LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Canada has two official languages, English and French. English is the most common language spoken in most provinces and territories. French is most commonly spoken in Québec, but is also spoken in parts of Ontario, Eastern Canada and in French-speaking communities in the rest of the country.

One of the biggest challenges faced by International Pharmacy Graduates (IPGs), when they come to Canada, is a language barrier. Pharmacists rely on their ability to communicate effectively with patients, staff and other health professionals. A major role of a Canadian pharmacist involves counselling patients and their family members. People rely on pharmacists to provide expert advice and respond to questions about medications and health concerns.

Many tasks in the pharmacy also require a lot of verbal communications, as well as reading and writing. Pharmacists must often review drug information, complete forms and correspond with other health professionals, pharmacy managers or suppliers. A considerable amount of pharmacists' practice involves educating patients and communicating with other members of the health care team in writing and/or verbally.

All of the Provincial and Territorial Regulatory Authorities require IPGs to take a language proficiency test and achieve a minimum score in each of the categories for reading, writing, speaking and understanding. Not all language test results are accepted in all provinces and territories. Please verify the language tests accepted in your province or territory of choice before taking any of the language proficiency tests.

Although these language tests can indicate a basic knowledge of English or French, pharmacists must be able to communicate and understand the language at a much more advanced level that includes many technical components associated with being trained as a pharmacist and health care professional.

If you do not speak English or French at an advanced level, it is strongly recommended that you begin language training as soon as possible. This will greatly increase your chances for success in all the steps involved in obtaining a licence.

PRACTICE ENVIRONMENTS

Pharmacists play a critical role in Canada’s health care system and are one of many professions which make up our country’s health care system.

This section will provide information on Canada’s health care system, the pharmacist’s role, and the roles of pharmacy technicians and assistants.

You will also learn about pharmacists’ scopes of practice—the services pharmacists are legally allowed to provide—in specific provinces and territories.

The practice of pharmacy is also evolving and expanding and pharmacists are taking on more responsibilities and activities than ever before. Pharmacists in Canada now perform activities such as prescribing medications, adapting prescriptions or providing injections according to the rules in their province or territory.

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 915