Statute Details
- Title: Pharmacists Registration (Practising Certificates) Regulations 2008
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Pharmacists Registration Act 2007 (Act 48 of 2007)
- Act Code: PRA2007-S438-2008
- Enacting Authority: Singapore Pharmacy Council, with Minister for Health approval
- Citation and Commencement: Commenced on 1 September 2008
- Current Version (as provided): Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Provisions (from extract): Regulations 2–10; First Schedule (Fees); Second Schedule (CPD requirements)
- Notable Amendments (from extract): Amended by S 445/2012 (effective 4 September 2012); and S 834/2010 (effective 31 December 2010)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Pharmacists Registration (Practising Certificates) Regulations 2008 (“the Regulations”) set out the administrative and eligibility rules for obtaining, renewing, and maintaining a practising certificate for pharmacists in Singapore. In practical terms, the Regulations translate the broader policy in the Pharmacists Registration Act 2007 into operational requirements—especially around continuing professional education (CPE/CPD), fees, and document administration.
A practising certificate is the permission to practise as a pharmacist. The Regulations therefore matter not only to newly registered pharmacists, but also to those returning to practice after a period away, and to pharmacists who need replacements or certified copies of their certificates. The Regulations also provide the Singapore Pharmacy Council (“the Council”) with discretion to refuse renewal where CPD requirements are not met, and to impose conditions in special circumstances.
While the Regulations are technical, their core message is straightforward: pharmacists must apply in the correct form, pay the correct fees (including late fees where applicable), and—most importantly—meet continuing professional education requirements to be granted or renewed a practising certificate. The Regulations also establish a structured CPD framework through the Second Schedule, and they provide procedural mechanisms for inactive pharmacists to resume practice.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Definitions and key concepts (Regulation 2). The Regulations define terms that drive the CPD and eligibility framework. Of particular importance is “active practice”, which includes practice of pharmacy on a full-time or part-time basis, or as a locum. This definition is central because the CPD rules treat pharmacists differently depending on whether they are in active practice.
Scope of application (Regulation 3). The Regulations apply to any person who is registered or deemed to be registered as a pharmacist under sections 16 or 17 of the Pharmacists Registration Act 2007. However, there is an important carve-out: Regulation 6 (CPD-based refusal of grant/renewal) does not apply to a person making an application for the first time under these Regulations for the grant or renewal of a practising certificate. This reduces the immediate CPD burden for first-time applicants and aligns the CPD framework with renewal cycles.
Application process and fees (Regulation 4 and First Schedule). An application for the grant or renewal of a practising certificate under section 23 of the Act must be made in the form published on the Council’s website and must be accompanied by the applicable fees specified in the First Schedule. This is a procedural requirement that practitioners should treat as mandatory: failure to use the correct form or to pay the correct fee may lead to administrative rejection or delays.
Late applications (Regulation 5). If an application is made less than one month before expiry or after expiry, an additional “late application” fee is payable on top of the application fee. This provision encourages timely renewal and creates a financial consequence for late compliance. Practitioners advising pharmacists should therefore monitor expiry dates and ensure renewal applications are submitted early enough to avoid late fees.
Certified true copies and duplicates (Regulations 5A and 5B). The Regulations provide mechanisms for document administration. Regulation 5A allows a pharmacist to apply for a certified true copy of a practising certificate in the form and manner required by the Council, with the appropriate fee. Regulation 5B addresses duplicates where the original certificate is lost, destroyed, defaced, or obliterated.
Regulation 5B is detailed and includes safeguards to prevent misuse. The Council issues a duplicate only if satisfied that the certificate has been lost/destroyed/defaced/obliterated and upon payment of the appropriate fee. A duplicate has the same effect as the original. However, if the certificate is defaced or obliterated, the original must be returned; if lost or destroyed, the holder must make a statutory declaration and provide it to the Council.
Regulation 5B also contains a compliance duty after a duplicate is issued: if the original is later found, the holder must return the duplicate for cancellation within 14 days. Failure to comply is an offence, punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000. This is a practical risk area: pharmacists should ensure their administrative processes track duplicates and originals to avoid inadvertent breach.
CPD/continuing professional education requirements for grant and renewal (Regulation 6 and Second Schedule). Regulation 6 is the heart of the Regulations. The Council may refuse to grant or renew a practising certificate unless the applicant satisfies the Council that they have fulfilled the requisite continuing professional education requirements indicated in the Second Schedule.
Under Regulation 6(1), the applicant must: (a) accumulate not less than the requisite number of CPD points within the qualifying period; and (b) ensure that a specified percentage of the points comes from specified types or categories of programmes, if any. This means CPD is not merely a “points total” exercise; it is also a content-mix exercise where the Second Schedule requires points from particular categories (for example, pharmaceutical care programmes).
Inactive pharmacists and resumption of active practice (Regulation 6(2) and (3)). Regulation 6(2) restricts how inactive pharmacists can rely on certain CPD items in the Second Schedule for renewal. A pharmacist not in active practice cannot rely on item 9 (as referenced in the extract) unless they file a declaration in the prescribed form and obtain the Council’s approval. Regulation 6(3) further provides that an inactive pharmacist who has obtained approval to rely on that item may resume active practice only if, in the 12 months immediately preceding the indicated resumption date, they obtain at least 25 CPD points, with at least 30% from pharmaceutical care programmes.
Discretion in special circumstances (Regulation 6(4) and (5)). Even if CPD requirements are not met, the Council may—in special circumstances it determines—grant or renew a practising certificate. The Council may also impose reasonable conditions as part of that discretion. For practitioners, this is a key “safety valve” provision. It supports outcomes where strict compliance is not feasible due to exceptional circumstances, but it also means applicants should be prepared to provide evidence and to accept conditions that may be imposed.
Designation of CPD programmes (Regulation 7 and Second Schedule). Regulation 7 requires the Council to designate and maintain a list of activities, courses, and programmes with corresponding CPD points to be earned on successful completion. The Council may categorise items and designate specific items for various classes or descriptions of pharmacists. This ensures that CPD is measurable and auditable, and it places responsibility on pharmacists to choose activities from the Council’s approved list.
Fees, exemptions, remissions, and refunds (Regulation 8). Regulation 8(1) confirms that fees in the First Schedule are payable to the Council. Regulation 8(2) allows the Council to exempt a person or class from all or any fees, subject to conditions directed by the Council. Regulation 8(3) further allows the Council to remit or refund fees in whole or in part in particular cases or classes. This is important for advising on hardship or administrative fairness, although it remains discretionary.
Duration of practising certificate (Regulation 9). A practising certificate is valid for two years or such shorter period as specified in the certificate. This affects planning for renewal applications and CPD accumulation windows.
Transitional provision (Regulation 10). The extract indicates a transitional arrangement for applicants who obtained CPD points between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2008 under a scheme established by the Singapore Pharmacy Board. While the remainder of the transitional text is truncated in the provided extract, the purpose is clear: it allows certain earlier CPD points to be recognised for the early implementation period of the Regulations, reducing disruption for pharmacists who had already been accumulating points under the previous scheme.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Regulations are structured as a compact set of operational rules, followed by two schedules that do the substantive “requirements” work.
Regulations 1–10 cover: (i) citation and commencement; (ii) definitions; (iii) application of the Regulations; (iv) application for practising certificates; (v) late fees; (vi) certified true copies and duplicates; (vii) CPD-based grant/renewal; (viii) designation of CPD programmes; (ix) fees; (x) duration; and (xi) transitional arrangements.
First Schedule sets out the fee amounts, including application fees, late application fees, and fees for certified true copies/duplicates (as applicable).
Second Schedule sets out the CPD requirements, including the requisite points, qualifying periods, and any category/percentage rules for different descriptions of pharmacists. It also contains the referenced “item 9” framework relevant to inactive pharmacists.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Regulations apply to persons who are registered or deemed to be registered as pharmacists under the Pharmacists Registration Act 2007. In practice, this includes pharmacists seeking to obtain or renew a practising certificate, and pharmacists needing administrative services such as certified true copies or duplicates.
The CPD requirements apply to renewal and grant decisions under Regulation 6, subject to the first-time application carve-out in Regulation 3(2). The Regulations also differentiate between pharmacists in active practice and those who are not, particularly for renewal reliance and for resumption of active practice after inactivity.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
For practitioners, these Regulations are important because they directly affect whether a pharmacist can legally practise. The Council’s power to refuse grant or renewal under Regulation 6 means that CPD compliance is not optional; it is a condition for maintaining professional eligibility through the practising certificate system.
The Regulations also create clear compliance touchpoints: renewal timing (to avoid late fees), correct application forms (published on the Council’s website), and document integrity (especially for duplicates). The offence provision in Regulation 5B(7) underscores that administrative compliance is enforceable, not merely procedural.
Finally, the Regulations provide structured flexibility through the Council’s discretion in special circumstances (Regulation 6(4)–(5)) and through fee exemptions/remissions (Regulation 8). This matters in real-world practice where pharmacists may face illness, caregiving responsibilities, or other exceptional events that disrupt CPD accumulation. Advisers should therefore treat the Regulations as both a compliance framework and a framework for seeking relief where justified.
Related Legislation
- Pharmacists Registration Act 2007 (Act 48 of 2007) — authorising provisions, including section 74 (making of Regulations) and practising certificate provisions (including section 23 referenced in the Regulations)
- Singapore Pharmacy Council CPD framework (operationally implemented through the Council’s designated list of CPD programmes under Regulation 7 and the Second Schedule)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Pharmacists Registration (Practising Certificates) Regulations 2008 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.