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international pharmacy graduates (IPG)
If you obtained your pharmacy degree outside of Canada or the United States, here are the steps to register with the College:
Note: Steps 4, 5 and 6 can be completed in any order.
- Enroll with Pharmacists' Gateway Canada and apply for PEBC for the Document Evaluation and Evaluating exam
www.pharmacistsgatewaycanada.ca
www.pebc.ca
Effective August 20, 2014, all international pharmacy graduates that have not engaged with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) (ie. have not started the Document Evaluation Process) prior to this date, must now register first through the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA), the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada.
All IPG applicants must successfully complete the Document Evaluation and PEBC Evaluating exam before starting the registration process with the College.
New Pathway for Eligible International Pharmacy Graduates
Effective May 13, 2025, The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) has introduced a streamlined pathway that exempts eligible international pharmacy graduates from the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination.
All international candidates will still need to complete PEBC's Document Evaluation and provide confirmation of their acceptance to the Qualifying Examination before starting the CPBC registration process.
Who is eligible?
After completing PEBC's Document Evaluation process, candidates may be exempt from the Evaluating Examination if they meet either:
Pathway 1: Graduates from internationally accredited pharmacy programs (CCAPP or ACPE)
Pathway 2: Either:
- Graduates from approved countries: Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, UK; OR
- Graduates from other (not approved) countries who, in the past 3 years, held a full, unrestricted pharmacist license and practiced for at least 1 year in direct patient care in one of the approved countries listed above or the US
If you meet these criteria, you may be eligible for direct admission to the PEBC Qualifying Examination Part I (MCQ), bypassing the Evaluating Examination.
The timing of this change enables eligible candidates to apply for direct admission to the November 2025 Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Part I (MCQ) when the applications open in late May.
To determine your eligibility for one of these pathways, you are welcome to complete the PEBC eligibility survey. Click here.
Before starting your registration process with CPBC, please provide confirmation from PEBC of your Document Evaluation and acceptance to the PEBC Qualifying Examination.
The College is currently updating its processes to reflect this change and will provide more information as it becomes available.
- Pre-register with the College
Please allow at least 45 days to complete processing of your pre-registration application.
If you had previously downloaded the pre-registration application form (footer noted 2020-11-20), the College will accept your application package by mail until December 31, 2021.
If you decide to upload the previous version of the notarized identification form (footer noted 2020-11-20) via the Online Pre-Registration Module, we will accept it until December 31, 2021. Ensure to review the new Application Checklist for Pre-Registration/Student Pharmacist Registration prior to your submission.
Effective January 1, 2022, all pre-registration applications must be submitted online (unless otherwise instructed) using the current version of all forms.
Prior to submitting your online pre-registration application, begin by reviewing the general information section on the New Pharmacist Registration page and collect all your required documents by referring to the Application Checklist for Pre-Registration.
For applicants who have never pre-registered or registered with the College, submit your Pre-Registration application online by going to the eServices webpage and clicking the “Online Pre-Registration Module” link, then follow the instructions to create a new eServices account.Follow the instructions to enter your information and upload the required documents on the Application Summary page, then submit your payment by credit card for the pre-registration application fee.
Once you have submitted payment, allow 5 business days for your application to be reviewed. You will be notified by email when there is an update to your application status.
Note that the processing time for the Criminal Record Check (CRC) is at least 45 days.If adjudication or fingerprinting is required, the processing time will be further extended.Visit the CRC webpage for more information.
Your pre-registration application is considered complete once all your documents are approved and your CRC result is received from the Ministry. Ensure your email address under the “My Profile” tab in eServices is up-to-date. If necessary, add the College’s email addresses to your Safe Sender List to avoid College emails from being filtered into your junk folder.
For those who were previously pre-registered or registered with the College, you must email the completed HPA Form 4C Application for Pre-Registration (Pharmacist) to the Registration Department at: [email protected], as you will not be able to use the Online Pre-Registration Module to apply.
- Successfully complete the English Language Proficiency (ELP)
If you obtained your pharmacy degree outside of Canada or the continental USA, you are required to complete an ELP assessment. Test scores must be submitted directly from the Testing Agency to the College, or for IELTS, by fax or email to be verified online. You may compare your test scores to the scores listed under the “Minimum score with SEM” column of Appendix 1.
ELP results are valid for 2 years from the test date. Refer to Registration Committee Policies-1 and 10 for details.
The minimum scores must be met for each of the criteria, including the IELTS overall band score. There are no exceptions.
If you completed the ELP test on or before August 31, 2024, you may refer to the previous English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards.
- Successfully complete the Jurisprudence Examination (JE)
Jurisprudence Exam Information
Results are valid for 3 years from the exam date in accordance with Registration Committee Policy-10.
- Successfully complete the Structured Practical Training (SPT) offered in The Canadian Pharmacy Practice Program (CP3)
To fulfill the requirements of the SPT program, the only available option is to enroll in the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme (CP3) through the University of British Columbia - Division of Continuing Pharmacy Professional Development.
Enrolment in the full program is required.
ELP requirements must be successfully met prior to applying for the SPT/CP3 program. You must also have authorization to work in Canada.
Do not register for the CP3/SPT program until your pre-registration with the College is complete.
SPT results are valid for 3 years from the completion date.
Refer to Registration Committee Policies-6 and 10 for details.
- Successfully complete the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Exam – Part I (MCQ) and Part II (OSCE)
Visit the PEBC website for more information.
If you completed the PEBC Qualifying Exam before May 2001, you are required to complete the PEBC Qualifying Exam Part II.
- Apply to be a Full Pharmacist
You may submit your Full Pharmacist registration application online after completing all required assessments listed above. All assessment results must be valid in order to be eligible to apply. You may apply in advance if you have met all other registration requirements and are only waiting for your PEBC certification results to be released.
Use the Application Checklist for Full Pharmacist Registration to identify the required documents or information prior to submitting your application.
To submit your Full Pharmacist Registration application, log into your eServices account, and select “Full Registration”.
Please allow 5 business days for processing if you have to resubmit your work authorization or Letter of Standing, or after the PEBC certification results have been released.
You will be notified by email when there is an update to your application status.
You will able to submit payment by credit card to complete registration when all requirements are met.
- Apply for Drug Administration (Optional)
Refer to the Certification for Drug Administration by Injection and Intranasal Route page for more information.
- Completing Additional Training (Optional)
Additional training is required for working in a pharmacy that provides specific types of pharmacy services (e.g. Opioid Agonist Treatment). If this training applies to you, you are required to submit a declaration through eServices upon successful completion of the training. Please visit the College website at: https://www.bcpharmacists.org/declarations for more information.
You are now registered as a Full Pharmacist. The College will send you a confirmation notice and issue a certificate of registration. You may access your registration card through eServices. Registration must be renewed annually. You will receive an email reminder six weeks before your renewal deadline.
Note: Effective December 1, 2020, all newly registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians needing access to PharmaNet must enrol in PRIME by applying to the Ministry of Health and obtain approval to access PharmaNet. You may complete Step 1 of the enrollment process at any time, but you should only complete Step 2 of the enrollment process after 8pm on the day your Full registration is granted and a registration number is issued or else your approval will be delayed. For more information, visit the PRIME web page or contact [email protected].