Updates to Drug Administration Re-Certification During the COVID-19 Pandemic Jul. 17, 2020

UPDATES TO DRUG ADMINISTRATION RE-CERTIFICATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Pursuant to section 43(4) of the HPA Bylaws, in order to maintain certification for drug administration by injection and intranasal route for immunization, a practising pharmacist must hold valid certification in both first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from a Board approved program specified in Schedule C of the HPA Bylaws.  

In April 2020, the College issued a reminder to practising pharmacists of the requirement for maintaining certification in both first aid and CPR during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Practising pharmacists certified to administer drugs by injection and intranasal route, are required to hold valid first aid and CPR certification, and are responsible for ensuring that these certifications remain up-to-date, including at the time they recertify as part of their registration renewal application.  

Maintaining Your Drug Administration Certification During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The College has not made an exception to any requirements for maintaining drug administration certification during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

At the start of the pandemic, many first aid and CPR providers extended the expiry date of some of their certifications, based on their own criteria, as in-person first aid and CPR courses were not available. 

However, as we continue to progress through the different phases of the provincial restart plan, some providers continue to offer extensions, while some are offering training sessions which may involve both online and in-class components. 

First Aid and CPR Recertification 

With limited seating for first aid and CPR courses due to COVID-19, we would like to encourage practising pharmacists, with drug administration certifications that are expiring soon, to be proactive in planning to obtain their first aid and CPR recertification, in anticipation of this fall’s flu season. 

When obtaining your first aid and CPR recertification, it is important to remember: 

1. Only first aid and CPR certification issued by a recognized provider is considered valid.
   • Commonly recognized providers include St. John Ambulance, Canadian Red Cross and WorkSafeBC.  A full list of recognized providers can be found in HPA Bylaws Schedule C.
2. First aid and CPR training must include an in-class training component.  100% online courses are not acceptable.
3. Standalone CPR courses are not acceptable as they do not include first aid certification.
   • It is the responsibility of a pharmacist to determine the specific courses based on their individual competence and practice needs. A pharmacist must ensure that their chosen course provides certification in both first aid and CPR. 

Proof of Extension 

If your provider has offered a further extension, please retain written proof of the extension. Proof can be demonstrated through: 

• Printed guidance from a provider’s website (a screenshot is acceptable); 
• Email correspondence from a provider or instructor; or 
• A reissued certificate with the new expiry date. 

If your first aid and CPR certification has expired and you are unable to obtain written proof that your certification has been extended, you must not administer drugs by injection or intranasal route. 

Once you have completed your first aid and CPR recertification, you must contact the Registration Department at: [email protected] before administering drugs by injection or intranasal route again.  

Please also review the “What Went Wrong - Injection Authority” Readlinks article on this topic.