How to Become a Pharmacist in Canada: My Timeline
Bonjour Bella!
One year and 7 months. That’s how long it took for me to get my license to practice as a pharmacist in Manitoba, Canada from the first exam, which is the Pharmacist Evaluating Exam. But of course there was a whole process before I got to take that first exam.
As a brief overview, here is my timeline and the costs (after taxes) involved:
September 1, 2016 – Enrolment to NAPRA through Pharmacist Gateway Canada – $367.25
December 1, 2016 – Applied for Document Evaluation online through the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada – $550
February 21, 2017 – Applied for Summer 2017 Pharmacist Evaluating Exam – $535
July 2017 – took EE & passed
July 29, 2017 – Applied for Pharmacist Qualifying Exam Part 1 – MCQ – $675
November 2017 – took MCQ & passed
January 16, 2018 – Applied for Pharmacist Qualifying Exam – Part 2 – OSCE – $1750
May 2018 – took OSCE & passed
July 5 & 7, 2018 – took IELTS – Academic module (click here for tips) – $252.42
August 2018 – Applied for Internship to the College of Pharmacists Manitoba – $722.67
(Other costs of requirements for application for internship: Winnipeg Police Check – $49.50, Child & Adult Abuse Registry Checks – $40)
September 2018 to January 2019 – 600 hours internship (Manitoba)
November 22, 2018 – Jurisprudence Exam – $185.72
January 2019 – Applied for Pharmacist License – $1012.06
February 12, 2019 – REGISTERED PHARMACIST
TOTAL: $6,139.62
Other costs not listed:
- visa applications, airline tickets, accommodations and other related expenses to take the exams in Canada (if you’re living outside of Canada)
- costs related to obtaining documents from the University of the Philippines Manila and Professional Regulation Commission
- mailing costs of applications
- passport photos
- Notary Public
- review materials (the ones I bought: Comprehensive Pharmacy Review for NAPLEX by Shargel – $66.31, Compendium of Therapeutic Choices – $216.83, RxFiles – $93.45, CTMA – $258.51)
- Professional Liability Insurance (around $100+ per year depending on where you live and type of insurance)
All currencies are in CAD and prices may have changed already through the years. Check the websites posted above for current rates of exams and other applications.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to post a comment below or send me a message.
xoxo,
Jean Monique
16 Comments
Mikey Mendoza
Hello Maam Jean, I would like to ask if when you were doing these steps were you already a resident of Canada? Thanks!
jeanmonique
Hi Mikey! Yes, I started the NAPRA / PEBC process while in Canada already.
Lester Laiz
Hi Ms. Jean,
First of all, let me thank you for guiding many Filipino pharmacists with the detailed steps on how to become a registered pharmacist in Canada. I just would like to ask if you can list down the references you studied prior to taking the evaluating exam? I’ve watched your livestreams in youtube pero medyo confused ako sa textbooks and preparation materials na ginamit nyo po. And what’s the difficulty of the exam from 1 to 5, 5 being the highest?
Thanks again!
jeanmonique
Hi Lester,
Apologies for the late reply. Here are the references I used for the evaluating exam:
CTC 7
Review course materials
Shargel CPR
Health Canada / NAPRA / and other online sources like College of Pharmacy websites for different provinces
As for difficulty of exams, MCQ is the hardest, then EE, then OSCE.
Just take note that exams in Canada are way harder than the licensure exam in the Philippines. So you have to really prepare for it.
Good luck!
idda jimenez
Hi miss Jean. My sister is a graduate of BS Pharmacy and currently employed as hospital pharmacistin the Philippines.. May i ask in your timeline, in which step na po required na dapat nasa Canada na? and what kind of Visa ang iaaply? its still required for her to study there after passing this steps? and lastly, is this pathway is better than doing the student visa? sorry medyo confusing din kasi.. im planning to sponsor her expenses kasi. hoping for your reply. Thanks, and Godbless!
jeanmonique
Hi Idda!
You need to be in Canada to do the OSCE. The document evaluation, evaluating exam, and MCQ exam can be done overseas. But check with PEBC as rules are always changing. They allowed remote proctoring for international venues during the pandemic. I’m not sure how long they will allow that for. To do the exams here, you need to have at least a tourist visa. However, to do the internship here, you would need to be a permanent resident, a citizen, or have a work visa. Bridging program is not a requirement in all provinces. So it would really depend on which province she will be applying at. The permanent resident visa pathway is the cheapest but can takes longer. But at least you already would a permanent residency. Student visa pathway is costly and you would need to convert to a work visa, then a permanent resident visa later on. But it is the fastest if you want to get to Canada right away.
That is very generous of you to sponsor her expenses. She’s blessed to have you!
God bless you too!
Becca
Hi Ms. Jean, can we have the examination online while here in the Philippines? Thank you!
jeanmonique
Hi Becca! You can do up to MCQ in the Philippines due to remote proctoring. However, please check PEBC website if they still allow it and for what particular exams. Thanks!
Victoria
I have watched your vlog and I want to become a pharmacist in Manitoba and on the pharmacist gateway site they mentioned a practical does it mean we have to enroll into a problem like in British Columbia.
jeanmonique
Hi Victoria! I think what you read was the Structured Practical Training which is also known as an internship. Bridging Program is not mandatory in Manitoba so you don’t need to enroll in any program.
Raya Lorraine Boldero
Hi! I saw your youtube vlog on how to be a pharmacist in Canada. I am also a pharmacy technician in SG and is it possible na my entry in Canada will be as PT and not as pharmacist? And if this is the case, can I have my ECA by another company and not through PEBC? Hoping for your reply. Thanks.
jeanmonique
Hi Raya! Thanks for watching my video and reading my blog. ? yes, my main occupation while applying for immigration was as a PT. Although that time PTs are not required to be registered / licensed yet. ECA through PEBC is only for those whom Pharmacist would be the primary occupation for their application to immigrate to Canada.
ANA
Hi Ms. Jean! I have a question lang po. What if I’m gonna take the student pathway to Canada and study phartech? May easier way po ba to apply as a pharmacist like a bridging program? Or I still need to take those exams one way or another? What can you suggest po na convenient way. I’m planning on residing near Ontario.
jeanmonique
Hi! You will have to take all the PEBC exams, regardless. Even the graduates here they take the Qualifying Exams. Bridging program can be a requirement in some provinces so that’s an extra cost.
Mohammed Mazher
Hello po Maam Jean! Im a new follower and Id just like to ask about how to work as a Pharmacist Assistant in Canada? Did they recently change the requirements and added that PAs should take a 10 months course?
Thank you so much for the reply!
jeanmonique
Hello Mohammed! Pharmacy Assistant is an entry-level job in Canada. You don’t need to attend a special course, although highly recommended if someone has no background in pharmacy. Take care!