The applicant must be able to speak and write in English or French with reasonable fluency.
The Ontario College of Pharmacists will ordinarily consider one of the following as evidence of satisfactory fluency:
a. successful completion of a pharmacy technician/assistant program offered by a community college or private vocational school approved by the Ministry of Education and Training of Ontario; OR
b. a transcript that confirms graduation from a university, community college or private vocational school program in Canada or the United States that includes English or French as part of the required curriculum; OR
c. confirmation of completion of each grade of elementary school studies (Kindergarten through grade 8) in English or French, and a transcript of studies from a secondary school program in Canada or the United States in which English or French is part of the required curriculum; OR
d. achieving the required scores from one of the following combination of tests:
English
TSE [50] + TOEFL [580] + TWE [4]; OR
TSE [50] + C-TOEFL [237] with an essay rating of [4]
IELTS [Overall score of 6.5 on the General Test, with no score of less that 6 on any of the individual components]; OR
CanTEST [Listening = 4.5, Speaking = 4.5, Reading = 4.5, Writing = 4]
French
TESTCan [Listening = 4.5, Speaking = 4.5, Reading = 4.5, Writing = 4]
2. Scores for the above tests will only be valid for a period of two years from the date of examination.
3. Test scores must be received by the Ontario College of Pharmacists directly from the testing institution.
4. This fluency policy is related to that required of applicants for registration as a pharmacy student, intern or pharmacist in Ontario, and will be revised as that policy changes.
 | Fluency Tests - Please click here for Language Proficiency Assessments contact information. |
English
The TEST OF SPOKEN ENGLISH (TSE) is designed to evaluate the general oral language proficiency of non-native speakers of English. Applicants are asked to give oral answers to questions presented in written and oral form and the spoken answers are recorded on tape; no writing is required.
The purpose of the TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TOEFL or C-TOEFL) is to evaluate the English proficiency of people whose native language is not English. The test uses a multiple choice format to measure the ability to understand North American English.
For the TEST OF WRITTEN ENGLISH (TWE or Essay Rating) applicants will write a short essay to demonstrate his/her ability to write in English. This includes the ability to generate and organize ideas, to support those ideas with examples or evidence, and to compose in standard written English in response to an assigned topic.
Note: Although you must contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in New Jersey, USA, for information and registration, these tests are currently offered in Ontario.
CanTEST provides band scores for listening, reading, writing and oral skills. Oral interviews are conducted separately from the written part of the test, and candidates must indicate that they wish to take the oral interview. CanTEST is currently offered in Ottawa, Ontario and information and registration can be obtained through the University of Ottawa. The test is offered in English.
Note: If a candidate does not attain the required scores, a retake will only occur after a three-month waiting period.
IELTS, the INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM (IELTS), assesses whether an applicant is ready to study or train in English. Candidates are tested in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules. OCP applicants must take the Academic Reading and Writing modules. Test results are sent within two weeks of taking the test. IELTS is currently offered in Kitchener, Ontario and information and registration can be obtained through the Conestoga College.
Note: If a candidate does not attain the required scores, a retake will only occur after a three-month waiting period.
The Registration Committee and OCP staff are aware that the internet-based TOEFL will be replacing the computer-based and paper-based versions of the TOEFL and the TSE beginning in September 2005. We are also aware that the TSE alone will be available until 2006 when the internet-based TOEFL has been introduced worldwide. During the next few months, the Registration Committee will decide if OCP will accept the internet-based TOEFL in place of the older versions of the TOEFL tests and TSE tests and determine the final cut scores. Information regarding the acceptance of the internet-based TOEFL and cut scores will be posted on the OCP website once the Registration Committee's decision has been finalized.
French
TESTCan provides band scores for listening, reading, writing and oral skills. Oral interviews are conducted separately from the written part of the test, and candidates must indicate that they wish to take the oral interview. TESTCan is currently offered in Ottawa, Ontario and information and registration can be obtained through the University of Ottawa. The test is offered in French.
Please click here for Language Proficiency Assessments contact information.