Language Proficiency

The College is reviewing the new NAPRA Language Proficiency Requirement Policy before updating its own language proficiency requirements. This process may take several months. Once the College has reviewed and updated its language proficiency requirements, there may be an implementation period to allow applicants with currently valid test scores that meet the former requirements to continue their registration process. You should register with the College as soon as you are eligible to do so.

More information will be posted on the OCP website as it becomes available.

Yes, all components of the test must be attempted in the same session for the results to meet the College’s language proficiency requirement. The College does not accept the TOEFL MyBest Scores. 

The College can verify most test scores online. International pharmacy graduates who are required to apply through the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada should upload their CELPIP, IELTS or TEF Canada test score reports to their Gateway account.   

• For CELPIP, applicants should ensure that they have shared the test results with the College on the CELPIP portal.  

• For IELTS, the Test Report Form number in the bottom right corner of the report must be legible.  

• For PTE Core, applicants should ensure that they have shared their score with the College and provide their Registration ID or provide their Score Report Code (a 10-character code written at the top of the score report). 

• For TEF Canada, the Attestation number in the bottom left corner of the report must be legible.  

Otherwise, test score reports must be sent directly to OCP by the testing institution. 

Test scores are valid for two years from the date of the test. Your test scores must be valid every time you submit an application.

When you are ready to submit your application for registration, please e-mail [email protected] if you would like to request consideration for an extension of your test scores. If you recently successfully completed a bridging program approved by the College’s Board, the Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE), Structured Practical Training (SPT), or the PEBC Qualifying Exam, a College staff member may be able to extend the validity of your scores. 

If you have not successfully completed a current practice-based assessment or examination registration requirement, your request will be referred to a panel of the Registration Committee. 

For more information, please see the “Extending the validity of an applicant’s language proficiency test scores” section of the Language Proficiency Requirements at Registration for All Applicants Policy.  

The Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) is the range that accounts for differences in test scores by different assessors and different versions of the test. 

If your test score is below the minimum cut score but within the range of the posted SEM, your scores will be considered acceptable. If your test score is below the minimum cut score and below the range of the posted SEM, you are not considered to have met the College’s language proficiency requirement. 

Your supporting documentation should be submitted to [email protected] when you submit your application for registration as an intern or as an intern technician. Please include your name and OCP number in your email so that the evidence can be added to your existing OCP account. 

For more information, please see the Non-Objective Evidence of Language Proficiency policy and the relevant pharmacist applicant or pharmacy technician applicant registration pathway. 

There is no restriction on the type of information you may submit to a panel. However, it must be sufficiently reliable and persuasive to satisfy a panel that you possess reasonable language proficiency in English or French. The following is a list of examples you might submit: 

• Evidence of previously acceptable English or French language proficiency test scores (as listed on the language proficiency requirements for pharmacists or language proficiency requirements for pharmacy technician pages)
• Evidence that your elementary, secondary and pharmacy education was completed in English or French
• Evidence that you obtained your pharmacy degree at a faculty of pharmacy where the language of instruction was English or French, followed by practice in an English or French speaking environment
• Evidence of a long-standing history of working as a pharmacist where direct patient care and collaboration with other health professionals were provided in English or French verified by regulated professionals or recognized academics
• Evidence of your having authored pharmacy publications in English or French, accompanied by evidence from your professor/supervisor attesting to your language proficiency 

Language proficiency requirements help ensure applicants and registrants can effectively communicate with the College, patients and other healthcare professionals to support safe and quality patient care throughout their pharmacy careers. Meeting language proficiency requirements is a legal requirement under O. Reg. 256/24. 

No. Since 2006, the College’s language proficiency requirements has included a process that allowed the College to investigate if a registrant was reported to be unable to effectively communicate in English or French. In 2024, changes to NAPRA’s Language Proficiency Requirement Policy and Ontario Regulation 256/24 – General Regulations under Pharmacy Act, 1991 prompted the College to update and more clearly define the language proficiency expectations for applicants and registrants. A declaration confirming a registrant’s ability to speak, read, write and comprehend English or French with sufficient fluency to practise the profession will be introduced as part of the 2026 annual renewal process.  

No. Any concerns about a registrant’s language proficiency will be addressed through the College’s Complaints & Reports process. The first step will be gathering information to determine the validity of the concern.  

The English and French language proficiency tests and cut scores were updated to align with NAPRA’s Language Proficiency Requirement Policy. The 2024 NAPRA cut scores were determined through a rigorous scientific standard setting process with panels comprised of pharmacy practitioners, educators and regulators. The new cut scores reflect the evolution of pharmacy practice since the former scores were set in the mid-1990s and now align with other majority English-speaking countries.  

The non-NAPRA language proficiency tests are ones that are approved by the Government of Canada for immigration purposes. Ontario Regulation 508/22 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 requires the College to accept those tests. The cut scores for the other tests were determined from the 2024 NAPRA cut scores using published equivalence scales, such as the  Common European Framework of Reference for Languages/Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues (CEFR/CECR) and the Canadian Language Benchmarks/Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (CLB/NCLC).

If you completed your language proficiency test between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025, you must meet the tests and cut scores outlined on our pharmacist webpage (for pharmacist applicants) or our pharmacy technician webpage (for pharmacy technician applicants).  

Test scores are valid for two years from the test date. If you do not register with the College within two years of the date of your language proficiency test with acceptable cut scores, you may be eligible to request a 1-year extension of the validity of your test. Please refer to the FAQ about expired test scores.