Clinical Pharmacists
Governing Bodies
College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (CPBC): The regulatory body for pharmacy in the province of BC responsible for registering pharmacists and licensing pharmacies.
Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC): The national certification body for the profession of pharmacy in Canada. Responsible for assessing the qualifications and competence of pharmacists seeking licensure in Canadian provinces and territories.
National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA): A national body that collaborates with pharmacy regulatory authorities across Canada to harmonize standards and practices across Canada.
Educational and Licensing Requirements
To practice in British Columbia, pharmacists must obtain licensure with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (CPBC).
A hospital pharmacist must hold a Bachelor or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited institution and complete an accredited Hospital Pharmacy Residency Program.
New Pathway For Eligible International Pharmacy Graduates
Effective May 13, 2025, The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) has introduced a streamlined pathway that exempts eligible international pharmacy graduates from the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination.
All international candidates will still need to complete PEBC’s Document Evaluation and provide confirmation of their acceptance to the Qualifying Examination before starting the CPBC registration process.
Who is Eligible?
After completing PEBC’s Document Evaluation process, candidates may be exempt from the Evaluating Examination if they meet one of the following pathways:
Pathway 1:
- Graduates from internationally accredited pharmacy programs (CCAPP or ACPE).
Pathway 2:
- Graduates from approved countries: Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, UK;
- Or graduates from other (not approved) countries who:
- In the past 3 years, held a full, unrestricted pharmacist license, and
- Practised for at least 1 year in direct patient care in one of the approved countries listed above, or the US.
If you meet these criteria, you may be eligible for direct admission to the PEBC Qualifying Examination Part I (MCQ), bypassing the Evaluating Examination. To determine your eligibility for one of these pathways, PEBC has set up an eligibility survey.
