Non-Objective Evidence of Language Proficiency

First Approved: May 2015  
Last Revised: August 2025   

Purpose

All applicants must be able to speak, read, write and comprehend English or French with sufficient fluency to practise the profession. [Reference: Clause 8.(1)1. of O. Reg. 256/24 General Regulations under Pharmacy Act, 1991] 

This policy defines the type and extent of non-objective evidence of language proficiency that may be acceptable to meet the language proficiency registration requirement for applicants who are required to demonstrate their language proficiency through objective testing.  

Scope

This policy applies to applicants who did not graduate from a pharmacy education program located in Canada that was accredited by the Canadian Council for the Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) while the applicant was attending the program or from a pharmacist education program that was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) with “PharmD Program accreditation” status while the applicant was attending the program.  

Policy

The College accepts at least TWO of the following that meet the Decision Criteria, and in the same language, as evidence that the applicant is able to speak, read, write and comprehend English or French: 

1. Successful completion of professional pharmacy education in a majority English or French country; 

2. Pharmacy work employment in a majority English or French country as a pharmacist; 

3. Successful completion of the four final years of school in Canada to become eligible to apply for university or college; 

4. Successful completion of an undergraduate university degree in Canada; or 

5. Current registration as a pharmacy technician with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (if pursuing registration as a pharmacist). 

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 that is recognized by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) if
   • Degree/diploma was completed in a majority English or French language countryⁱ and 
   • Documentation^ii,iii 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 
     • The 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 if: 
   • Practice was completed in a majority English or French language country; and 
   • Documentation^ii,iv 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 speak, read, write and comprehend 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^ii,v 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^ii,vi 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. 
   

Alternatives to Meeting the Language Proficiency Registration Requirement Through Non-Objective Evidence 

If the evidence does not meet the Decision Criteria and documentation requirements outlined in this policy, 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. 

Legislative Reference

• General Regulations under Pharmacy Act, 1991 

Additional References

• Language Proficiency Requirements at Registration for All Applicants 

External References

• ACPE-accredited PharmD program
• CCAPP-accredited Canadian pharmacy degree programs 
• CCAPP-accredited Canadian pharmacy technician programs 
• NAPRA Language Proficiency Requirement Policy 

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ⁱ 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:

• CIA’s World Factbook (English or French must be listed as an official language of the country)
• Government of Alberta International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) international Education Guides

ⁱⁱ Documentation should be submitted to OCP with the intern or intern technician application (i.e., not upon successfully completing the PEBC Document Evaluation and/or Evaluating Exam).

ⁱⁱⁱ 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 the applicant 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.

^iv 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.

^v 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.

The university must provide an official transcript or letter sent directly from the university to OCP.