Gateway:
1. Enrolment in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada:
i. (Gateway) is a mandatory first step in the process except in Quebec.
ii. It provides a national ID number, required to apply to the Pharmacy
Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) for Document Evaluation.
iii. It also creates a profile where candidates can track their progress using a
licensure model.
iv. The profile serves as a document repository where the pharmacy regulatory
authorities (PRAs) can access information uploaded by PEBC and candidates’
language test report.
The fee for enrolment in the Gateway is $340.
PEBC Certificate of Qualification:
i. After enrolling in the Gateway, candidates must register directly with the
Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) to apply for Document Evaluation.
ii. The PEBC certification process for international pharmacy graduates (IPGs) has
three steps:
a. Document Evaluation
b. Evaluating Examination (will be held in January, Deadline: September)
c. Qualifying Examination (will be held in November/ May, Deadline: August/
February)
FEE SCHEDULE - PHARMACISTS PRICE ($$) PRICE
(Rs.)
Document Evaluation 675 92685.81
Evaluating Examination 880 120834.84
Qualifying Examination Part – I 815 111909.54
(MCQs)
Qualifying Examination Part – II 1835 251968.10
(OSCE)
iii. Some of the information/documentation candidates provide to PEBC for
evaluations will be added to their candidates’ Gateway Canada profile by PEBC.
This information will be available to the pharmacy regulatory authorities to be
used during the licensing process.
A. Documents Evaluation:
PEBC requires proof that candidates’ education and training in pharmacy
is comparable to that of Canadian programs. (Educational and
professional licensure qualifications).
The Document Evaluation results are valid for five years from the date on the results letter.
B. Evaluation Examination:
The Evaluating Examination will assess the following subjects:
biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy practice, and
behavioral, social and administrative pharmacy sciences.
Candidates are permitted three attempts at a PEBC examination.
C. Qualifying Examination:
The Qualifying Examination is the final step to achieving the PEBC
Certificate of Qualification.
The Qualifying Examination assesses candidates’ competence
(knowledge, skills and abilities) to practice pharmacy safely and
effectively in an “entry-level” pharmacist position. Successful
completion of the Qualifying Examination indicates that candidates
have met the required standard of competence at entry-to-practice.
The Qualifying Examination has two parts: Part I consists of multiple-
choice questions (MCQ) and can be completed online; and, Part II is
an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) which will
evaluate candidates’ performance in a simulated practice
environment. The OSCE must be completed in person.
Note: Both parts of the Qualifying Examination must be passed within three years of
passing one part.
PEBC has a section on their website to help candidates prepare for the
examination. This section includes the blueprint and syllabus of the
examination, the examination design and style, and sample questions.
It also includes a list of references and learning resources.
Part I—the MCQ Section
This first part of the Qualifying Examination consists of a computer-based
test. The questions assess candidates’ understanding and application of
pharmacy knowledge to patient situations. They also evaluate candidates’
ability to make decisions and solve problems.
Part II—the OSCE Section
This second part of the Qualifying Examination consists of a series of
interactive and non-interactive “stations” simulating common or critical
practical situations in pharmacy practice. The scenarios often include
interactions with actors portraying simulated patients, caregivers and health
professionals and may involve:
i. Identifying and solving a patient’s drug-therapy problem;
ii. Communicating effectively; and
iii. Working with other health professionals.
The PEBC Certificate of Qualification is required for licensure in most
Canadian jurisdictions; however, it does not give the right to practice.
Canada has two official languages: English and French. English is the most
common language spoken in most provinces and territories. French is most
spoken in Quebec, as well as parts of Ontario, New Brunswick (the only
officially bilingual province in Canada), and in French-speaking communities
across Canada.
Language Requirements:
All pharmacy regulatory authorities (PRAs) require IPGs to meet language proficiency
requirements. This can be accomplished by taking a language proficiency test and
achieving a minimum score in each of the categories for reading, writing, speaking
and listening, as indicated in the NAPRA Language Proficiency Requirements for
Licensure as a Pharmacist in Canada.
Candidates who do not speak English or French at an advanced level are strongly
advised to begin language training as soon as possible. Doing this will significantly
increase their chances of success in all the steps involved in obtaining a license.
English Language Testing
A pharmacist who has completed a pharmacy degree from an educational institution
outside of Canada or the United States must provide proof of having passed an
English language test. (ENGLISH PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE).
The results of candidates that have taken the language proficiency test through the
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) can be made available online
through a secure portal and do not have to be sent by mail to Pharmacists’ Gateway
Canada.
Application to the PRA:
Candidates must apply directly to the pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA) in the
province in which they want to be licensed in addition to applying to the PRA
through Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada. While PRAs have many similar requirements,
each jurisdiction may have variations or unique conditions for licensure. Candidates
are asked to review the application’s requirement of the jurisdiction where they wish
to be licensed to confirm the eligibility to apply.
Candidates are eligible to change their designated PRA up until they apply to the PRA
through Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada. Once an application is completed, it cannot
be changed. Candidates can add another PRA to their profiles if they already applied
to the designated PRA.
The application process to a PRA has two major components:
i. Application through the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada profile: this step will
give permission to the PRA to view the candidate’s profile, documents and
examination results.
ii. Application directly with the PRA: most PRAs also require candidates to
submit an application form and fee with additional required documentation
not already available in the candidate’s Gateway profile. For applications to
the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP), OCP will contact the candidate
once the step 1 has been processed.
Candidates who are already licensed in one Canadian province and wish to be
licensed in another Canadian jurisdiction must apply directly with the PRA as a
Canadian pharmacist. Candidates going through this process may wish to familiarize
themselves with the Mobility Agreement for Canadian Pharmacists available on the
National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA)’s website.
Structured Practical Training and Assessment:
Each pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA) requires candidates to complete a
structured practical training program and/or an assessment. Completing the training
program and assessment as indicated by the PRA ensures that international
pharmacy graduates will have experience in a pharmacy patient care setting and can
meet the national entry-to-practice competency standards. Each province has a
different requirement for the number of hours of structured practical training and
the assessment.
Candidates wishing to be licensed in British Columbia must complete their structured
practical training through the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme (CP3) offered
at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. The first 12 weeks of this bridging
program are conducted in classrooms followed by a session of 12.5 weeks of
practicum.
The Ontario College of Pharmacist (OCP) does not have structured practical training.
Instead, candidates wishing to be licensed in Ontario must successfully complete the
Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE). The PACE assessment criteria
measures are based on the NAPRA Entry-to-Practice Competencies for Pharmacists.
Candidates are encouraged to obtain experience before applying for PACE.
Jurisprudence Examinations:
Pharmacy regulatory authorities require pharmacists to understand Canada’s laws
regarding pharmacy practice, including dispensing drugs and the ethics of
professional practice. This area of pharmacy is known as jurisprudence. As part of
the licensing process, international pharmacy graduates must prove their knowledge
of Canadian federal and provincial drug and pharmacy practice laws, regulations and
the code of ethics for the province to which they are applying. The laws control
pharmacy practice and the production, distribution, advertising, sale and use of
drugs. The code of ethics sets the standards for professional conduct and helps guide
pharmacists in making difficult decisions on moral or ethical issues. This requirement
must be met by successfully completing the examination offered by the pharmacy
regulatory authority or the course “Pharmacie : loi et système de soins” offered at
the Université de Montréal.
The jurisprudence examination or course will focus on the candidates’ knowledge
and ability to apply laws, standards, and policies in the practice of pharmacy. The
rules control pharmacy practice and the production, distribution, advertising, sale
and use of drugs.
While each jurisdiction has its own examination, some of the topics included are:
i. Conditions of sale (National Drug Schedules, Food and Drug Act and its
regulations, prescription monitoring programs)
ii. Narcotics, controlled drugs and targeted substances (prescription
requirements, record-keeping, storage, security, loss and theft, and disposal)
iii. Dispensing (filling and labelling prescriptions, prescription authorization and
transfers, compounding, packaging, delivery, pricing and billing)
iv. Pharmacy operations (operation requirements, ownership, accreditation,
inspections, opening and closing, management, supervision and advertising)
v. Regulatory college structures, entry to practice and scope of practice (scope
of practice, registration requirements, controlled acts, and committees for
discipline, complaints and registration)
vi. Ethics, standards and responsibilities (standards of practice, documentation,
confidentiality, professional misconduct and reporting)
vii. Other legislation affecting pharmacy practice such as privacy laws
Licensure Registration:
License / registration is the last step in the licensure or registration process. The
pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA) will confirm that the candidate has successfully
completed all of the requirements to be licensed. Candidates will be charged a fee for
the license and they will need to renew their license and pay a fee each year. The
annual renewal fee may not be the same as the initial registration fee. Candidates will
also be required to purchase and maintain personal professional liability insurance
coverage, which helps pharmacists pay legal costs in the event of a lawsuit.
