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international pharmacy graduates (IPG)
If you earned your pharmacy degree outside of Canada or the United States, here are the steps to become licensed as a full pharmacist with the College of Pharmacists of BC (CPBC).
Note: Steps 4, 5 and 6 can be completed in any order.
- Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and PEBC Document Evaluation & Evaluating Exam
- Before applying for a licence, you must complete the following:
- Enroll with Pharmacists' Gateway Canada.
- Complete the PEBC Document Evaluation and PEBC Evaluating Exam (Note: Eligible IPG’s may be exempt from the Evaluating Exam through PEBC’s streamlined pathway).
- Enroll with Pharmacists' Gateway Canada.
- Before applying for a licence, you must complete the following:
- Licence Application - Part 1
- Access the Online Licence Module in eServices to get started.
- Refer to the Application Checklist for the documents you need to upload.
- Pay the application fee and criminal record check fee, as per the Fee Schedule.
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A Criminal Record Check (CRC) will be initiated upon receipt of payment. You will also be required to initiate an extrajurisdictional CRC if you have been licensed as a health professional outside of Canada.
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Refer to the Professional Licensing page for further information about processing times, application and assessment validity periods, and payment.
- Access the Online Licence Module in eServices to get started.
- English Language Proficiency (ELP)
- Acceptable test agencies and minimum scores are stated in Appendix 1 of the LCP-1.
- If you completed your ELP test on or before August 31, 2024, you can apply the previous ELP standards.
- Email your ELP score report to [email protected] for verification.
- Acceptable test agencies and minimum scores are stated in Appendix 1 of the LCP-1.
- Jurisprudence Examination (JE)
- Pass the Jurisprudence Exam.
- Structured Practical Training (SPT) via the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Program (CP3
- Complete Structured Practical Training (SPT) through full enrolment in the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Program (CP3).
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Exams
- Pass the PEBC Qualifying Exams Part I & II.
- Licence Application - Part 2
- To be eligible to submit Licence Application – Part 2, you must have completed your Licence Application – Part 1, including documents, CRC and extrajurisdictional CRC (if applicable), and completed all the required assessments.
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Log into eServices to complete Licence Application - Part 2 and pay the licence fee (fee prorated to align with the March 31st expiry date).
- Refer to the Application Checklist for any updated documents you need to upload.
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Obtain Professional Liability Insurance.
- After payment, a confirmation email will be sent the next day, including your licence number.
- To be eligible to submit Licence Application – Part 2, you must have completed your Licence Application – Part 1, including documents, CRC and extrajurisdictional CRC (if applicable), and completed all the required assessments.
Additional Practice Information
Drug Administration Certification (DAC)
- Apply for Drug Administration Certification (DAC) to administer drugs via injection and intranasal route
PRIME Enrolment (PharmaNet Access)
- All newly licenced pharmacists and pharmacy technicians requiring access to PharmaNet must enrol in PRIME.
- Complete Step 1 of the PRIME enrollment process any time, but only complete Step 2 after 8pm on the day your full licence is granted.
- Visit the PRIME webpage or contact PRIMESupport@gov.bc.ca.
Other Training
- Additional training is required for specific types of pharmacy services (e.g. Opioid Agonist Treatment). Please visit the College website at: Declarations for more information.
Need Help?
- Refer to the FAQ page
- Contact Professional Licensing at: [email protected]