Ontario

Pharmacist

NOC: 31120
Regulated: Yes
Body: The Pharmacist Examining Board of Canada
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Overview

Pharmacists specialize in creating antibiotics, creams, ointments, tablets, pills, syrups and other medicine prescribed to patients. They use a variety of tools to put dosages together based on a doctor/general practitioner's information from patient visits. Most pharmacists generally work in front of the scenes to greet, listen and provide any given prescription, as well as making orders for specific medicines.

 

Pharmacists and Internationally Educated Pharmacists (IEP) are typically given a wide range of employment opportunities across dense and rural areas in Canada. These roles include becoming a pharmacist for clinical, hospital, private/retail, industrial or community perspectives.

Regulatory

The Pharmacist Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) is the primary body that registers, certifies and regulates all IEPs in both Ontario and Alberta. All IEPs looking to work and practice pharmacy in Canada are required by law to be licensed by the PEBC first.

This Pathway

Internationally Educated Pharmacists (IEP) are required to undergo a document evaluation before taking the PEBC Evaluating Examination. After passing the PEBC and/or filling the necessary requirements, IEPs will be allowed to take the PEBC's Qualifying Examination.

 

Applicants will be eligible to take the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination, which comes in two parts: the Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) and Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE).

 

The MCQ is an in-person computer-based exam spanning practices, regulations, pharmaceutical/biomedical sciences and professional practice.

 

The OSCE brings returning applicants in-person to a station for hands-on problem solving and completing short tasks including counselling, interacting with standard patients, solving ethical situations and vetting prescriptions.

Work Now!

IEPs working towards their PEBC are still able to find employment as Pharmacy Technicians or Pharmacy Assistants in Canada with previous experience. These over-the-counter and retail-based roles are supervised by trained PEBC-certified pharmacists and can offer additional hands-on experience and knowledge leading up to the qualification exam.

 

Unregulated roles are entry-level to intermediate jobs that do not require regulation in their respective field. Both the Pharmacy Technician and Assistant role are unregulated and do not require PEBC certification.

View our Interactive Road Map to learn how to become a Pharmacist in Canada!

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How Achēv will help

The step-by-step incentives

International Educated Healthcare Professionals (IEHPs) will work with the Employment Pathways in Canada-Health Care (EPIC-HC’s) team of Career Counselors and Employer Liaison to find unregulated roles in the Pharmacy field while studying for licensing. They will have access to the following services:

2-week Employment & Essential Skills training

  • Resume- Cover Letter- Interview preparation
  • Networking Techniques
  • Pathways to licensure planning & supports
  • Relocation planning & supports
  • Labour Market Information
  • Training on Adaptability, Initiative and Teamwork
  • Workplace Culture & Intercultural Communication
  • Employment Rights in Ontario and Alberta
  • Employer Connections in rural areas of Ontario and Alberta

Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals (IEHPs) can also use other Achēv in-house services, such as the Newcomer Information Centre, the Accelerated Career Advancement Program (ACA), and language services, such as the CLB Online Self-Assessment (CLB-OSA) at no cost.

 

The Newcomer Information Centre (NIC) is a great place to start if you have recently arrived in Canada. The NIC offers a wide range of immigrant services to help newcomers settle smoothly in Canada; they provide information and referrals on education and training, immigration, health, housing, legal, financial, social, and recreational needs of newcomers.

 

The Accelerating Career Advancement (ACA) program provides financial loans to internationally trained individuals looking to return to their chosen profession. Receive free ongoing one-on-one financial counseling.

 

Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals (IEHPs) can access its CLB Online Self-Assessment (CLB-OSA) at no additional cost to test their proficiency before taking the official CLB exam. The tool serves as a handy practice ahead of enhancing language skills with additional Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) home study training.

Financial Aid

Achēv's very own lending program: Accelerating Career Advancement (ACA) - Achēv can grant IEPs up to $30,000 in micro loans over a five year repayment to add relief for expenses including IEP study material, equipment, and living expenses in Ontario.

Funded by the Government of Canada, Achēv’s Accelerating Career Advancement (ACA) program provides financial loans, accreditation support, and career counselling to Internationally Trained Individuals (ITIs) who are looking to return to their chosen profession.

 

You can learn more about their services here.

Language Proficiency Support

Achēv and EPIC Health Care (EPIC-HC) provides clients additional tools to exceed in their language proficiency requirements. The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) is the national standard of grading English as a Second Language (ESL).

Clients with EPIC-HC connecting to various pathways will be required to meet CLB Level 7 to pass most language related requirements.

 

Clients can access its CLB Online Self-Assessment (CLB-OSA) at no additional cost to test their proficiency prior to taking the official CLB exam. The tool serves as a handy practice ahead of enhancing language skills with additional Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) home study training.

Settlement Info

The step-by-step incentives

Internationally Educated Pharmacists will have an opportunity to work across rural Ontario while exploring recreation, nature and community beyond the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The EPIC-HC program covers a variety of targeted communities in need of Lab technicians, pharmacists and nurses to address a growing concern for healthcare workers.

Achev's ACA program will also provide loan supports for IEHPs embarking on their professional journeys across the province with partnering employers in healthcare.