Programs

Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2023-016-ISP
Expiry Date: September 20, 2026

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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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-019-ISP
Expiry Date: October 15, 2026

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.

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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, 2026

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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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, 2026

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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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 2 CEU | CE Hours: 2 Hour BC-2024-018-ISP
Expiry Date: October 16, 2026

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.

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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.

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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. 

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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, 2026

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.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 hour | BC-2026-002-ISP
Expiry Date: February 15, 2027

This session will cover the general overview of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) biology under the context of diabetes and obesity. We will discuss different GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), especially those related to their mechanism of action on glycemic control and weight reduction. Attendees will learn the latest findings of ongoing or recently completed clinical trials using drugs within this class in metabolic complications associated with diabetes and obesity along with their side effects. Finally, the session will explore the ongoing development in GLP-1-based co-agonist and combination therapies.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 hour | BC-2026-003-ISP
Expiry Date: March 15, 2027

This session provides pharmacists with essential knowledge on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) by offering practical insights to support evidence-based, patient-centered care in menopause management. Attendees will learn to identify menopause symptoms suitable for HRT, distinguish between different estrogen and progesterone therapies, and apply current clinical guidelines to manage symptoms effectively. Additionally, the session highlights the value of interprofessional collaboration strategies to enhance patient care coordination and to improve treatment outcomes.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 hour | BC-2026-004-ISP
Expiry Date: March 1, 2027

This course is intended for Indigenous pharmacists mentoring Indigenous pharmacy students in the Entry-to-Practice PharmD Program at the University of British Columbia.

This course serves as an introduction to the principles of Indigenous mentorship, program goals and objectives, program structure and expectations, conflict management strategies, and student resources. It also contains instructions and tips on how mentors can interact with their mentees in a way that supports their Indigeneity. It contains approximately 30–60 minutes of learning followed by a summative knowledge check quiz. The purpose of this course is to ensure that mentors are adequately prepared to support their mentees.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 3 CEU | CE Hours: 3 hour BC-2025-001-ISP
Expiry Date: January 15, 2027

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.

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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.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 hour | BC-2025-007-ISP
Expiry Date: October 15, 2026

This session helps pharmacists build a practical framework for interpreting and applying lab results in everyday patient care—while keeping in mind the limitations and variability that come with medical testing.

Learners will explore key sources of variability in lab measurements, including analytic, biologic, and systemic errors, and how these factors can shape clinical decisions. The concept of Reference Change Values (RCVs) will be introduced as a helpful tool for spotting meaningful changes in serial test results versus random fluctuations.

Real-world examples—like liver function markers, cholesterol levels, and glucose measurements—will be used to highlight the challenges of measurement imprecision. The session encourages pharmacists to look beyond the numbers and consider the whole patient when making therapeutic decisions.

There will also be a discussion on the potential downsides of routine testing in asymptomatic individuals, including the risk of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. By the end, pharmacists will walk away with practical strategies to use lab data more thoughtfully and support informed, individualized care.

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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, 2027

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.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 2 CEUs | CE Hours: 2 Hours BC-2023-020-ISP 
Expiry Date: August 15, 2026

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.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2023-021-ISP 
Expiry Date: August 15, 2026

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.

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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.

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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, 2027

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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEUs | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-004-ISP 
Expiry Date: January 31, 2027

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. ​

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 2 CEUs | CE Hours: 2 Hours BC-2023-022-ISP 
Expiry Date: August 15, 2026

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.

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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.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 hour | BC-2025-003-ISP
Expiry Date: September 15, 2026

This session equips pharmacists with the knowledge and skills to deliver effective, patient-centered contraceptive counseling. Attendees will learn how to gather comprehensive sexual and reproductive health histories using respectful, empathetic communication strategies that foster trust and inclusivity. The session provides an in-depth review of contraceptive options, with a particular emphasis on Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), including intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants.

Pharmacists will gain practical insights into the clinical indications, contraindications, mechanisms of action, efficacy, and side effect profiles of various contraceptive methods. The session also highlights key resources to support patient education and informed decision-making. By integrating current clinical guidance with real-world counseling approaches, pharmacists will be better prepared to support patients in choosing contraception that aligns with their individual values, needs, and preferences.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2022-011-ISP 
Expiry Date: November 16, 2026

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.

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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.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 hour | BC-2025-008-ISP
Expiry Date: November 15, 2026

Pharmacists will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in ordering and interpreting laboratory tests for medication management, reflecting a recent expansion in their scope of practice. The session will also include an overview of the laboratory tests pharmacists can order, and a series of case studies to guide decision-making in practice.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-021-ISP
Expiry Date: November 28, 2026

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.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2023-018-ISP
Expiry Date: October 15, 2026

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.

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Series

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): varies | CE Hours: varies
Expiry Date: August 1, 2026

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

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2024-020-ISP
Expiry Date: October 15, 2026

This is a review of contemporary approaches to smoking cessation with a specific reference to the growing role of pharmacists.

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Independent Study Programs

Cost: Free | Continuing Education Units (CEU): 1 CEU | CE Hours: 1 Hour BC-2023-017-ISP
Expiry Date: August 1, 2026

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.

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