Training Program accreditation

Accreditation to the SHPA Training Programs ensures hospital sites have the commitment, capacity and capability to offer a broad range of practice-based experiences to pharmacy Resident and/or Registrar Candidates. 

SHPA Training Program accreditation gives sites access to the support and leadership they need to design and build curriculum relevant to theirs and their Candidates’ needs.

Apply for Accreditation

Accreditation Standards 

The SHPA Accreditation Standards for Pharmacy Residency Programs have been revised and are comprised of:

  • Core Accreditation – for the health service and its pharmacy department to become an SHPA-accredited Training Program Site
  • Program Approval* – for the SHPA-accredited Training Program Site to deliver a residency pathway (Resident Training Program, Registrar Training Program pathway).

*Sites currently accredited for the Resident Training Program require only Program Approval to become a Registrar Training Program site.

FAQs

What are the SHPA Accreditation Standards for Pharmacy Residency Programs?

The SHPA Accreditation Standards for Pharmacy Residency Programs establish criteria for Training Programs and pharmacy departments to ensure their residency commitment is consistent with SHPA’s requirements. They ensure that the environmental and programmatic settings for Candidate pharmacists are sufficient to achieve the relevant professional competencies in the delivery of patient-centred care and pharmacy services. Hospital pharmacy departments or other pharmacy service providers who have been accredited by SHPA to offer a Training Program have demonstrated their compliance with the standards.

The standards are comprised of two documents (outlining two stages of accreditation):

  1. Residency – Core Accreditation: is the accreditation of the site at which all residencies will be undertaken. It establishes the criteria a hospital pharmacy department must meet to become an SHPA-accredited Training Program Site. A pharmacy department must demonstrate that the physical, departmental and cultural attributes of the department are aligned with SHPA’s standards with respect to staff development and education.
  2. Program Approval: is the accreditation of a specific Training Program. It establishes the program-specific requirements for an SHPA-accredited Training Site to deliver a residency pathway. This stage of accreditation determines whether a Training Site’s program is suitable based on its compliance with program-specific attributes and requirements. Program Approval encompasses approval of any of the following:
      a. Resident Training Program
      b. Individual Registrar Training Program pathways

How does SHPA accredit sites and programs?

Pharmacy departments wishing to become SHPA-accredited Training Sites will submit an online application to SHPA for Core Accreditation and apply for the relevant Program Approval (Resident Training Program or a Registrar Training Program pathway).

SHPA will review the submission and, if successful, grant Provisional Accreditation (valid for up to 24 months). Provisional Accreditation demonstrates that the site and its approved Training Program have demonstrated compliance with the standards and the pharmacy department is able to implement the program.

At least 12 months after the first Candidate has commenced, SHPA and the Training Program Site will undertake the process for Full Accreditation – SHPA conducts a follow-up accreditation review to ensure the program is being delivered in accordance with standards (post-implementation). Full Core Accreditation may be granted for up to five years, plus Program Approval for:

  • Resident Training Program (for the duration of Full Core Accreditation), and/or
  • a Registrar Training Program pathway (for the duration of the individual pathway).

Pharmacy departments or health services with a current SHPA accreditation for a Resident Training Program (previously known as Foundation Residency) granted prior to 2020 are not required to apply for Core Accreditation. The existing accreditation status will convert to Core Accreditation and Resident Training Program Approval. These Training Program Sites wishing to implement a Registrar Training Program pathway will need to submit an application for Registrar Training Program Approval only.

Pharmacy departments may apply for Program Approval for as many different types of Training Programs as is required.