Information for foreign-trained pharmacists
(3131) Verified: 2009 10 15
Information on requirements to practise
The profession of pharmacist is regulated in Canada. This means that it is illegal to practise the profession or use the title of pharmacist without being licensed as a full member in a provincial or territorial regulatory body.
The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) is the national voluntary association of provincial and territorial pharmacy regulatory bodies as well as the Canadian Forces Pharmacy Services.
For all Canadian territories and provinces except Quebec, NAPRA’s National Model Licensing Program outlines the entry to practice requirements for candidates seeking licensure through a provincial/territorial pharmacy regulatory body. For requirements to practise in Quebec, contact the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec (see list below).
The provincial/territorial regulatory bodies are responsible for setting the standards for entry into the profession and for issuing licences to those who meet established standards of qualifications and practice. Requirements to practise may vary from province to province. Therefore, once you know where you will settle and work, you should consult NAPRA’s summary of initial licensure requirements or contact the appropriate regulatory body (see list below) for information on licensing procedures.
Except for Quebec, requirements for licensing include successful completion of the qualifying examination administered by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC). For more information, contact the PEBC:
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC)
- 717 Church Street
- Toronto ON M4W 2M4 Canada
- Phone : 416-979-2431
- Fax : 416-599-9244
- Email : pebcinfo@pebc.ca
- http://www.pebc.ca/
Information on assessment of qualifications
Before arriving in Canada, foreign-trained pharmacists can obtain a review of their credentials to determine their eligibility to write the PEBC qualifying exam. This review does not guarantee recognition of your credentials for the purposes of employment or licensure in Canada. In Quebec, the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec (see below) handles the assessment of foreign qualifications.
You can also consult our Fact Sheet No. 2, "Assessment and recognition of credentials for the purpose of employment in Canada."
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources Development Canada regarding:
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
List of regulatory bodies
Alberta
- Alberta College of Pharmacists (ACP)
- Suite 1200, 10303 Jasper Ave NW
- Edmonton AB T5J 3N6 Canada
- Phone : 780-990-0321
- Phone (alternate): 1-877-227-3838
- Fax : 780-990-0328
- Email : acpinfo@pharmacists.ab.ca
- http://pharmacists.ab.ca/
British Columbia
- College of Pharmacists of British Columbia (COPBC)
- 200-1765 West 8th Avenue
- Vancouver BC V6J 5C6 Canada
- Phone : 604-733-2440
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-663-1940
- Fax : 604-733-2493
- Fax (alternate): 1-800-377-8129
- Email : info@bcpharmacists.org
- http://www.bcpharmacists.org/
Manitoba
- Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association (MPhA)
- 200 Tache Avenue
- Winnipeg MB R2H 1A7 Canada
- Phone : 204-233-1411
- Fax : 204-237-3468
- Email : info@mpha.mb.ca
- http://napra.ca/pages/Manitoba/
New Brunswick
- New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society (NBPhS)
- 373-B Urquhart Avenue
- Moncton NB E1H 2R4 Canada
- Phone : 506-857-8957
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-463-4434
- Fax : 506-857-8838
- Email : info@nbpharmacists.ca
- http://www.nbpharmacists.ca/
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador Pharmacy Board (NLPB)
- Apothecary Hall
488 Water St.- St. John's NL A1E 1B3 Canada
- Phone : 709-753-5877
- Phone (alternate): 1 877 453-5877
- Fax : 709-753-8615
- Email : vharvey@nlpb.ca
- http://www.nlpb.ca
Northwest Territories
- Government of the Northwest Territories
- Registrar, Dept. of Health and Social Services
Health Professional Licensing
P.O. Box 1320- Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Canada
- Phone : 867-920-8058
- Fax : 867-873-0484
- Email : jeannette_hall@gov.nt.ca
- http://napra.ca/pages/NWT/
Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP)
- 1559 Brunswick Street, Suite 200
- Halifax NS B3J 2G1 Canada
- Phone : 902-422-8528
- Fax : 902-422-0885
- Email : info@nspharmacists.ca
- http://www.nspharmacists.ca/
Ontario
- Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP)
- 483 Huron Street
- Toronto ON M5R 2R4 Canada
- Phone : 416-962-4861
- Phone (alternate): 1 800 220-1921
- Fax : 416-847-8200
- Email : ocpclientservices@ocpinfo.com
- http://www.ocpinfo.com/
Prince Edward Island
- Prince Edward Island Pharmacy Board (PEIPB)
- P.O. Box 89
- Crapaud PE C0A 1J0 Canada
- Phone : 902-658-2780
- Fax : 902-658-2189
- Email : peipharm@pei.aibn.com
- http://napra.ca/pages/PEI/
Quebec
- Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec (OPQ)
- 266, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Bureau 301
- Montréal QC H2Y 1T6 Canada
- Phone : 514-284-9588
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-363-0324
- Fax : 514-284-3420
- Email : ordrepharm@opq.org
- http://www.opq.org/fr/
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists (SCP)
- 4010 Pasqua Street, Suite 700
- Regina SK S4S 7B9 Canada
- Phone : 306-584-2292
- Fax : 306-584-9695
- Email : info@saskpharm.ca
- http://napra.ca/pages/Saskatchewan/
Yukon
- Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut
- P.O. Box 2703, (C-5)
- Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada
- Phone : 867-667-5111
- Fax : 867-667-3609
- Email : consumer@gov.yk.ca
- http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/consumer/pl.html