Pharmacists' Gateway Canada for International Pharmacists

Welcome! Are you an internationally-educated pharmacist who wants to practise pharmacy in Canada? If so, this Gateway provides what you need to know about pharmacy in Canada, the requirements to obtain a licence to practise and some useful tools to help you decide whether you are ready to start. Follow the easy steps below to learn more and to start the process.

STEPS TO LICENSURE

You must follow many steps to become a licensed pharmacist in Canada. Click on the boxes below to learn more about each step.

Enrol in the GatewayEnrolling in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada allows you to begin your application for a licence. You will create an account and you will be given a candidate number. You will provide information such as your name, address and date of birth. With this account, you will be able to see any of your documents that are stored in the database. You can also track your progress throughout the licensing process. Before you enrol, you should understand all of the steps and requirements.

Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (PRAs) across Canada support that enrolment in the Gateway be the first step in the licensure process. If you wish to practise in Québec, the enrolment is optional, but you may want to consider its advantages and try the self-assessment tools. It is strongly recommended that you use the self-assessment tools before enrolling in the Gateway. These tools will help you to understand the Canadian licensing process and the realities of the work environment. They will also help you to identify areas of pharmacy where you may need more education or experience. These tools will assist you in determining your readiness to pursue any steps in the process.

Academic Qualifications and Knowledge Assessment

The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) will assess your qualifications and competence for entry-to-practice through a series of evaluations: a Document Evaluation, an Evaluating Examination and a Qualifying Examination in that order. The process is different for candidates educated in the United States if they received their pharmacy degree from a program that has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE.) Candidates applying to the province of Québec will have their education and training assessed through an in-depth file review to determine if additional training is required.

Document Evaluation

Your personal identification documents, pharmacy degree, educational transcripts and licensure statements will be evaluated by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC.) If your educational credentials and licensure statements are acceptable, you will be eligible to write the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination.

Qualifying Examination

The Qualifying Examination will determine if your knowledge, skills and abilities are suitable for practising pharmacy safely and effectively in an “entry level" position.This exam has two components; Part I is a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) format and consists of two consecutive half-day sittings. Part II of the Qualifying Exam is presented in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). This part of the exam consists of a series of interactive and non-interactive “stations” simulating common and/or critical practical situations in pharmacy practice. The scenarios often include interactions with actors portraying simulated patients, caregivers and health professionals and may involve identifying and solving patient’s drug-therapy problems, communicating effectively, and working with other health professionals.

Training and Education Equivalency

In Québec, the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec (OPQ) will evaluate your educational transcripts including the course descriptions and professional certifications. They will determine whether your education and training meets the Québec requirements. The OPQ may decide that you need additional training to qualify for a licence. The process is different for candidates from France.

Apply to a Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA)

You must formally apply to the Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA) in the province or territory in which you want to work. While PRAs have many similar requirements, each jurisdiction may have variations or unique conditions for licensure.

Structured Practical Training (SPT)Each Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA) requires that candidates complete a training program in a licensed pharmacy. This ensures that IPGs will have experience in a pharmacy patient care setting that meets the national entry-to-practice competency standards. Each province has a different requirement for the number of hours of structured practical training you will need to complete.

License RegistrationThis is the last step in the licensure or registration process. The Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA) will confirm that you have successfully completed all of the requirements to be licensed. You will be charged a fee for your licence and you will need to renew your licence and pay a fee each year. The yearly renewal fee may not be the same as the initial registration fee. You will also need to purchase and maintain personal professional liability insurance coverage, which helps pharmacist pay legal costs in the event of a lawsuit.

CloseLanguageProficiencyThe ability to speak, understand, read and write in English or French will be extremely important and will affect your success in the licensure process. The Provincial Regulatory Authorities have an obligation to ensure that a pharmacist’s language skills are at an acceptable level for Canadian practice. Poor language and communication skills may lead to confusion, frustration and misunderstandings and could place patients at risk. As you prepare to become a pharmacist in Canada, it is important to ensure that your language skills are satisfactory. Consider enrolling in classes to improve your English or French.

Bridging ProgramPharmacy ‘Bridging Programs’ were developed to assist International Pharmacy Graduates (IPGs) meet Canadian practice standards. Enrolling in a bridging program can help improve your skills and greatly increase your chances of success.

JurisprudenceYou must prove your knowledge of Canadian federal and provincial drug and pharmacy practice laws, regulations and the code of ethics for the province to which you 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.

LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

No matter which province or territory you wish to work in, you must meet requirements set by the individual provincial and territorial licensing bodies across Canada known as Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (PRAs).

While Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (PRAs) have many similar requirements, each jurisdiction may have variations or unique conditions for licensure.

To learn more about each of the provincial and territorial requirements for licensure, click on the area of the country you would like to explore. It should be noted that the information in this table is only a summary. The official position of each Pharmacy Regulatory Authority is defined in their governing legislation.

LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

Alberta College of Pharmacists

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 811