Licensing / Registration

Step 1: Enrol in the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) Pharmacists’ Gateway. Enrolling 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 enroll, you should understand all of the steps and requirements.

Step 2: Register with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) for credential evaluation. All internationally educated pharmacy graduates must have their qualifications assessed through a series of evaluations. 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.

Step 3: Successfully challenge the PEBC Evaluation Examination. This exam evaluates whether your pharmacy education is comparable to that of Canadian pharmacy graduates. It will test your knowledge about the different areas of pharmacy that are learned in Canadian programs. You must pass the Evaluating Examination to be eligible to write the Qualifying Examination (Part I and Part II).

Step 4: Successfully challenge the PEBC 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.

Step 5: Complete English Language Proficiency Requirements. Applicants who have received a university degree from a Canadian or American program accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) or the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) will not be required to complete an English language proficiency exam. All other applicants will be required to complete and pass one of the approved English language proficiency exams.

Step 6: Pre-register with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (CPBC). Allow up to 20 business days for the application to be processed.

Step 7: Successful completion of the Jurisprudence Examination. The Jurisprudence Examination is meant to assess an applicant’s understanding of and capacity to interpret and apply all legislation that influences present pharmacy practice in BC.

Step 8: Successful completion of the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme (CP3). The CPBC requires that candidates complete a training program in a licensed pharmacy. This ensures that international pharmacy graduates will have experience in a pharmacy patient care setting that meets the national entry-to-practice competency standards. Before completing this program, you must have completed the language proficiency component (if required). You must also be able to legally work in Canada.

Step 9: Completion of the Application for Full Pharmacist Registration. After completing all of the above steps, you are required to submit the final application to complete your pharmacy registration. Allow up to five business days for processing.
 

Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme (CP3) 

The College of Pharmacists of BC has joined with the University of British Columbia (UBC) to offer the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme (CP3), which is an non-compulsory educational program intended to aid international pharmacy graduates in preparation for pharmacy practice in BC. More information about the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme is on UBC’s Continuing Pharmacy Professional Development Division website at www.ubc.ca

In accordance with the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), if you are currently a registered and practising pharmacist in good standing from another province or territory, you are eligible to register in British Columbia. The CFTA permits your present qualifications as a pharmacist in Canada to be recognized when registering in British Columbia so you are not obligated to complete any further assessments for registration. For the latest information please go to www.bcpharmacists.org 

Step 1: Pre-registration with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. Allow up to 20 business days for the application to be processed.

Step 2: Review the British Columbia Pharmacy Practice Manual. This manual can be found on the College’s website. You will need to become familiar with it in order to complete part of the preregistration application.
 
Step 3: Completion of the Application for Full Pharmacist Registration. After completing all of the steps, you are required to submit the final application to complete your pharmacy registration. Allow up to five business days for processing.

If you are a registered pharmacist in the US or have been educated there, you will need to follow the steps below to become a registered pharmacist in British Columbia. All U.S. pharmacists who obtained their pharmacy degree after August 20, 2014 must now register first through the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA), the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada. All U.S. pharmacists who obtained their pharmacy degree before August 20, 2014 may proceed to pre-register with the College.

For U.S. Pharmacists with degree obtained after August 20, 2014. 

Step 1: Enrol in the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) Pharmacists’ Gateway. Enrolling 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.

Step 2: Pre-registration with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. Allow up to 20 business days for the application to be processed. You must provide your IPG Gateway Candidate Account number at time of application.

Step 3: Successful Completion of Jurisprudence Examination. The Jurisprudence Examination is meant to assess an applicant’s understanding of and capacity to interpret and apply all legislation that influences present pharmacy practice in BC.

Step 4: Successfully challenge the PEBC 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.

Step 5: If you did not graduate from a Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) accredited pharmacy program in the United States, you will be obliged to complete an English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement. (See language requirement table)
 
Step 6: If you have not completed 1,000 hours of pharmacy practice over the span of three years as a pharmacist in the United States you will be required to complete the Structured Practical Training (SPT) program. To fulfill the requirements of the College’s SPT program, you are required to enrol in the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme (CP3) through the University of British Columbia-Continuing Pharmacy Professional Development (UBC-CPPD) department. If you have experience as a registered pharmacist in the U.S., you must complete the Employment Certification form and email or fax it to the CPBC to determine the number of hours of SPT you must complete. Do not register for the CP3 programme until you have been notified of this.

Step 7: Completion of the Application for Full Pharmacist Registration. After completing all the steps, you are required to submit the final application to complete your pharmacy registration. Please allow up to five business days for processing.

For U.S. Pharmacists with degree obtained before August 20, 2014. 

Step 1: Pre-registration with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. Allow up to 20 business days for the application to be processed. You must provide a copy of a valid work permit.

Step 2: Successful Completion of Jurisprudence Examination. The Jurisprudence Examination is meant to assess an applicant’s understanding of and capacity to interpret and apply all legislation that influences present pharmacy practice in BC.

Step 3: Successfully challenge the PEBC 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.

Step 4: If you did not graduate from a Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) accredited pharmacy program in the United States, you will be obliged to complete an English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement. (see language requirement table)

Step 5: If you have not completed 1,000 hours of pharmacy practice over the span of three years as a pharmacist in the United States or Canada, you will be required to complete an in-service apprenticeship period known as the Structured Practical Training (SPT) program. To fulfill the requirements of the College’s SPT program, you are required to enrol in the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme (CP3) through the University of British Columbia-Continuing Pharmacy Professional Development

(UBC-CPPD). If you have experience as a registered pharmacist in the U.S., you must complete the Employment Certification form and email or fax it to the CPBC to determine the number of hours of SPT you must complete. Do not register for the CP3 programme until you have been notified of this.

Step 6: Completion of the Application for Full Pharmacist Registration. After completing all the steps, you are required to submit the final application to complete your pharmacy registration. Please allow up to five business days for processing.

Step 1: Pre-register with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. Allow up to 20 business days for the application to be processed. You may submit your application during your final year, or after you have graduated.

Step 2: Successful Completion of Jurisprudence Examination. The Jurisprudence Examination is meant to assess an applicant’s understanding of and capacity to interpret and apply all legislation that influences present pharmacy practice in BC.

Step 3: Successful Completion of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada Qualifying Exam – Part I and II

Step 4: Completion of the Application for Full Pharmacist Registration. After completing all the steps, you are required to submit the final application to complete your pharmacy registration. Allow up to five business days for processing.