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To align with the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) Accreditation Standards and College of Pharmacy and Nutrition's Mission, preceptors are required to complete initial training and continuting professional development related to teaching and assessment of students.
All preceptors and co-preceptors are required to complete the applicable mandatory training as outlined on this page.
Summary
The USask PharmD Preceptor Training and Development Program is comprised of three (3) educational components.
See the graphic below for a visual overview.
Preceptor Onboarding Modules
One-time, mandatory completion of the Preceptor Onboarding Modules (3 CEU) as baseline (i.e. initial) training.
Preceptors do not need to complete this course annually, but are encouraged to review as needed.
Relevant Placement Modules
Annual, mandatory completion of the relevant Placement Modules prior to the site's first placement for that year.
Returning preceptors confident in expectations may opt to complete a summary review of the Placement Modules in lieu.
Continuing Professional Development
Annual, but flexible and self-directed, continuing professional development of at least two (2) hours†.
Preceptors should select learning opportunities to advance their knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to teaching and assessing learners.
†The two (2) hours of continuing professional development are not required in addition to a pharmacist's existing licensure requirements. Rather, it is recommended that pharmacists consider how their continuing professional development plans for the year may dually pose opportunities to apply key learnings to preceptorship.
Preceptor Onboarding Modules
The Preceptor Onboarding Modules provide an overview of the USask PharmD EL program and an introduction to preceptorship principles that apply across the spectrum of placements.
This course is accredited for 3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). A certificate of completion and learning project record will be available for download at the end of the course.
Click on the image below to open the Preceptor Onboarding Modules in a new window.
Placement Modules
Placement Modules are specific to the USask PharmD EL program and provide important placement-specific information that preceptors need to know in order to prepare for the student's arrival on site.
Stay tuned for the release of the 2026-2027 Placement Modules for IPPE and APPE rotations.
Click on the images below to open the relevant Placement Modules in a new window.
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Community IPPE (PHAR 185) Community APPE (PHAR 482) Direct Patient Care Elective APPE in a Community Setting (PHAR 483, 484) |
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Hospital IPPE (PHAR 285) Hospital APPE (PHAR 481) Direct Patient Care Elective APPE in a Hospital Setting (PHAR 483, 484) |
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Non-Direct Patient Care Elective APPE (PHAR 484) |
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Community Immersions (PHAR 188) |
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Development Modules
Development Modules, as a preceptor benefit, are designed to provide additional support and guidance to preceptors wishing to advance their precepting skills. Topics are continuously developed and added to this site. If you have a suggestion for a specific topic you would like to see added, please reach out to the EL Office.
Preceptors can choose to complete Development Modules that are of interest and relevance to them. Development Modules will contribute to the two additional hours of continuing preceptor development required on an annual basis.
These modules are password-protected in order to maintain them as a USask preceptor benefit. Please email pharmacyel@usask.ca to obtain the password.
Click on the images below to open the Development Modules in a new window.
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Precepting a Student with Access and Equity (AES) Accommodations (1 CEU)
(Email pharmacyel@usask.ca for password) |
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Supporting Students Who Struggle (2 CEU)
(Email pharmacyel@usask.ca for password) |
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Preceptor Week
Overview
Preceptor Week is an annual event facilitated by the EL Office. Live sessions are hosted in November, but recordings are made available year-round.
Past Webinars
Just 15 to 20 minutes out of your day, and guaranteed to leave you with lots to think about!
Preceptor Practice Briefs
Overview
The Preceptor Practice Brief is a periodical from the EL Office designed to clarify expectations, share best practices, and support high-quality student learning experiences.
Each edition highlights one or two timely topics. Drawing on patterns identified across evaluations, inquiries, and other data sources, each edition offers targeted insights and guidance to strengthen the learning environment and enhance preceptor confidence.
Past Issues
Volume 1
Issue 1 (January 2026): Implicit Preceptor-Student Power Dynamics
Other Professional Development Resources
To meet the requirement of two additional professional development hours per year, preceptors may choose to pursue external opportunities if it fits their interests and needs to develop their precepting skills. Additional resources are listed below.
Online Resources
Reading Materials
- Effective Precepting: A Guide to Getting Started as a Pharmacy Practice Educator
- Becoming a Better Preceptor for Pharmacy Students
- One-Minute Preceptor (One-pager)
- SNAPPS: A Six-Step Learner-Centered Approach to Clinical Education (One-pager)
- A Lesson in Clinical Reasoning for the Pharmacy Preceptor
- Co-Precepting Guidebook (UBC/U of A)
- Near Peer Guidebook (UBC/U of A)
- Peer-Assisted Learning Guidebook (UBC/U of A)
- Precepting Skills for Precepting Challenges
Documenting Preceptor Training & Development in CORE
Uploading Certificates of Completion from the USask PharmD Preceptor Training and Development Program
Preceptors are responsible for maintaining a record of their completed preceptor training and development in CORE. Certificates are immediately available following completion of any of the USask PharmD Preceptor Training and Development Modules and must be uploaded by the preceptor to their My Requirements tab in CORE.
See the video below for a tutorial of how to upload USask PharmD Preceptor Training and Development Certificates of Completion to CORE.
Uploading Documentation from Other Training and Development
Professional development opportunities do not have to be accredited to fulfill the requirements of preceptor development. If they are accredited, you may upload the certificate of completion or learning project record from the activity to the My Requirements tab in CORE.
All accredited and non-accredited preceptor training and development activities can also be counted toward your annual license requirement. Be sure to document learning activities in your Professional Development Log (PDL) for submission to SCPP upon licence renewal annually.
See the video below for a tutorial of how to upload documentation of other preceptor training and development to CORE.
Frequently Asked Questions
All preceptors/co-preceptors must complete the required training. It is essential that the EL Office knows who is educating, supervising, and assessing the PharmD students at all times. Please email the EL Office to register yourself as a preceptor/co-preceptor if you do not yet have a CORE account already set up as you will need to log your training in CORE.
No, but you are welcome to review the Preceptor Onboarding Modules at any time if you would like a refresher. Since the Preceptor Onboarding Modules serve as initial training for all preceptors, any updates that have been made to the EL Program since you completed the Preceptor Onboarding Modules should be reflected in the Placement Modules required to be renewed annually.
Prior to 2023, the EL Office hosted orientation sessions for preceptors prior to placements starting in the Spring and Fall. The new course-specific Placement Modules replace the live orientation sessions, and should take 30-60 minutes to complete.
All preceptors must complete the Placement Modules for each relevant course annually.
Yes. The course-specific Placement Modules must be completed annually as details about the rotation may change from year to year. The Certificate of Completion for the Placement Modules must be uploaded to CORE prior to the start of the first scheduled placement each year.
As of 2026, the Placement Modules will include a summary that returning preceptors who are confident with expectations may opt to review in lieu of completing the entire course again.
After completing the one-time, Preceptor Onboarding Modules as baseline (i.e. initial) training, preceptors are required to complete at least two (2) additional hours of continuing education related to precepting each year thereafter.
Preceptors may choose any topic and any format that best meets their needs and interests related to precepting, teaching, assessment, and/or adult learning. The EL Office offers asynchronous online training with Development Modules and recorded webinars in addition to live sessions, including workshops, lunch-and-learns, and Preceptor Week sessions. Externally offered opportunities and self-study are also acceptable (e.g., reading articles, participating in other webinars, attending conference sessions, etc). Explore the sections above for more information and to access many of these opportunities.
If you are interested in individualized training and support related to precepting, please connect with us at pharmacyel@usask.ca. We are happy to work with you to help you create and achieve your precepting goals!
The USask PharmD Preceptor Training and Development Program was launched in April 2023 and replaced the preceptor training requirements that were previously enforced in 2021-2022.