All applicants must meet a number of registration requirements before they can register with the College. These requirements are specified in the General Regulation under the Pharmacy Act, 1991 to ensure that registrants possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities to safely practice pharmacy in Ontario.
While the requirements are the same for every applicant, there are several pathways to registration as a pharmacist or registration as a pharmacy technician.
Some requirements are non-exemptible to ensure that applicants demonstrate core knowledge, skills and abilities to safely practice when they first enter the profession (noted below with an *). These requirements must be met without exception.
Some requirements may be met through alternative means, as determined through a Council (Board) registration resolution or registration policy to allow applicants in certain cases to move forward without being referred to a panel of the Registration Committee.
Requirements
- Education*
- Jurisprudence, Ethics and Professionalism Exam*
- Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE)*
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Examination*
- Language proficiency
- Good character
Each applicant must also have Canadian citizenship or legal status in Canada and personal professional liability insurance.
*Non-exemptible requirements
Registration Principles
Development of the registration requirements, resolutions, policies and processes are guided by the following principles:
- The College’s Registration practices are fair, transparent, objective, and impartial.
- The College processes applications in a timely manner, and without unnecessary delay.
- Decisions to register an applicant are made in the interest of public safety.
- Decisions to register an applicant are based on the applicant’s knowledge, skill, judgment and ability to practise according to the standards of the profession.