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Registration Requirements for Internationally Educated Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians

To practise as a regulated health professional in Ontario, you must be a member of your profession’s regulatory college and hold a certificate of registration. Regulated health professionals are required by law to deliver competent, ethical and professional services, and are accountable to the public through their respective colleges.

The Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) is the registering and regulatory body for Pharmacy and Pharmacy Technician practice in Ontario. All people within Ontario who wish to dispense prescriptions and sell products defined as drugs to the public must first have met the professional qualifications set by the College, and be registered as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

Ontario Registration Requirements

Registration Requirements for Pharmacists

To practice as a pharmacist in Ontario, internationally educated pharmacists (IEPs) must hold a current Certificate of Registration with the OCP. To be eligible for a Certificate of Registration, IEPs must enroll with Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and meet the following registration requirements:

  1. Document evaluation by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).
  2. Pass the PEBC Evaluating Examination for pharmacists.
  3. Successfully complete the International Pharmacy Graduate Program *(see College’s website if you passed both parts of the PEBC Qualifying Examination for Pharmacists on your first attempt).
  4. Meet the OCP English or French fluency requirements.
  5. Provide proof of Canadian citizenship, Permanent Residency or authorization to work in Canada.
  6. Declare that you have not been found guilty of, or are the subject of a current proceeding of, any pharmacy practice or drug-related offence or any criminal offence, or the subject of a health profession-related finding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity.
  7. Successfully complete the OCP practice-based registration requirement - refer to the OCP website for information about:
  8. Pass the PEBC Qualifying Examination for Pharmacists, Part I – MCQ and Part II - OSCE.
  9. Pass the OCP Jurisprudence Examination for Pharmacists.
  10. Declare that you have sufficient personal professional liability insurance.
  11. Make an application and pay the fee.

To learn more about the registration requirements for Pharmacists, please visit the Ontario College of Pharmacists website.

Registration Requirements for Pharmacy Technicians

To practice as a pharmacy technician in Ontario, internationally educated pharmacy technician graduates will be required to hold a current Certificate of Registration with the OCP. To be eligible for a Certificate of Registration, internationally educated pharmacy technician graduates will need to meet the following registration requirements:

  1. Have a university degree or diploma in pharmacy, or pass a pharmacy technician program.
  2. Pass the PEBC Evaluating Examination for pharmacy technicians (Note: PEBC requires you to provide evidence of some or all of a minimum of 2,000 hours of work and/or teaching experience in the field of pharmacy within the past 36 months to be allowed to write this exam).
  3. Meet the OCP English or French fluency requirements.
  4. Provide proof of Canadian citizenship, Permanent Residency or authorization to work in Canada.
  5. Declare that you have not been found guilty of or are the subject of a current proceeding of any pharmacy practice or drug-related offence or any criminal offence, or the subject of a health profession-related finding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity.
  6. Successfully complete the National Pharmacy Technician Bridging Education Program and the Orientation to the Canadian Health Care System, Culture and Context course.
  7. Successfully complete the minimum 12 week OCP Structured Practical Training (SPT) program for pharmacy technician applicants.
  8. Pass the PEBC Qualifying Examination for Pharmacy Technicians, Part I – MCQ and Part II – OSCE.
  9. Pass the OCP Jurisprudence Examination for Pharmacy Technicians.
  10. Declare that you have sufficient personal professional liability insurance.
  11. Make an application and pay the fee.

To learn more about the registration requirements for Pharmacy Technicians, please visit the Ontario College of Pharmacists website.

Resources

How the Access Centre Can Help

Visit Services for Internationally Educated Health Professionals for information about Access Centre services and how to participate.

 
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