Non-Objective Evidence of Language Proficiency

Approved: May 2015

Revised: December 2022

Reviewed: May 2023

This policy allows applicants who are not from a pharmacy program accredited by the Canadian Council for the Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) or a pharmacy degree program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to meet the language proficiency requirements by providing evidence other than current and acceptable language proficiency test scores (i.e., objective evidence). These applicants, or international pharmacy graduates (IPGs) and international pharmacy technician applicants (IPTAs), may provide non-objective evidence of English or French proficiency for consideration if it demonstrates the applicant’s ability to communicate and comprehend, both orally and in writing to a standard that is comparable to the language proficiency standards established by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities. This policy defines the type and extent of non-objective evidence of language proficiency that may be acceptable.

Policy

The College accepts alternatives to the established requirements of language proficiency for international pharmacy graduates and international pharmacy technician applicants.

Process

An IPG or IPTA who wishes to meet the College’s language proficiency registration requirement through non-objective evidence (NOE) of their language proficiency must submit at least TWO of the five following types of NOE in the same language:

  • Successful completion of professional pharmacy education in a majority English or French country;
  • Pharmacy work employment in a majority English or French country as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician;
  • Successful completion of the four final years of school in Canada to become eligible to apply for university or college;
  • Successful completion of an undergraduate university degree in Canada; or
  • Current registration with the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

Guidance on the documentation required for the first four types of NOE is available in the Decision Criteria below.

The supporting documentation should be submitted to registrantservices@ocpinfo.com to be recorded in the applicant’s file. College staff will verify the information submitted if necessary, and determine if the NOE meets policy criteria. Applicants who meet the language proficiency requirements through this policy will see this validated in their online registrant profile; only applicants who do not meet the language proficiency requirements will be directly notified.

Decision Criteria

Each type of non-objective evidence will be accepted if it satisfies the following specific decision criteria.

  1. Successful completion of professional pharmacy education if
    • Degree/diploma was completed in a majority English or French language country (1) and
    • Documentation (2) submitted for the individual applicant directly from the pharmacy program confirms:
      • Theoretical and clinical instruction, and patient care experience were provided in English or French while the applicant attended program; and
      • Program was delivered in class (not online or by distance education), and was a minimum two years of full time study.
  2. Pharmacy work employment as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician if:
    • Practice was completed in a majority English or French language country; and
    • Documentation (3) submitted for the individual applicant directly from the employer confirms:
      • Direct patient care and collaboration with other health professionals were provided in English or French;
      • The applicant is able to communicate and comprehend effectively, both orally and in writing, in either English or French.
  3. Successful completion of the four final years of school in Canada to become eligible to apply for university or college if documentation (4) submitted for the individual applicant directly from the school(s) or school board confirms the applicant successfully completed four consecutive, first language English or French credits/courses. Courses may be part of a Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec.
  4. Successful completion of an undergraduate university degree in Canada if documentation (5) submitted for the individual applicant directly from the school(s) confirms the program was delivered in class (not online or by distance education), and was a minimum three years of full time study.
Possible Outcomes

Language proficiency requirements met:

The applicant will be registered provided all of the other registration requirements have been met.

Language proficiency requirements not met:

The applicant may choose to submit acceptable language proficiency test scores. If applicable, the application could be referred to a panel of the Registration Committee for further consideration of other evidence of the applicant’s English or French proficiency.

Footnotes:

  1. A majority English or French language country is one where the primary official language or language of instruction is English or French. The College will confirm this in the following resources:
  2. The letter sent directly from the pharmacy school to OCP must confirm that all of the lectures, examinations, assignments, laboratories and experiential placements required by the program were exclusively delivered in either English or French while you attended the program.
    Alternatively, the applicant or the program may submit course outlines or syllabi that were current while the applicant was attending the program and that list required and recommended text books and references published in either English or French.
  3. The letter sent directly from the applicant’s employer to OCP must describe the applicant’s role or scope or practice in that workplace, and their English or French fluency when communicating with staff, patients and other health professionals. In addition, the letter may confirm if the language of written and spoken business in that workplace was either English or French, and if communication with the pharmacy regulatory body (which should be specified in the letter) is in either English or French. The letter must also include the start and end dates of the applicant’s employment, the business name and address, and the writer’s current contact information.
  4. The school or school board must provide an original or true copy of a transcript sent directly to OCP showing that the applicant had graduated with four consecutive, first language English or French credits. English or French as a Second Language credits/courses are not acceptable evidence for this policy.
    Alternatively, the school or school board may provide a letter sent directly to OCP confirming that the applicant graduated from secondary school, and had successfully completed four consecutive, first language English or French credits.
    The Ontario Ministry of Education website tells applicants how to get an official transcript from the secondary school they attended.
  5. The university must provide an official transcript or letter sent directly from the university to OCP.
Legislative references

College Contact: regprograms@ocpinfo.com

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