PEBC Announces a Change to the Steps Required by Eligible International Pharmacy Graduates to Streamline Certification for Entry-To-Practice Licensure in Canada.
PEBC has completed its current review of the steps required by international pharmacy graduates to achieve certification for entry-to-practice licensure in Canada.
Effective May 13, 2025 eligible international pharmacy graduates will receive an exemption from the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination and direct admission to the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Part I (MCQ). Candidates must successfully complete Part I (MCQ) before being eligible to attempt Part II (OSCE).
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.
This new, streamlined approach reflects PEBC’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement for its certification process — in this case, shortening the time required by exempting international pharmacy graduates from the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination for those who meet the following new eligibility criteria.
Who is Eligible
All international candidates will continue to complete the Document Evaluation process.
Pathway 1: For graduates of international pharmacy programs with international accreditation by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) or the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
Graduates, who at the time of their graduation, completed a pharmacy program that was granted International Accreditation status (or equivalent) are eligible. Please view the list of eligible programs on their respective websites: CCAPP (click here) and ACPE (click here).
Pathway 2: For graduates of international pharmacy programs with national, regional or other international accreditation AND the country where the candidate completed their pharmacy education OR where they recently practiced is deemed by PEBC to have a scope of practice and regulatory framework for licensure that is comparable to Canada.
a) Candidates who completed an accredited pharmacy program in one of the following approved countries:
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- Australia
- New Zealand
- Republic of Ireland
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
OR
b) Candidates who completed an accredited program in a different (not approved) country, and in the past 3 years:
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- possessed a full, unrestricted license as a pharmacist in good standing from one of the approved countries above or the United States, and
- during that time, practiced for at least 1 year in a direct patient care role as a pharmacist with a full, unrestricted license.
PEBC has researched many of the top source countries to determine their acceptability for Pathway 2, and will continue to evaluate more in the future. PEBC will aim to consider more countries for this pathway on an annual basis.
To determine your eligibility for one of these pathways, you are welcome to complete this eligibility survey.
Ensuring Excellence in Certification for Canada’s Pharmacy Profession
PEBC’s national mandate and steadfast commitment to Canadians is to ensure excellence in certification for the pharmacy profession. This requires a well thought out balance that welcomes eligible international candidates by introducing faster steps to certification — while maintaining a strong and robust assessment of competence.
The principles that inform PEBC’s decisions include integrity, fairness, transparency, innovation and collaboration. Ongoing consultations with key stakeholders, including regulators and educators, are integral to PEBC’s deliberations.
The eligibility criteria for countries are:
- Comparable scope of practice to Canada — the scope of practice within the country of education and/or practice is comparable to the minimum scope of practice of Canada in relation to the provision of patient care, dispensing and compounding. The determination of the scope of practice and licensure requirements is based on information from recognized sources, including but not limited to published works from regulators/government agencies, international pharmacy organizations, or research publications.
- Acceptable regulatory framework for licensure — the country of education and/or practice requires licensure to practice as a pharmacist and successful completion of a competency-based assessment (i.e., licensure exam and/or practice-based assessment).
Additional Resources to Assist
For more information, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).