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.

1. Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and PEBC Document Evaluation & Evaluating Exam
   • Before applying for a licence, you must complete the following:
     1. Enroll with Pharmacists' Gateway Canada.
         
     2. 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).
2. 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.
      

   • 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.

   • Refer to the Professional Licensing page for further information about processing times, application and assessment validity periods, and payment.

3. 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.
4. Jurisprudence Examination (JE)
   • Pass the Jurisprudence Exam.
5. 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).
6. Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Exams
   • Pass the  PEBC Qualifying Exams Part I & II.
7. 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.
      

   • Log into eServices to complete Licence Application - Part 2 and pay the licence fee (fee prorated to align with the March 31^st expiry date).

   • Refer to the Application Checklist for any updated documents you need to upload.
      

   • Obtain Professional Liability Insurance. 

   • After payment, a confirmation email will be sent the next day, including your licence number.

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]