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Practising Certificate of Pharmacists

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Practising Certificate of Pharmacists

Section 10A(1) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (“PPO”) stipulates that “a registered pharmacist shall not practise as a pharmacist in Hong Kong, unless he is the holder of a practising certificate which is then in force”.

An applicant who has successfully obtained a certificate of registration from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (“the Board”) is also required to apply for an annual practising certificate from the Board before he/she may practise in Hong Kong. The annual practising certificate is issued at a charge of HK$520*.

* Note: Subject to revision

Validity of Practising Certificates

The validity of practising certificates is as follows -
  1. where a practising certificate is issued pursuant to an application made during the course of a year in respect of the following year, the certificate shall be in force for a period of 12 months commencing on 1 January in that following year; or
  2. where a practising certificate is issued pursuant to an application made during the course of a year in respect of that year, the certificate shall be in force from the time of its issue until the end of that year.
Any registered pharmacists should apply for renewal of the practising certificate if he / she will be practising beyond the expiry date of the certificate.

Annual Renewal of Practising Certificates

Every registered pharmacist on the Register of Pharmacists is informed to renew his / her annual practising certificate in around September every year.

For registrants who opt to apply online and have an “iAM Smart+” account for digital signing the applications, they may choose to receive an electronic version of the practising certificate (“e-practising certificate”) in Portable Document Format (“PDF”) through their designated email addresses. They may also indicate their preference for obtaining a practising certificate in paper form (“paper practising certificate”) in addition to the e-practising certificate when completing the electronic application form.

Registrants who do not have an “iAM Smart+” account could also apply for renewal of their practising certificates and settle the prescribed fee via the online platform.  However, in the absence of a digital signature for verifying their identity, paper practising certificate will be issued to the registrants by registered post.  In regard to those registrants who choose to apply and settle the prescribed fee by autopay or General Demand Note, they will receive paper practising certificates.

Payment of the prescribed fee may be made by one of the following ways:-
  1. Online payment

    Registered pharmacist may make payment through the following methods:-

    • Credit Card (Visa Card, Master Card, JCB and China UnionPay);
    • Faster Payment System (FPS);
    • Alipay (Mainland China) (Authentication using Mainland China ID Card);
    • WeChat Pay; or
    • UnionPay Mobile QuickPass.

  2. Autopay

    Any registered pharmacist interested to use autopay may approach the Central Registration Office for a copy of the Autopay Authorization Form

  3. Settling the General Demand Note issued by the Central Registration Office

    General demand note issued by the Central Registration Office may be settled by one of the following means:-

    • Internet Payment;
    • Automated Teller Machines (ATM) of local banks;
    • Faster Payment System (FPS);
    • Payment by Phone Service (PPS);
    • By Phone Banking;
    • Through the "Pay e-Cheque" portal;
    • In person at post offices or convenience store by cash; or
    • By cheque/bank draft/cashier order sent to the Treasury (address: P.O. Box No. 28000, Sham Shui Po Post Office, Hong Kong).

For details, please refer to the Treasury's website.

The payment status of the demand notes may be checked vide the Treasury Hotline (at 2845 8866) or the Treasury's website.

Deeming Provision

A registered pharmacist shall be deemed to have obtained the certificate when he / she had duly applied and paid the prescribed fee for the issue of the practising certificate.

Authentication Features of E-practising Certificates

E-practising certificates have the same legal standing as paper practising certificates. For verification purpose, the e-practising certificate carries a digital signature and an encrypted QR code. Scanning the QR code will direct the enquirer to the website of the Board where he / she may verify the contents in the e-practising certificate (click here for a specimen e-practising certificate and the verification information to be shown).

Failure to Renew Practising Certificates

Section 7(3)(f) of the PPO provides that the Board may direct the deletion of any entry in the Register of Pharmacists relating to a pharmacist who is no longer practising as a pharmacist in Hong Kong. In this connection, if a pharmacist does not apply for the annual practising certificate, it would be assumed that he / she is no longer practising as a pharmacist in Hong Kong for the purpose of section 7 of the PPO and the Board may proceed with the deletion from the register of pharmacists without further notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here for Frequently Asked Questions on the arrangements for annual renewal of practising certificate and e-practising certificate.
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