If you are or were a registered pharmacist in the United States, here are the steps involved in becoming licensed in BC.
Enrolment in NAPRA’s Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada
Enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada. Your account serves as a document repository and allows candidates to track their progress through the licensing process.
*All U.S. pharmacists who obtained their pharmacy degree after August 20, 2014 must 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.
Document Evaluation with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC)
After enrolling in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada, you must register directly with PEBC to complete your document evaluation. PEBC will review your education credentials to ensure they are comparable to a Canadian-accredited pharmacy program.
*If you did not graduate from a pharmacy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP), you may also be required to write the PEBC Evaluating Exam prior to being eligible for the PEBC Qualifying Exam.
English Language Proficiency (ELP)
Successful completion of an ELP assessment is a requirement for pharmacists who did not graduate from a pharmacy program in Canada or the U.S. that has been accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) or the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
Pre-register with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (CPBC)
Submit the pre-registration application.
Structured Practical Training
U.S. graduates with less than 1000 hours of patient-care hours in the last three years in the United States must complete the Structured Practical Training (SPT) Program. This requirement can only be met through the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme (CP3).
Complete the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Examination
The Qualifying Exam will determine if your knowledge, skills and abilities are suitable for practising pharmacy safely and effectively in an entry level position. The exam has two components; Part I is a Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) format and Part II is presented in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Jurisprudence Examination
Candidates who have applied to the CPBC are eligible to take the Jurisprudence Examination. The exam tests your understanding of the laws and rules that affect how pharmacy is practised in BC.
Licensure
Candidates who have completed all the licensure requirements may apply for a license in BC. Application process details, form and checklist are available on the CPBC website.
