How to Become a Pharmacist in Canada
Canadian candidates
In order to become a licensed pharmacist in Canada, you need:
- A doctor of pharmacy degree from one of 11 Canadian universities
- To pass a national board examination through the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) (except Québec)
- Practical experience through an apprenticeship/internship program
- Fluency in English or French
The profession of pharmacy is regulated on a provincial and territorial level. The regulatory authorities are directly responsible for granting pharmacist licenses, assessing the competency of pharmacists and ensuring public safety. For a detailed look at the specific provincial licensing requirements in every province, visit the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) website.
International Pharmacy Graduates
International Pharmacy Graduates (IPGs) are an important part of the profession of pharmacy in Canada. The major steps and milestones to becoming a pharmacist in Canada are shown below, however, specific processes and requirements vary by province.
Enrolment in NAPRA’s Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (Gateway) is a mandatory first step towards licensure in Canada for IPGs in most provinces, except Québec and IPGs applying to Nova Scotia’s streamlined licensure pathway. The Gateway provides tools, educational resources and information for IPGs to better understand and navigate the Canadian licensure process in every province. It is also a confidential national document repository accessible to the candidate, the PEBC and the pharmacy regulatory authority.
International Pharmacy Graduate Mentorship and Integration Project
The process to become a pharmacist in Canada after earning a pharmacy degree in another country can be challenging. CPhA has launched a new program, the International Pharmacy Graduate Mentorship and Integration Project (IPGMI) to help support unlicensed IPGs with mentorship, practical experience and other key integration supports to increase their chances of success at licensure.
CPS Full Access and the PEBC Exams
CPhA’s drug and therapeutic products are identified under Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada's (PEBC) reference listings as resources to help prepare for the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination, Pharmacist Qualifying Exam Part I and may be provided as references in stations in Part II of the exam.
CPS Full Access combines all the content from our online drug and therapeutic products into one convenient resource along with other valuable external references.
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