Petition calls for lower annual professional fees for Ontario pharmacy techs

A petition launched in early February is calling on the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) to reduce registration fees for pharmacy technicians, arguing the current costs are too high.“Pharmacy technicians in Ontario currently pay significantly higher regulatory fees than other healthcare professionals with comparable or higher levels of clinical risk and responsibility,” noted the petition—$683.80 (including HST) versus $415.84 for registered nurses and $415 for dental hygienists. It requests that the base renewal fee for Part A pharmacy technicians be lowered to align with the nursing benchmark of approximately $415.At last check, the petition, which calls for a review of the fee structure before the renewal deadline of March 10, had attracted more than 2,600 signatures. Many of the accompanying comments pointed out that the increases in registration fees continue to outpace the salaries of pharmacy technicians.Doug Brown, chair of the OCP board of directors, responded in a statement, noting that “we take the feedback very seriously.”The statement goes on to explain: “Each year, the board of directors approves an annual operating budget that ensures OCP has the financial resources to fulfill its statutory responsibilities defined in legislation and strategic priorities as Ontario’s pharmacy regulator. This budget is carefully developed and thoughtfully considers our fiscal obligations. We recognize that annual registration fees are paid by dedicated, hard-working pharmacy professionals and we take seriously our obligation, guided by the oversight of the Finance and Audit Committee of the board, to be responsible stewards of our financial resources and the registrant fees that fund our work.” It also noted that registration fees vary by profession in Ontario and across Canada, and OCP’s fees are among the lowest of pharmacy regulators in the country. Even so, it is difficult to accurately compare different professions and/or jurisdictions with each other given many variables, including the number of registrants, the variability of board-approved strategic and operational priorities, and the unique regulatory frameworks relevant to our respective professions and jurisdictions.Because the College’s budget for 2026 has already been approved by the board and the operational plan has now been implemented, “reducing fees for 2026 is not possible and there can be no changes to the renewal deadline for this year,” said Brown.However, he added that OCP commits to “bring forward these concerns to the board at its next meeting scheduled for March 23, 2026, as part of an open discussion on the impact of fees on registrants and a broader analysis of OCP’s annual renewal and administrative fee structures for future consideration.”Meanwhile, the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians (CAPT) board of directors has issued a statement in response to the petition’s request that the Association advocate with OCP on technicians’ behalf. CAPT points out the distinction between a professional association and a regulatory college, explaining that “our mandate is to advocate for the advancement of the profession. This includes expanding the scope of practice, enhancing educational standards, and addressing items that directly impact patient safety.“While CAPT collaborates with OCP and other Provincial Regulatory Authorities (PRAs) on matters of practice and safety, CAPT does not advocate for the financial stewardship, internal budgeting, or fee structures of regulatory bodies. Each regulatory body's board of directors independently sets registration fees to ensure they can meet their legislated mandate to regulate the profession effectively. CAPT does not have the jurisdiction to negotiate pauses in fee collection or to influence how a regulator allocates or uses its reserve funds.”The association provided a snapshot of annual registration fees for Registered Pharmacy Technicians across several Canadian provinces that showed Ontario falling approximately mid-range.CAPT noted that it “remains committed to supporting pharmacy technicians by fighting for a broader scope of practice and professional recognition—factors that ultimately influence the long-term value and compensation of the profession.” It also encouraged Ontario pharmacy technicians “to participate in OCP’s public consultations and attend board meetings to voice their individual concerns directly to the regulator.”For more information, visit Petition · Petition to the OCP Board of Directors: Reducing Regulatory Fees for Pharmacy Technicians - Canada · Change.org.

Petition calls for lower annual professional fees for Ontario pharmacy techs

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