: Engagement
- Module 4: Feedback
- Module 5: Assessment
Treating Tobacco Use Disorder
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-020-ISP
Expiry Date: October 15, 2025
This is a review of contemporary approaches to smoking cessation with a specific reference to the growing role of pharmacists.
Using Blood Glucose Technologies to Optimize Diabetes Management
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE hours: 1 hour BC-2021-004-ISP
Expiry Date: August 15, 2025
With one in three Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes today, proactive engagement and monitoring by pharmacists can have a significant impact on clinical outcomes and systemic cost of disease management. The evolution of blood glucose technologies over the last 50 years has affected pharmacists’ ability to impact patients’ understanding of diabetes itself and inspire self-care behaviours. This session will review how to access and interpret results from these technologies in professional practice, and use case-based examples of how to communicate results effectively to motivate change.
UTIs Simple Answers for Burning Questions
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2023-017-ISP
Expiry Date: August 1, 2025
Lower Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are a common problem for British Columbians. This presentation will cover the evidence and give a practical approach to diagnosis and management of uncomplicated UTIs (acute cystitis), and highlight red flags and complicating factors to rule out.
We Need to Talk (About Tramadol)
Independent Study Programs
Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2021-007-ISP
Expiry Date: November 23, 2025
Tramadol and Tramadol-Acetaminophen are frequently prescribed for the treatment of acute and chronic pain in British Columbia. Although recommended as a ‘safer opioid’, the effects of Tramadol can be challenging to predict because of its unique pharmacology. This session will present the best available evidence of side effects and effectiveness of this drug.
Academic and Professional Conduct
Academic Integrity
Continuing Pharmacy Professional Development is committed to academic integrity and takes academic misconduct seriously. Penalties for cheating, plagiarizing or other academic misconduct may include dismissal from the course or program with a failing grade and no refund of fees. Learn more about UBC's policy on scholarly integrity.
Appeals
Students can appeal academic progress decisions through procedures outlined by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. For more information on academic policies and appeals, please email pharmsci.cppd@ubc.ca.
Other Online Program Providers
Continuing professional education is available through other Online Programs. Please follow the links below for information.