Education · 1 of 4

The path

Two years of prerequisites, then a four-year professional doctorate.

  1. 1

    High school

    Grades 11 and 12

    Biology, chemistry, math and English with high marks.

  2. 2

    Pre-pharmacy university courses

    2 to 4 years

    Two years of science: chemistry, biology, biochemistry, physics, statistics. Some students finish a full degree first.

  3. 3

    Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

    4 years

    Four years at one of 10 Canadian pharmacy schools. Includes hundreds of hours of placements. Admission is competitive.

  4. 4

    PEBC (Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada) exams

    After graduation

    The national qualifying exam has a written part and a practical (OSCE, a hands-on skills test) part.

  5. 5

    Provincial licence

    A few months

    Register with your provincial college, complete a jurisprudence exam and a structured practical training period.