The update is not cosmetic. NAPRA merged the previous nine competency areas into five broader competencies, added explicit expectations around equity and patient safety, and aligned entry-to-practice standards with how pharmacists now work in modern, collaborative care environments.
Why NAPRA Updated the Framework
Pharmacy practice evolved quickly over the last decade: expanded prescribing scope, greater direct clinical care, and more complex interdisciplinary roles. NAPRA launched a formal review in 2022 and validated proposed changes nationally. The updated competencies were approved in July 2024 and published in October 2024.
From 9 Competencies to 5: What Changed
The old framework separated competencies into nine areas. The new model consolidates them into five broader competencies, including split domains for clinical care and distribution under Competency 1.
| 2014 Competency (NAPRA) | Old OSCE % | 2024 Competency (NAPRA) with Key Areas | New OSCE % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competency 1: Ethical, Legal and Professional Responsibilities | 8% | Competency 5: Professionalism (legislation, ethics, equity and inclusion, patient safety) | 14% |
| Competency 2: Patient Care | 42% | Competency 1A: Providing Care (Clinical Care: assessment, care planning, prescribing, monitoring) | 40% |
| Competency 3: Product Distribution | 13% | Competency 1B: Providing Care (Distribution: review, dispensing, compounding, verification) | 8% |
| Competency 5: Health Promotion | 3% | Competency 4: Leadership and Stewardship (community health, social determinants, navigation) | 3% |
| Competency 6: Knowledge and Research Application | 6% | Competency 2: Knowledge and Expertise (evidence-informed decisions, professional learning) | 7% |
| Competency 7: Communication and Education | 14% | Competency 3: Communication and Collaboration (patient communication, education, documentation) | 28% |
| Competency 8: Intra and Inter-Professional Collaboration | 6% | Competency 3: Communication and Collaboration (teamwork, referrals, continuity of care) | Included above |
| Competency 9: Quality and Safety | 5% | Competency 5: Professionalism (medication safety, incident response, quality improvement) | Included above |
How PEBC Weights the New Competencies
Effective May 2026, PEBC applies the 2024 competencies in both Part I and Part II, but the weight profile differs meaningfully between OSCE and MCQ.
| 2024 NAPRA Competency | OSCE Part II | MCQ Part I |
|---|---|---|
| Competency 1A: Providing Care (Clinical Care) | 40% | 50% |
| Competency 1B: Providing Care (Distribution) | 8% | 20% |
| Competency 2: Knowledge and Expertise | 7% | 11% |
| Competency 3: Communication and Collaboration | 28% | 4% |
| Competency 4: Leadership and Stewardship | 3% | 3% |
| Competency 5: Professionalism | 14% | 12% |
The biggest insight: Communication & Collaboration jumps to 28% on OSCE but is only 4% on MCQ. This is why knowledge-only preparation underperforms in Part II.
What This Means for Your OSCE Preparation
Communication is now a stand-alone priority
Candidates must train patient-centred interviewing, teach-back, shared decision-making, and concise interprofessional communication under timed pressure.
Equity, diversity, and inclusion are explicitly testable
Cultural humility, bias awareness, and equitable care are now named expectations within Professionalism, not optional soft skills.
Patient safety and quality are embedded across stations
Safety identification, incident response logic, and quality improvement reasoning are core OSCE signals of readiness.
Care planning is assessed end-to-end
OSCE stations increasingly expect the full loop: gather information, assess, plan, implement, monitor, and revise, all within one encounter.
How Dosette Updated to Match
Dosette cases now map directly to the 2024 NAPRA framework and current PEBC blueprint weightings. Reports are organized by competency with clear strength points, weak points, and targeted improvement feedback after each station.
References
- • NAPRA. Professional Competencies for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians at Entry to Practice in Canada (2024).
- • PEBC. Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Blueprint, effective May 2026.
- • NAPRA. Model Standards of Practice for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in Canada (2022).
- • NAPRA. Professional Competencies for Canadian Pharmacists at Entry to Practice (2014).
Hassan Torkamandi, PharmD, RPh
CEO, Simulabs Technologies Inc.
