Path To Becoming A New Brunswick Pharmacist

To become a pharmacist in New Brunswick, you must obtain a licence from the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists (NBCP). This typically involves completing a university degree in pharmacy, undergoing supervised practical training, and registering with the NBCP. Additionally, you must be proficient in English or French and may need to complete a national board examination through the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC). International pharmacy graduates may need to enrol in the Pharmacists' Gateway Canada program and undergo a Document Evaluation process before becoming licensed.

Enrol in Pharmacists' Gateway Canada

Enrolment in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada is a mandatory first step in the process of becoming a licensed pharmacist in Canada, except in Quebec. It is a tool that makes it easier to find important information regarding the steps to be licensed as a pharmacist in Canada. The Gateway provides a national ID number, which is required to apply to the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) for Document Evaluation. It also creates a profile where candidates can track their progress using a licensure model and becomes a document repository where the pharmacy regulatory authorities (PRAs) can access information uploaded by PEBC and the candidates' language test report. This information can only be viewed by the candidate, PEBC, the PRA (once the candidate applies to them), and NAPRA administrators. The fee for enrolment in the Gateway is $380.

International pharmacy graduates wishing to enrol in Pharmacists' Gateway Canada can visit the candidate portal. After enrolling, international graduates must register directly with the PEBC to have their documents evaluated. This process can take up to eight weeks from the date all required documentation is received. To avoid delays, graduates should familiarise themselves with the requirements and instructions for submitting each document, which can be found on the PEBC website.

Once their documents have been favourably evaluated, candidates are eligible to take the PEBC Evaluating Examination, which is offered twice a year: in the winter and in the summer. The application deadline is typically four months before the examination date, and results are posted three weeks after. After passing the Evaluating Examination, candidates can apply for the PEBC Qualifying Examination Part I & II, which is offered twice a year: in the spring and in the fall. To apply to the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists (NBCP), candidates must successfully pass one of the two parts of the Qualifying Examination.

Candidates who have passed one part of the Qualifying Examination and met the English or French language proficiency requirement can apply to the NBCP by completing the following steps:

• Apply through their profile on Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada.
• Apply for conditional registration with the NBCP ($250).
• Submit the one-time application fee of $595.

Register with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC)

To register with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC), candidates must first enrol in Pharmacists' Gateway Canada and designate the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists (NBCP). Enrolment in Pharmacists' Gateway Canada is a mandatory first step in the process to become a licensed pharmacist in Canada (except in Quebec). It provides a national ID number, which is required to apply to the PEBC for Document Evaluation. It also creates a profile where candidates can track their progress and serves as a repository for documents.

After receiving a national ID number, candidates must register directly with the PEBC to have their documents evaluated. This process can take up to eight weeks from the date all required documentation is received. The PEBC has specific instructions for the submission of each required document, which can be found on their website.

Once the PEBC has favourably evaluated a candidate's documents, they are eligible to take the PEBC Evaluating Examination. This exam is offered twice a year, in the winter and summer, and assesses the candidate's knowledge in various subjects, including biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, and pharmacy practice. Candidates are permitted three attempts, with the possibility of a fourth and final attempt upon petitioning the PEBC and providing documentation confirming the completion of remediation.

Those who successfully pass the PEBC Evaluating Examination can then apply for the PEBC Qualifying Examination, which consists of two parts: Part I, a multiple-choice question (MCQ) section, and Part II, an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Both parts must be passed within three years of passing one part, and candidates are allowed a maximum of three attempts for each part. The Qualifying Examination is the final step to achieving the PEBC Certificate of Qualification, which is required for licensure in most Canadian jurisdictions.

Pass the PEBC Evaluating Examination

To become a pharmacist in New Brunswick, you must pass the PEBC Evaluating Examination. This examination is offered twice a year, in the winter and summer, and the application deadline is typically four months before the examination date. The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) will post the results three weeks after the examination date.

The PEBC Evaluating Examination is only for graduates of international (non-U.S., non-accredited) pharmacy programs. To apply for the examination, you must first enrol in Pharmacists' Gateway Canada and designate the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists (NBCP). Enrolment in Pharmacists' Gateway Canada is a mandatory first step in the process to become a licensed pharmacist in Canada (except in Quebec). It provides a national ID number, which is required to apply to the PEBC for Document Evaluation.

After enrolling in Pharmacists' Gateway Canada and receiving a national ID number, you must register directly with the PEBC to have your documents evaluated. This process can take up to eight weeks from the date all required documentation is received. The PEBC has specific instructions for the submission of each required document, which can be found on their website.

Once your documents have been favourably evaluated by the PEBC, you are eligible to take the PEBC Evaluating Examination. To prepare for the examination, the PEBC provides a syllabus that includes sample outlines of Canadian university-level pharmacy course material. This material covers subject areas considered important to the background knowledge base in the pharmaceutical sciences and preparation for pharmacy practice. However, it is important to note that this syllabus is not the blueprint for the construction of questions for the examination.

The PEBC Evaluating Examination is available in both English and French. You must indicate on your application the language in which you wish to take the exam and are then required to complete the exam in that language. The results of the examination are given on a pass/fail basis, and you must achieve at least 60% of the total possible score (200) to pass. If you are unsuccessful, you may request, in writing, one final hand-scoring of your exam.

Complete Structured Practical Training

To become a pharmacist in New Brunswick, you must complete Structured Practical Training (SPT). This is a mandatory requirement for registration as a full pharmacist. SPT is a practice-based training program that allows pharmacist applicants to apply the knowledge, skills, and abilities they have learned in their training program or practice. It is an opportunity to demonstrate competence and readiness to practice in a supervised setting.

The SPT process in New Brunswick consists of eight weeks of practical experience, followed by a two-week assessment. During the eight-week training period, the preceptor will assess the intern in week seven. If all competency expectations are met by week eight, the candidate is eligible for the two-week Independent Assessment for Entry-to-Practice (IAEP) with an assessor chosen by the College of Pharmacists of New Brunswick. This assessment costs $800.

If a candidate does not meet the expectations by week eight, they will be required to complete an additional eight weeks of internship before becoming eligible for the IAEP. It is the responsibility of the applicant to find their own preceptor to perform the training. A $20 WorkSafeNB insurance fee may also apply.

Each province in Canada has different requirements for the number of hours of structured practical training and the assessment. For example, in British Columbia, the Canadian Pharmacy Practice Programme (CP3) is a bridging program that consists of 12 weeks of classroom learning followed by 12.5 weeks of practicum. In Ontario, the Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) assesses a candidate's readiness to safely and independently practice as a pharmacist, with no training component.

By completing structured practical training, international pharmacy graduates will gain experience in a pharmacy patient care setting and can meet the national entry-to-practice competency standards.

Apply for licensure with the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists (NBCP)

To apply for licensure with the New Brunswick College of Pharmacists (NBCP), you must meet the requirements set out by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) and complete the necessary steps. Here is a detailed guide on how to apply for licensure with the NBCP:

Firstly, it is mandatory to enrol in Pharmacists' Gateway Canada and designate the NBCP. This enrolment process provides you with a national ID number, which is crucial for applying to the PEBC for Document Evaluation. The Gateway also serves as a platform to track your progress and securely store your documents.

After enrolling in the Gateway and obtaining your national ID number, you must register with the PEBC for Document Evaluation. This step involves submitting the required documents for evaluation, and it typically takes up to eight weeks for the PEBC to complete this process. Familiarising yourself with the PEBC's document submission instructions is essential to avoid delays.

Once your documents are favourably evaluated by the PEBC, you become eligible to take the PEBC Evaluating Examination. This examination is offered twice a year, in the winter and summer, with results posted three weeks after the exam date. It is important to note that each additional attempt to pass this examination will add approximately six months to the licensure process.

Candidates who successfully pass the PEBC Evaluating Examination can proceed to apply for the PEBC Qualifying Examination, which consists of two parts. To be eligible for licensure in New Brunswick, you must pass at least one part of the Qualifying Examination. This examination is also offered twice a year, in the spring and fall, and results are posted six weeks after the exam date. Again, each additional attempt will add approximately six months to the licensure timeline.

Language proficiency in English or French is a requirement for licensure in New Brunswick. You can fulfil this requirement by submitting language test results from examinations such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL-iBT).

After successfully passing one part of the Qualifying Examination and meeting the language proficiency requirement, you can proceed with the following steps:

• Apply through your profile on Pharmacists' Gateway Canada.
• Apply for conditional registration with the NBCP, which comes with a fee of $250.
• Submit a one-time application fee of $595.

With conditional registration complete, you can commence your Structured Practical Training (SPT). This training spans eight weeks, followed by a two-week assessment. To be eligible for the Independent Assessment for Entry-to-Practice (IAEP), you must successfully complete eight weeks of practical experience. If you meet all competency expectations by the eighth week, you can proceed with the two-week IAEP with an assessor chosen by the College, incurring an $800 fee.

Finally, upon fulfilling all the licensure requirements, you can submit your application for a licence with the NBCP. This application entails submitting the following:

• Annual pharmacist licence dues ($1,060 per year)
• Proof of professional liability insurance
• Proof of valid certification in First Aid and CPR
• Criminal record check

Once you have successfully completed these requirements, you will be granted a licence to practise pharmacy in the province of New Brunswick.

Frequently asked questions