Practicing Pharmacy

What are the steps required to become licensed to practice pharmacy?

Overview

Important: This page offers a general overview of the credentialing process. Because requirements are subject to change, it is your responsibility to consult your provincial/state regulatory body for the most current information. While we update this content annually, please verify all details directly with the appropriate authorities to ensure you are compliant with local practice standards. OzTREKK is not responsible for your credentialing process.​

 

Graduate qualifications in pharmacy from Australian universities are recognized internationally. OzTREKK has had students graduate with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from an Australian university and successfully become accredited in Canada.

Currently, to gain licensing through the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC), a candidate’s educational credentials must be the equivalent of a Canadian 4-year Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. The minimum requirement is a professional undergraduate degree in pharmacy that leads to licensure as a pharmacist in the country of education. Please refer to the PEBC Document Evaluation Eligibility website for specific information.

Graduates of accredited pharmacy programs in Australia have a streamlined pathway to licensure with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC). They get to bypass the Evaluating Examination and are eligible to apply for the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Parts I (MMQ) and II (OSCE). This shortens the amount of time it takes to acquire licensure. Graduates must also apply for registration through the provincial regulatory body in the province or territory in which they wish to work before they can begin practice.

Practicing in Canada

The following stages need to be completed to become certified to practice as a pharmacist in Canada as an international pharmacy graduate (IPG).

 

Step #1 – Enroll with the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada
Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada will assess your qualifications and competence for entry-to-practice through a series of evaluations. They will also offer info and guidance in preparation for the PEBC’s licensing process.

Step #2 – Apply to PEBC
After graduation, submit your application and proof of pharmacy degree completion to the PEBC for document evaluation. If your educational credentials and licensure statements are acceptable for the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) International Pharmacy Graduates (IPG) Streamlined Pathway, you will receive an exemption from writing the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination and be able to go on to write the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Part I (MCQ) and II (OSCE). Graduates from Australian pharmacy programs that are accredited in Australia are eligible for the IPG Streamlined Pathway.

Step #3 – Pass Part 1 (MCQ) and Part 2 (OSCE) of the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination
You’ll need to pass both qualifying exams to receive the PEBC’s Certificate of Qualification. These are the same exams that Canadian-trained pharmacists need to write in most provinces to be able to practice pharmacy.

  • Pharmacist Qualifying Examination – Part I (MCQ)
    This is a computer-based exam that assess candidate’s understanding and application of knowledge to problems, along with the ability to make judgements and solve problems related to pharmacy practice. Candidates going through the IPG Streamlined Pathway will need to successfully pass Part I before being eligible to apply for Part II.
  • Pharmacist Qualifying Examination – Part II (OSCE)
    This exam is a series of interactive and non-interactive stations. Actors are often used to portray standard situations that pharmacists might encounter in practice. Candidates who are unsuccessful in Part II will need to pass Part I again before re-attempting Part II.

Step #4 – Apply to a Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA)
You must formally apply to the Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA) in the province or territory in which you want to work. While PRAs have many similar requirements, each jurisdiction may have variations or unique conditions for licensure.

Step #5 – Structured Practical Training (SPT) or Assessment
Each Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA) requires that candidates complete a training program in a licensed pharmacy. This ensures that IPGs will have experience in a pharmacy patient care setting that meets the national standards. Each province has a different requirement for the number of hours of structured practical training you will need to complete.

Ontario doesn’t have a training program or internship but instead an orientation and readiness assessment. The territories do not have their own training structure but instead require that you already complete your training and hold a full license in another Canadian province and then you can transfer your license to your desired territory for practice.

Step #6 – License Registration
This is the last step in the licensure or registration process! The PRA will confirm that you have successfully completed all requirements to be licensed. You will be charged a fee for your license and you will need to renew your license and pay a fee each year.

 

While all Canadian provinces require you to have PEBC certification to become licensed to practice, additional requirements can vary by province. These additional requirements can include jurisprudence exams, language proficiency exams, criminal record checks, etc. Contact the regulatory authority of the province you wish to practice to learn more.

If required to complete further practical experience, apprenticeship/internship bridging programs for international graduates are available through the following universities:

Visit the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada website for further accreditation and certification information.

Practicing in Australia

For those looking to remain in Australia and work as a pharmacist, ensure you’re aware of the requirements and pathway to practice.

 

Step #1 – Complete Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree
Upon completion of this degree, you’ll need to meet the requirements to be registered with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. You may apply for provisional registration as you approach the end of your studies, as this will then allow you to obtain an internship.

Step #2 – Provisional Registration, Supervised Practice, and a Pharmacy Intern Training Program
Students will need to gain provisional registration by applying online. It’s recommended you apply 4–6 weeks before graduating from your pharmacy program. You’ll also need to find an approved pharmacist preceptor for your supervised practice.

You will then complete a supervised practice internship which covers the practical experience required to work as a pharmacist. While completing your internship you will also need to complete an accredited intern training program.

Depending on your preferred area of practice, you can take your internship program though a professional body or a university.

Professional Association Programs
These programs are often preferred by those working in community pharmacies as they are delivered nationally and are more flexible in terms of the time allotted to complete the program and the learning options offered.

University-based Programs
Several Australian universities offer intern training programs as a postgraduate qualification.

Step #3 – Written and Oral Exams
Once your internship is completed, you will then qualify to complete the written and oral exams, both run by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC).

Step #4 – Apply for Registration
You’re then able to apply for general registration as a Pharmacist in Australia either online or via hard copy form.

Check out the Pharmacy Board of Australia page for a walk-through of the entire process.

Practicing in USA

Step #1 – Graduate with a Pharmacy Degree that Meets the 5-year Requirement
Per the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), foreign-trained pharmacists will need to ensure their education meets the 5-year requirement, meaning that your full pharmacy education is at least five years in length. Most bachelor pharmacy degrees do not meet this requirement but may meet it if you take an honours year. Generally, a 3-year undergraduate science degree and a 2-year graduate pharmacy degree are viewed as meeting the 5-year requirement.

We encourage you to contact the NABP to ensure your planned education route will satisfy their requirements.

After graduating from your pharmacy program, your education will be credentialed at the national level, but your license to practice will be obtained at the state level.

Step #2 – Credentialling by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)
The NABP requires internationally-trained pharmacists to acquire Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (PFGEC) Certification before going onto complete any state-level exams or licenses. This is not a certification to practice but instead a series of checks and exams so you can then see licensure from your state-level licensing body.

To obtain this certification there will be a review of your education, you will be required to pass the TOEFL iBT English language proficiency exam (there are no exemptions), and pass the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEC).

Step #3 – State-level Licensure from State-level Board of Pharmacy
After meeting credentialing requirements, you will need to meet your state-level licensing authority’s licensing requirements.

These requirements vary by state but generally include completing a set number of internship hours, the North American Pharmacists Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), a jurisprudence exam, and a background check.

Refer to the Association of Boards of Pharmacy for a full list of state-level boards of pharmacy.

Step #4 – Register with your State-level Board of Pharmacy
Before beginning practice, you will need to register with your state-level board of pharmacy. Annual, bi-annual, or tri-annual re-registration may be required throughout the course of your career. Refer to your state-level board of pharmacy for details.

As part of re-registration, many states require evidence of continuing education. The amount of continuing education varies by state.

FAQs

Can my partner or family come to Australia with me if I get an offer? 

Many Canadians wish to fulfill their career goals after getting married, having kids, or both! We’ve had plenty of students who have taken their partner and/or children with them.

If you want to take your partner or family with you, you’ll need to add them as a secondary applicant or dependents to your student visa application. Even if you don’t plan on taking them with you, we suggest you add them to your application anyway because it can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming to add them afterwards. You’ll then need to provide additional documentation to support your claims of a relationship or your children’s dependency status.

In addition to looking after the visa, you’ll also need to ensure they’re included on your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), you have appropriate accommodation, and if you’re bringing children, you’ll need to enroll them in school.

Visit our Health Insurance page for more information.

Can I apply if I’m only 17?

Yes, but you’ll require parental or guardian consent (signature). OzTREKK will provide the necessary documentation for this signature.

If you won’t be 18 when your program starts, you’ll be required to show that you’ll be living with an approved guardian until you turn 18. If you don’t have an approved guardian in Australia, you may need a family member to apply for a guardian visa to accompany you. This guardian visa should be obtained as part of the student visa application.

 

Can my entire application be submitted through OzTREKK?

Absolutely. We manage and submit your application(s) on your behalf and communicate any updates from the universities.

Applying to an Australian or New Zealand university starts by filling out our OzTREKK application: You’ll tell us a bit about yourself, like your name, address, date of birth, education history, and what schools you want to apply to!

When you click “Submit,” the application with all your information only comes to us, so there’s no need to worry about making a mistake at this stage. We create a file for you and email you a list of documents required to complete your application(s), like passport photo page, transcripts, résumé, personal statement.

If you get an offer, we’ll help you with that part, too! Whether you want to accept or decline, we’ll help you figure out your next steps. If you accept your offer, we’ll even help you get ready to go. We’re here to be an advocate for you, and to walk you through the entire process from start to finish.

Should you have any questions along the way, just send us an email or book a chat. That’s why we’re here!

Are there any scholarships for international students?

Scholarship options in Australia are usually limited for international students as they tend to be reserved for those undertaking postgraduate research degrees; however, we can advise you where to look and whether specific programs have a history of offering scholarships.

Occasionally, scholarships are granted to high achievers—those with very high marks. In previous years, we have seen $5000- to $10,000-scholarships given to OzTREKK students.

Check out OzTREKK’s Financing page to learn more about scholarships and paying for your degree.

Do you have course outlines on file? 

Before sending us outlines, check in with your admissions team to see if we’ve already got them. We can save you a lot of time and ensure we’re submitting good outlines on your behalf. Outlines must be within 2 years of the time you took the course (as listed on your transcript).

I received a low mark on my prerequisite course. Will this impact my application? 

To meet the prerequisite subjects, you need to have been granted the credit (passed); the grade itself isn’t considered in the prerequisite assessment. If there are any exceptions, we’ll let you know.

What does “rolling admissions” mean?

Rolling admissions means the university assesses applications as they are received, AKA “first come, first served” or “first come, first offered.” As soon as they’ve met the quota and the program is filled, they usually start a waitlist and close the applications. So, for a program that has rolling admissions, the earlier you apply the better!

How does OzTREKK know if my application will be competitive?

Most Canadians applying to full-degree programs in Australia (i.e., not study abroad courses, which usually only last a semester or two) apply through OzTREKK. They’re studying medicine, dentistry, law, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, etc.

Since they’re using OzTREKK’s services, this gives us a good idea of the starting point of a competitive application each year, allowing us to help you determine which universities/programs are most likely to present you with a letter of offer!

You can get started on determining your chances by reviewing the admissions requirements on each program page. Then, visit our GPA Conversions and Eligibility pages for details and suggestions to help you get into the program of your dreams. Of course, we’re always here to help if you have questions.

What is a 5.0 GPA in Australia?

Unlike in Canada, GPAs in Australia are simple. They’re standardized, so they mean the same thing to everyone.

In Australia, a 5.0/7.0 would roughly translate to a 2.7/4.0 or approximately 70%–72%, but keep in mind all universities assess slightly differently. We leave the official calculations to the universities.

Learn more on our GPA Conversions page where we list the most common Canadian GPA scales to their corresponding Australian GPA grade. If you’re not sure where you land, just reach out!

Which prerequisites do I need?

Prerequisite courses vary by university and by program. We’ve listed university- and program-specific requirements on each program’s page under “Admissions Requirements.”

How do universities calculate GPA?

Calculations differ by university, but most use cumulative (all units within a program) or weighted GPA (typically last 2 or 3 years of study). See GPA Conversions for more information.

What is an “official” transcript?

An official transcript is one that is

  • emailed directly from your university to OzTREKK via an official transcript service like Parchment or MyCreds; or
  • mailed directly from your university to OzTREKK.

To process your application(s), universities require your transcripts to be certified, which we do on your behalf.

 

Can I stay in Australia to practice pharmacy?

Canadians who graduate from an Australian Bachelor of Pharmacy / Bachelor of Pharmacy Honours program are eligible to continue the steps to practice in Australia; however, it is imperative to understand the visa process that is associated with continuing to live and work in Australia. Please visit Practicing pharmacy in Australia for more information.

What are the average marks for entry?

As competitive averages vary by university, current university students and graduates with 2.0 – 2.7 (out of 4.0) average are generally eligible to apply to Australian pharmacy programs. For those coming from high school, the minimum average is approximately 70% – 85% depending on the university.

 

 

 

You don’t meet Monash’s pharmacy prerequisites or GPA requirement

If you’re considering the graduate-entry Bachelor of Pharmacy Honours pathway at Monash University, you’ll need to ensure you have both the prerequisite courses and a GPA higher than 70% in a degree completed within the last 10 years.

For Monash, students will need to ensure they have completed the following courses at a level higher than first year, and in a course that spans the entirety of the year, generally as part of a Bachelor of Science:

  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • English
  • One unit of physiology
  • Biochemistry (recommended, but not required)

Though the GPA minimum is 70%, we have found that competitive applicants will have GPAs higher than 75%.

Choose another pharmacy program
If you’re unable to satisfy the Monash requirements, consider applying to another pharmacy program and submitting applications for credit to potentially lessen the course load or duration of the program.

Please email study@oztrekk.com if you have any questions. We’re here to help!

What are course outlines and how should I submit them to OzTREKK?

A course outline includes all the necessary information about a university course. It will include the course title, the year, the learning goals, the professor’s contact information, reading materials and most important, a weekly learning schedule. This will help the universities to see what you studied on a week-to-week basis and assess if you have covered the material they expect you to know. Course outlines should contain the following information:

  • Year and semester date
  • Faculty contact information
  • Course description
  • Hours of study
  • Textbook information
  • Detailed list of topics that are covered in the course; usually found in a detailed lecture schedule or list of chapter readings

Unfortunately, the universities won’t accept one-paragraph course descriptions; they require course outlines like those handed out at the beginning of the semester, which outline all topics covered within the course. If you do not have copies of these on hand, contact the faculty from which you undertook these courses, as they usually have copies on file.

These course outlines must be uploaded as PDFs to the OzTREKK student portal and labelled in the following manner:

CAPS 391 Human Anatomy I UBC F2015 (COURSE CODE)(Name of Course)(University)(Semester & Year)

When you do this, it helps us be more efficient and move your application(s) at lightning speed.

What if my transcripts / documents are not in English?

If your documents are not in English, you must provide full translation of each document, either prepared by your university or by a registered translator. You must not translate the documents yourself.

For translations, have your institution send OzTREKK your official transcript. We’ll certify it and email it to the translator of your choice, directly.

Usually, the translators wait for your payment before completing the translation and returning it to our office. Please read How Do I Send My Transcripts for more information.

Do I need the PCAT to apply?

No. The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is generally only a requirement in North America and is not common in Australia. OzTREKK’s pharmacy schools assess applications based on GPA and prerequisites.

Which prerequisites will I need for pharmacy?

Prerequisites vary by university; however, common prerequisites for pharmacy programs include Grade 12 or university-level English, chemistry, biology, higher-level math (calculus and advanced functions). OzTREKK can assess your transcript for the prerequisites required for each program.

Does Australia have a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program?

Australia does not have a Doctor of Pharmacy program. Canadians wishing to study pharmacy in Australia are encouraged to take a program that leads to licensure as a pharmacist in the country of education (Australia). Please visit the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada and Pharmacy Licensing sites for more information about the degree requirements.