Policies & Procedures
This section contains policies that relate to PEBC’s examinations and processes. The policies posted here are not an exhaustive list and others may be posted in the future, when required. It is important for candidates to review these policies prior to taking an exam and may contact PEBC by email at pebcinfo@pebc.ca if further clarification is required.
In exceptional circumstances, other policies may take precedence over these policies.
Emergency Procedures & Other Extraordinary Circumstances
Emergency Building Evacuation
If the need arises for building evacuation due to fire or other emergency during an examination, the Presiding Officer or Chief Administrator, in cooperation with emergency personnel, has full authority to direct and supervise candidates and staff in the emergency evacuation of a building.
The guidelines and procedures established by PEBC are based on two underlying principles: 1) personal safety, and 2) security of examination content and materials.
Events in an emergency situation may be unpredictable and procedures may require adjustment in a specific situation, however, some general guidelines include the following:
- Assist persons with disabilities in exiting
- Do not use elevators in case of fire
- Once outside the building, remain in a safe area, indicated by emergency personnel or the Presiding Officer/Chief Administrator
- Do not return to the examination room unless instructed to do so by emergency personnel or the Presiding Officer/Chief Administrator
- Try to remain calm, and always follow the instructions of emergency personnel or the Presiding Officer/Chief Administrator
| Note: Remember that at all times during an emergency evacuation, candidates must NOT converse or otherwise communicate with one another. Candidates continue to be subject to all rules of the examination. |
Other Extraordinary Circumstances
If at any time before an upcoming PEBC examination administration, there should arise any circumstances including such factors as weather, transportation, strikes, public health issues, or other reasons which may affect the scheduling arrangements and admission procedures for examinations, advisory information will be promptly posted on the PEBC website. You are advised to check the PEBC website before attending an examination, to look for any special notices which may affect your arrangements.
You will be required to comply with any health, safety, and security screening procedures, as posted in the examination centre or outlined verbally by examination personnel.
PEBC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any examination administration, if circumstances require that a scheduled examination cannot be administered.
Three Year Rule
The two Parts of the Qualifying Examination are complementary and together are used to make the final determination of whether the candidate possesses the competence necessary for entry-to-practice. To ensure that the candidates’ competence is current, candidates are required to successfully complete both Parts within three (3) years of one another. Otherwise, they will be required to retake and pass the Part that has already been completed.
Candidates who have personally experienced a significant health matter that will prevent them from meeting the three year rule, may request an extension.
Candidates must submit a request in writing by email at pebcinfo@pebc.ca to the attention of the Assistant Registrar including the following:
- the reason for the request and how the health concern prevented or would prevent them from attempting the exam; and
- supporting documentation from the health care provider overseeing their care including dates of the health concern and duration of the impact
Note: Requests for extensions in the following circumstances will not be considered:
|
Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with consideration for the severity of the health matter and duration of its impact to determine the extent to which it prevented the candidates from attempting the exam over multiple administrations during the time period.
Decisions will be provided within 30 days of the request.
Managing Capacity for the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Part II (OSCE)
Across the country, PEBC is able to accommodate a total of 3000 candidates annually for two sittings of the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Part II (OSCE). Admission of candidates to sit the OSCE will be prioritized to accept those who are attempting the OSCE for the first time before accepting those who are repeating the OSCE. If capacity is exceeded by the total number of applicants, eligible candidates will be automatically registered for the next sitting of the OSCE. In exceptional circumstances, other policies may take precedence over this policy.
PEBC attempts to place candidates at one of their preferred exam centres. However, in order to maximize the number of candidates able to attempt the OSCE at each sitting, PEBC may need to place candidates at alternate centres where space is available. In some circumstances this may be a location which was not listed as one of the candidates’ preferred exam centres. Should a candidate not wish to take the examination at the alternate centre offered, the candidate will instead be deferred to the next sitting of the OSCE at one of the candidate’s preferred exam centres.
OSCE Eligibility
Candidates who have previously been unsuccessful on Part II (OSCE) are required to have already passed Part I (MCQ) before re-attempting the OSCE.
PEBC has conducted research on candidate performance and found that candidates repeating the OSCE have a significantly increased likelihood for success on the OSCE after having prepared for and passed the MCQ. This rule is expected to minimize the number of attempts that candidates need to pass the OSCE. Candidates taking the OSCE for the first time will not be impacted by this new rule.
To further clarify PEBC’s new rule, please review the scenarios below.
If you have:
never attempted either Part of the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination.
- You can apply for either Part
failed both Part I (MCQ) and Part II (OSCE)
- You can only apply for Part I (MCQ)
- Once you have passed Part I (MCQ) you can apply for Part II (OSCE)
failed Part I (MCQ) and never attempted Part II (OSCE)
- You can apply for Part II (OSCE)
passed Part I (MCQ) but failed Part II (OSCE)
- You can apply for Part II (OSCE)
passed Part I (MCQ) more than 3 years ago and have failed Part II (OSCE)
- You must retake Part I (MCQ)
- Once you have passed Part I (MCQ) you can apply for Part II (OSCE)
US Foreign Policy Compliance
-
Emergency Procedures & Other Extraordinary Circumstances
Emergency Building Evacuation
If the need arises for building evacuation due to fire or other emergency during an examination, the Presiding Officer or Chief Administrator, in cooperation with emergency personnel, has full authority to direct and supervise candidates and staff in the emergency evacuation of a building.
The guidelines and procedures established by PEBC are based on two underlying principles: 1) personal safety, and 2) security of examination content and materials.
Events in an emergency situation may be unpredictable and procedures may require adjustment in a specific situation, however, some general guidelines include the following:
- Assist persons with disabilities in exiting
- Do not use elevators in case of fire
- Once outside the building, remain in a safe area, indicated by emergency personnel or the Presiding Officer/Chief Administrator
- Do not return to the examination room unless instructed to do so by emergency personnel or the Presiding Officer/Chief Administrator
- Try to remain calm, and always follow the instructions of emergency personnel or the Presiding Officer/Chief Administrator
Note: Remember that at all times during an emergency evacuation, candidates must NOT converse or otherwise communicate with one another. Candidates continue to be subject to all rules of the examination. Other Extraordinary Circumstances
If at any time before an upcoming PEBC examination administration, there should arise any circumstances including such factors as weather, transportation, strikes, public health issues, or other reasons which may affect the scheduling arrangements and admission procedures for examinations, advisory information will be promptly posted on the PEBC website. You are advised to check the PEBC website before attending an examination, to look for any special notices which may affect your arrangements.
You will be required to comply with any health, safety, and security screening procedures, as posted in the examination centre or outlined verbally by examination personnel.
PEBC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any examination administration, if circumstances require that a scheduled examination cannot be administered. -
Three Year Rule
The two Parts of the Qualifying Examination are complementary and together are used to make the final determination of whether the candidate possesses the competence necessary for entry-to-practice. To ensure that the candidates’ competence is current, candidates are required to successfully complete both Parts within three (3) years of one another. Otherwise, they will be required to retake and pass the Part that has already been completed.
Candidates who have personally experienced a significant health matter that will prevent them from meeting the three year rule, may request an extension.
Candidates must submit a request in writing by email at pebcinfo@pebc.ca to the attention of the Assistant Registrar including the following:
- the reason for the request and how the health concern prevented or would prevent them from attempting the exam; and
- supporting documentation from the health care provider overseeing their care including dates of the health concern and duration of the impact
Note: Requests for extensions in the following circumstances will not be considered: - Those on the basis of other personal or financial circumstances
- Candidates who were previously granted an extension to the three year rule
Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with consideration for the severity of the health matter and duration of its impact to determine the extent to which it prevented the candidates from attempting the exam over multiple administrations during the time period.
Decisions will be provided within 30 days of the request.
-
Managing Capacity for the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Part II (OSCE)
Across the country, PEBC is able to accommodate a total of 3000 candidates annually for two sittings of the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Part II (OSCE). Admission of candidates to sit the OSCE will be prioritized to accept those who are attempting the OSCE for the first time before accepting those who are repeating the OSCE. If capacity is exceeded by the total number of applicants, eligible candidates will be automatically registered for the next sitting of the OSCE. In exceptional circumstances, other policies may take precedence over this policy.
PEBC attempts to place candidates at one of their preferred exam centres. However, in order to maximize the number of candidates able to attempt the OSCE at each sitting, PEBC may need to place candidates at alternate centres where space is available. In some circumstances this may be a location which was not listed as one of the candidates’ preferred exam centres. Should a candidate not wish to take the examination at the alternate centre offered, the candidate will instead be deferred to the next sitting of the OSCE at one of the candidate’s preferred exam centres.
-
OSCE Eligibility
Candidates who have previously been unsuccessful on Part II (OSCE) are required to have already passed Part I (MCQ) before re-attempting the OSCE.
PEBC has conducted research on candidate performance and found that candidates repeating the OSCE have a significantly increased likelihood for success on the OSCE after having prepared for and passed the MCQ. This rule is expected to minimize the number of attempts that candidates need to pass the OSCE. Candidates taking the OSCE for the first time will not be impacted by this new rule.
To further clarify PEBC’s new rule, please review the scenarios below.
If you have:
never attempted either Part of the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination.
- You can apply for either Part
failed both Part I (MCQ) and Part II (OSCE)
- You can only apply for Part I (MCQ)
- Once you have passed Part I (MCQ) you can apply for Part II (OSCE)
failed Part I (MCQ) and never attempted Part II (OSCE)
- You can apply for Part II (OSCE)
passed Part I (MCQ) but failed Part II (OSCE)
- You can apply for Part II (OSCE)
passed Part I (MCQ) more than 3 years ago and have failed Part II (OSCE)
- You must retake Part I (MCQ)
- Once you have passed Part I (MCQ) you can apply for Part II (OSCE)
-
US Foreign Policy Compliance
Eligibility to take PEBC’s examinations, via remote proctoring or otherwise, is contingent upon compliance with all applicable laws. This includes all restrictions imposed upon PEBC or its service providers as a result of international sanctions. Candidates must ensure they comply with all such eligibility requirements at all times in order to be permitted to attempt PEBC’s examinations. Please see U.S. FOREIGN POLICY COMPLIANCE STATEMENT | Prometric for information on the sanctions that must be observed by Prometric, a US based company.