If you’re looking to build your career, Canada is a fertile state that offers a myriad of opportunities to a large class of people, no matter their color or nationality. If you’re a pharmacist, it’s better. Healthcare workers are in high demand, and there is a well-structured procedure for becoming a registered pharmacist. This article offers a comprehensive guide to the processes involved in becoming a registered pharmacist in Canada, including tricks to navigate the PEBC exam.
What is PEBC?
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) is the national certification body for the profession of pharmacy in Canada. It applies to all provinces of Canada except Quebec, which follows a different selection and licensing process. This PEBC exam consists of two parts that assess the knowledge and skills expected of an entry-level pharmacist. Each session consists of 150 questions, with 225 minutes per session. The exam is offered twice a year.
The exam tests your competency in areas laid out by the syllabus, as well as your ability to solve problems. Whoever intends to take the exam is categorized into either Canadian Graduates, American Graduates, or Overseas Graduates. This means that foreigners and international students are allowed to take the exam. Each category of students pays a different fee to the examining board. From whatever category, the students must pass this exam before becoming licensed pharmacists.
The PEBC Process
Step One: NAPRA Registration
The initial step is to sign up for NAPRA’s (National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities) Pharmacists Gateway Canada. This is required for all International Pharmacy Graduates (IPGs). Here, too, Québec is an exception. Licensure in Quebec does not need enrollment in the Gateway. In other provinces, without enrolling, you cannot go to the next steps. Enrolling in the Gateway grants you a national ID number, which is required in the following phases.
Step Two: PEBC Application
The next step is to apply to the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC). This is where the relevance of the national ID number becomes apparent. During the various stages of examination undertaken by the PEBC, the results are made available to the authorities via a repository organized through this ID number.
Step Three: Examination
Here, there are three stages:
- Document Evaluation: The PEBC will request that candidates present documentation that will be assessed and, if they are considered suitable, allow them to proceed to the next level.
Licensure requires at least a four-year undergraduate degree in pharmacy. Another point to consider is that the next stage must be completed within five years of the document evaluation, after which the results would be considered expired.
- Evaluating Examination: After you’ve passed the document evaluation stage, your skills in a variety of disciplines will be assessed. The subjects include biological sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy practice, and behavioral, social, and administrative pharmacy sciences.
This stage allows for a maximum of three attempts. A fourth try will be granted after submitting a petition and presenting documentation of having been and successfully completed a bridging program.
- Qualifying Examination: The qualifying test is the third and final stage of the PEBC certification procedure. The exam itself is broken into two parts. The first section is MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) based. The test can be taken online or offline. The second component is an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Candidates are placed in simulated scenarios, and their abilities are tested. As a result, this must be completed in person (with no online mode).
Each portion of the examination has a maximum of three attempts. You can attempt the pieces in any order you like. You don’t have to finish part 1 to proceed to part 2. However if you have failed Part 2 once, you will have to pass Part 1 to take the Part 2 examination again.
The examination has no scores. In your profile, it will only be marked as passed or failed. Most Canadian provinces require the PEBC Certificate of Qualification before obtaining a license. This does not imply that you can practice once you have completed the PEBC certification process.
In addition to submitting an application through Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada, candidates must apply directly to the PRA (Pharmacy Regulatory Authority) in the province where they desire to be licensed.
- Practical Experience: In certain provinces, you may be required to complete a pharmacy residency program or internship and accumulate about 1,000 hours of practice experience. It is called an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Students will be assessed in practical areas such as patient interviewing and assessment, physical diagnosis, medication management and prescribing, communication and counseling, etc.
Step Four: Licensure
The final item is the licensure itself. The PRA (Pharmacy Regulatory Authority) will confirm that the candidate has met all of the licensing requirements. And, if they have, a price will be imposed for the license, which must be renewed every year. Those who want to practice must also obtain and maintain personal professional liability insurance, which helps pharmacists pay legal fees in the event of a lawsuit.
In Canada, getting licensed as a pharmacist takes an average of 26 months. However, it ultimately boils down to the person in particular.
Is Language A Factor?
There are two official languages in Canada: English and French. English is the most widely spoken language in most provinces and territories. French is most commonly spoken in Quebec, as well as sections of Ontario and New Brunswick (Canada’s only officially bilingual province), and in French-speaking communities around the country. The language barrier is one of the most significant problems that International Pharmacy Graduates (IPGs) face when they arrive in Canada.
Pharmacists should possess the ability to communicate successfully with patients, staff, and other healthcare providers. A crucial responsibility of a Canadian pharmacist is to counsel patients and their families. Patients rely on healthcare workers to offer expert advice and answer inquiries about drugs and health issues. Therefore, all International Pharmacy Graduates (IPGs) must be fluent in English, French, or both.
All Pharmacy Regulatory Bodies (PRAs) require IPGs to demonstrate language proficiency. This is accomplished by taking a language proficiency test and receiving a minimum score in each of the reading, writing, speaking, and listening categories as specified in the NAPRA Language Proficiency Requirements for Pharmacist Licensure in Canada or by meeting non-objective evidence of language proficiency as determined by the individual PRA.
Conclusion
Passing the PEBC examination is an important step on your path to becoming a licensed pharmacist in Canada. With dedication and hard work, you can sail through this examination and begin a rewarding career in pharmacy. Besides the fulfillment it brings, it also affords you the opportunity to benefit patients and communities around the country. Don’t forget that you’ll find useful resources on QBank as you take on the PEBC exams. Good luck!