About PEBC

About PEBC

The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) is the national certification body for the pharmacy profession in Canada. PEBC is a non-profit organization with more than 60 years of experience in assessing the qualifications and competence of candidates for licensing by pharmacy provincial regulatory authorities. PEBC contributes to the health and wellness of Canadians by providing leadership and excellence in competency assessment for the pharmacy profession.

The purpose of the Pharmacy Examining Board is to assess qualifications for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians on behalf of participating provincial regulatory authorities. The Board evaluates qualifications, develops and administers examinations including a national Qualifying Examination, and issues Certificates of Qualification.

Provincial legislation restricts the practice of pharmacy to qualified persons licensed by provincial regulatory authorities. The PEBC Certificate of Qualification for pharmacists is a licensing requirement for entry-to-practice applicants (whether trained in Canada or elsewhere) in all provinces, except Quebec. The PEBC Certificate of Qualification for pharmacy technicians is an entry-to-practice licensing requirement in all provinces that have regulated pharmacy technicians.

Through its comprehensive certification process, PEBC ensures that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians entering the profession have the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to safely and effectively practise pharmacy. The rigorous certification process administered by PEBC ensures the quality of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians entering practice and is a vital component in the delivery of safe and effective health care to Canadians.

Based in Toronto, PEBC is governed by a national Board of Directors comprised of representatives of the pharmacy profession from across Canada.

PEBC Lighthouse

PEBC’s lighthouse represents PEBC’s strategic direction including its guiding light, its values and the focus areas. It guides our path to excellence in the assessment of pharmacy professionals as PEBC endeavours to be an international leader in competency assessment for the years to come.

Our CEO

Richard Piticco CPA, CA, CFA brings more than 15 years of executive experience in complex, regulated, public-interest organizations. He is recognized for leading large-scale organizational transformations and aligning governance, strategy, and digital capability to create sustainable long-term value. His leadership is grounded in a deep understanding of regulatory environments, stakeholder ecosystems, and the evolving expectations of professions in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

Prior to joining PEBC, Richard served as Chief Administrative Officer of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), where he led a multi-year transformation that reshaped the organization’s strategy, culture, and digital infrastructure, positioning it as a digitally enabled, data-informed, and future-ready organization. Previously, he held senior executive roles at York University’s School of Continuing Studies and at CPA Ontario, where as Vice President, Student Services and Student Registrar he oversaw operations, regulatory compliance, and strategic and financial planning for more than 20,000 students. During this time, he collaborated nationally to unify Canada’s accounting profession and led major digital transformation and funding initiatives.

Earlier in his career, Richard was a Director in Equity Research at CIBC World Markets and was recognized by Brendan Wood International as one of North America’s top consumer products equity analysts. He has also served on not-for-profit boards, including as Finance Committee Chair and Board Chair.