Candidates are asked to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and designate the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP).
Enrolment in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (the Gateway) is a mandatory first step in the process to become a licensed pharmacist in Canada except in the province of Quebec. It provides a national ID number, which is required to apply to the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) for Document Evaluation and creates a profile where candidates can track their progress using a licensure model and becomes a document repository where the pharmacy regulatory authorities (PRAs) can access information uploaded by PEBC and the candidates’ language test report. International pharmacy graduates wishing to start the enrolment process are invited to visit the candidate portal. This information can only be viewed by the candidate, PEBC, the PRA (once the candidate applies to them) and NAPRA administrators as appropriate.
PEBC Document Evaluation
After enrolling in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and receiving a national ID number, international pharmacy graduates (IPGs) must register directly with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) to have their documents evaluated. Timing: It will take up to eight weeks (two months) for PEBC to complete the Document Evaluation from the date all required documentation has been received. PEBC has specific instructions for the submission of each required document. To avoid delays in starting the Document Evaluation, IPGs should familiarize themselves with the requirements. More details regarding the submission of each document can be found on the PEBC website.
PEBC Evaluating Examination
Candidates whose documents are favourably evaluated by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) are eligible to take the PEBC Evaluating Examination. The examination is offered twice a year: once in the winter and once in the summer. Timing: The application deadline is typically four months before the examination date. PEBC will post the examination results three weeks after the examination date. Due to the timing of the examination, each additional attempt to pass this examination will add approximately six months to the licensure process. More details on the application process are available on the PEBC website.
PEBC Qualifying Examination
MCQ =
$845*
OSCE =
$1,895*
Candidates who successfully pass the PEBC Evaluating Examination are eligible to apply for the PEBC Qualifying Examination Part I & II. The examinations are offered twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. Candidates must pass the PEBC Qualifying Examination Part I (MCQ), or Part II (OSCE), or successfully completed the CCPP program before applying to the Alberta College of Pharmacy. PEBC Qualifying Examination results must be current, within 3 years, at the time of application to be a provisional pharmacist (intern).
Timing: The application deadline is typically four to five months before the examination date. The PEBC will post the examination results six weeks after the examination date. Due to the timing of the examination, each additional attempt to pass this examination will add approximately six months to the licensure process.
English Language Proficiency Requirement
Language proficiency is a requirement for licensure in all provinces in Canada.
English language proficiency must be demonstrated prior to applying to the Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) for a provisional licence (intern). Candidates who meet the criteria to submit their education as evidence of language proficiency are not required to submit language proficiency test results.
Language proficiency test results must be current within two (2) years. Candidates should note that tests accepted and cut scores for:
• tests taken on or before August 31, 2024, will be assessed under the requirements of the previous policy (2014); and
• tests taken starting September 1, 2024, will need to meet the requirements of the new policy (2024).
Language test results from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) can be submitted by email at gatewayinfo@napra.ca. The Test Report Form (TRF) number will be used to confirm the validity of the language test results. Candidates who took the language test from the Occupational English Test (OET) must submit their results letter by email at gatewayinfo@napra.ca. Candidates are also asked to ensure that NAPRA has permission to view their results on our OET verifier account. Our organization is listed as “National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities – NAPRA”. This is required to confirm the validity of the language test results. Language test results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL-iBT) will be accepted if the test was taken on or before August 31, 2024. Results can be submitted by email and candidates are asked to ensure that the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) is the Destination Institution (DI). It is required to confirm the validity of a language test results. More details on this requirement are available on the Language Requirements page. Fees and timing will differ from one language test provider to another.