Enrolment
Enrolment in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (Gateway) is a mandatory first step for all international pharmacy graduates (IPGs) who require a Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Certificate of Qualification. Applicants from France who wish to practise in Quebec do not need to enrol in Gateway.
The PEBC Certificate of Qualification is required in all provinces in Canada except Quebec. IPGs applying for licensure in Quebec and who do NOT require a PEBC Certificate of Qualification do not need to enrol in Gateway. Applicants who are licensed in Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, or the United States may qualify for the streamlined licensing pathway in Nova Scotia. Please check with the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP) prior to registering in Gateway.
Gateway is a central database for your original documents and evaluation results. This information can only be viewed by you, PEBC, the relevant pharmacy regulatory authority (once you apply to them), and NAPRA administrators. In addition, Gateway provides the most up-to-date and accurate information about licensure in Canada.
Effective January 2025, the fee to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada is $385, plus applicable taxes.
Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (Gateway) is managed by the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA), a not-for-profit organization. NAPRA uses the enrolment fee to manage Gateway operations, including hosting the website, maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the information on the website and the data stored in the repository, and providing client services (Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time).
No, you do not have to be in Canada to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada. Enrolment can take place from anywhere in the world where there is access to the Internet.
In most provinces in Canada, you are not required to be licensed anywhere in the world to be eligible to start the licensure process; however, the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals (SCPP) requires a recent (less than one-year old) Letter of Good Standing.
Individuals who have graduated from a pharmacy program outside of Canada are considered international pharmacy graduates, regardless of citizenship.
Graduates who obtained their pharmacy education in the United States (U.S.) are required to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (Gateway) and receive a National ID number before applying to the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) for the U.S. Document Evaluation and Qualifying Examination. The PEBC will not be able to process applications from U.S. graduates unless a National ID number is provided. This does not apply to U.S. graduates who initiated the certification process with the PEBC prior to August 20, 2014, or qualify for the streamlined licensing pathway in Nova Scotia.
Graduates who obtained their pharmacy education from an international pharmacy program which is accredited by the Canadian Council for the Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) are required to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and receive a National ID number before applying to the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) for Document Evaluation and the Evaluating Examination. PEBC will not be able to process applications for Document Evaluation and the Evaluating Examination from graduates international programs accredited by CCAPP unless a National ID number is provided.
The pharmacy regulatory authorities in Canada do not have special recognition or advance standing for graduates from an institution which has an international accreditation by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). Like any international pharmacy graduate interested in licensure in Canada, graduates of international programs accredited by CCAPP must follow all the requirements as set out within this website.
The pharmacy regulatory authorities in Canada do not have special recognition or advance standing for graduates from an institution which has an international certification status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Like any international pharmacy graduate interested in licensure in Canada, graduates with this certification must follow all the requirements as set out within this website.
It will depend on the type of job and the requirements for that job. Enrolment in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada is only required if you choose to pursue licensure as a pharmacist in Canada. Please note that only a licensed pharmacist can identify as pharmacist in Canada.
The National ID number is required for the the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Document Evaluation application. If you do not have a National ID number, then you will be required to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada first (Gateway). However, if you already have a valid National ID number, you are not required to obtain a new one. You may contact Gateway if you are not sure you have a valid National ID number.
The guest account is the first step to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (Gateway). It is free to set up and will not expire.
The guest account does not allow you to apply for the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Document Evaluation. Once you have created a guest account, you are required to enrol in Gateway to obtain your National ID number. The pharmacy regulatory authorities and the PEBC cannot access and upload documents or test results to a guest account.
The National ID number, also called the National Identifier number, is a unique number assigned to a candidate after they complete their enrolment in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (Gateway). The National ID number is a common identifier used throughout the licensure process by all the partners involved in the process (Gateway, the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada, and the pharmacy regulatory authorities the candidate has applied to).
This requirement indicates that the password must be at least 7 characters long and include an upper-case letter, a lower-case letter, a number, and a symbol such as ! @ # $ ^ & *.
The primary phone number field will only accept 10 digits. You may remove or add numbers to meet this requirement. Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada’s primary method of communication is email and it is unlikely that we would contact you by phone if you live outside of Canada. However, please remember to update your contact information, including your phone number, once you are in Canada.
If you encounter any technical difficulties updating your phone number, please contact us by email at gatewayinfo@napra.ca.
Two items must be completed on this enrolment page: You must select the pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA) of the province where you wish to practise AND agree to the terms and conditions. You will be able to move forward to the next page of the enrolment once these two items have been completed.
At this stage of the enrolment process, you may select any PRA if you do not know where you wish to practise and change your designated PRA when you are ready to make a selection. Please note that this change must be made BEFORE applying to the PRA. In some provinces, you are eligible to apply to the PRA after you successfully complete the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Evaluating Examination. In other provinces, successful completion of one or both parts of the Qualifying Examination may be required.
Each province has different requirements for licensure. It is recommended that you review each pharmacy regulatory authority and their respective requirements for licensure in addition to the information found in the “How to Apply” section of the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada website to determine what works best for you.
You may change your designated pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA) if you have not yet applied to a PRA through Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (Gateway). To do so, follow the process outlined below.
1. Ensure you are using the full version of a Web browser on a desktop or laptop.
2. Log into your Gateway profile.
3. Click on “PRA” on the blue bar at the top of the page.
4. Go to “Manage Current PRA”.
5. Click on the field “View Current PRA Designations”.
6. Confirm that the appropriate PRA is selected.
7. Click to see available actions.
8. Click on “Update”.
9. Select the new PRA from the dropdown list.
10. Confirm the change at the bottom of the form.
Once you have applied to a PRA, you cannot change the designated PRA. In this case, if you wish to change your jurisdiction of licensure, you must add another PRA. The process to add a PRA follows.
1. Log into your Gateway profile.
2. Click “PRA” on the blue navigation bar.
3. Select the “Add New” button.
4. Select the desired PRA from the dropdown list.
5. Accept the terms and conditions.
6. Pay the non-refundable fee of $385 (plus tax, if applicable).
Functionalities of the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada profile were designed to work with a full version of Internet Explorer, Windows 10 Edge, Chrome, or Firefox on a desktop or a laptop. It will not work on a tablet or a smartphone unless Windows is enabled and you can use Internet Explorer. If you are still experiencing problems with the enrolment page, please send an email to gatewayinfo@napra.ca. If possible, please send a screenshot of the problem (error message, including the full form).
Please check for the enrolment confirmation email in your spam or junk folder if you do not see it in your inbox or see if PayPal has attempted to contact you regarding the transaction. Otherwise, please send a request by email to gatewayinfo@napra.ca. Your email should include your name, your date of birth, and the date that you enrolled. If possible, please include a copy or a screenshot of your PayPal receipt.
The National ID number is assigned to a candidate upon completing the enrolment in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada. It is required on the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) application forms (i.e., Document Evaluation, Evaluating Examination and Qualifying Examination application forms).
The PEBC ID number is assigned by the PEBC after a candidate applies for Document Evaluation. A candidate cannot apply online for the PEBC Evaluating Examination until a PEBC ID number is assigned.
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) and the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) administrators have authority to upload, download, and view certain information on your file as required for the purpose of processing your application for licensure. Once you apply to a pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA), the PRA will be given access to your information. This step is usually done after successful completion of the PEBC Evaluating Examination. Only those required to have access will be given access to your information. Your information is kept completely confidential and will never be sold or made available to the public.
Your National ID number and your profile with Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada will remain active for as long as required, to a maximum of 10 years.
Payment/Refund
The billing address is the address associated with your credit card. The billing address must match the one that card-issuing bank has on file or the payment may not go through.
PayPal is the only method of payment accepted online; however, PayPal does not support payments from all countries. A list of supported countries is available on the PayPal website. You can use a credit card, with or without a PayPal account, or you can create an account at www.paypal.com and link your bank account information to pay by e-check or debit card.
You can also ask a relative or a friend who is in possession of a valid credit card to log into your profile on Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada, access the enrolment form, and pay on your behalf. The information of the payer and the applicant does not have to be the same. Alternatively, you can submit a paper application and pay using an international money order or bank draft drawn on a Canadian bank. If you are interested in this option, please send an email to gatewayinfo@napra.ca for more information.
Payments are pending when they are under review by PayPal. PayPal will contact the payer if they require further information. Typically, they communicate directly with the payer by email. Please check for communications from PayPal in your spam or junk folders if you do not see it in the inbox.
The transaction will appear as ‘PAYPAL *NAPRA’ on your billing/credit card statement.
The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) of 13% applies to all payments made from a bank account within Canada or with a credit card registered to someone in Canada. Taxes will not be charged if payment is made from a bank account or credit card registered to someone outside of Canada. For example, if a candidate is living outside of Canada but the payer’s credit card is registered to someone in Canada, HST will be charged. If the credit card (or bank account) is registered to a person outside of Canada, then HST will not apply.
Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada is not an educational institution; therefore, fees charged are not tax deductible. A payment receipt is sent to you after the transaction. We recommend that you keep a copy in your files.
Goods and services purchased through Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada are not refundable. Exceptions may be made, subject to a $50 administration fee. Email gatewayinfo@napra.ca or call 613-569-9800 for more information.
Language Proficiency Requirements
The recommendations to pharmacy regulatory authorities (PRAs) that are outlined in the updated NAPRA Language Proficiency Requirement Policy do NOT automatically replace the language proficiency requirement currently applicable in any given jurisdiction. The updated recommendations in the policy will come into effect in a majority of provinces on September 1, 2024.
Pharmacy professional applicants who plan to submit language test results as proof of language proficiency in jurisdictions other than Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec should note that tests accepted and cut scores for:
• tests taken on or before August 31, 2024, will be assessed under the requirements of the previous policy; and
• tests taken starting September 1, 2024, will need to meet the requirements of the new policy.
Applicants should ALWAYS check the website of the PRA in their jurisdiction or contact them to determine the language proficiency requirement applicable in that jurisdiction.
Language proficiency is a requirement for licensure in all provinces in Canada. However, graduates from a Canadian pharmacy program accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) or an American program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) do not have to submit documentation verifying their proficiency in English. Please refer to the “Language Requirements” section of our website for additional information.
If you are still not sure of the language proficiency requirements, please contact your designated pharmacy regulatory authority directly. It should be noted that, in most cases, language proficiency results must be submitted directly from the testing centre to NAPRA for review. If you have taken the language proficiency test through the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), your results can be made available online through a secure portal.
Language proficiency is a requirement for licensure in all provinces. Graduates from English pharmacy programs in Canada and the United States do not have to submit documentation verifying their proficiency in English. Please refer to the “Language Requirements” section of the website for additional information.
Some pharmacy regulatory authorities (PRAs) have a policy allowing them to accept non-objective evidence of language proficiency. You may wish to contact the PRA to confirm if you can submit alternative documents demonstrating your language proficiency.
Click here to see a list of accepted language tests with the minimum required scores. Please note that you must meet the minimum requirement for each measured score including the overall.
Acceptable language proficiency scores can be found on the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (Gateway) website under the “Language Requirements” section. Once the results have been submitted to Gateway, you can verify them by checking your personalized licensure model in your Gateway account.
You cannot add the language proficiency results to your profile directly. Included below are instructions to submit the language results for each type.
IELTS Academic
You may send a scanned copy of your language test results to gatewayinfo@napra.ca, if you completed the Academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). We will confirm your test result directly with IELTS before adding it to your profile.
TOEFL iBT®
You may send us a scanned copy of your Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT®) to gatewayinfo@napra.ca. Please ensure that the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) is indicated as the Destination Institution (DI). This will allow us to confirm your results directly with TOEFL before adding them to your profile. Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada will not be able to confirm your TOEFL iBT® results if NAPRA is not the DI.
OET
You must send us a copy of your language test results letter. Additionally, please ensure that the testing centre shares the results with us. Our organization is listed as “National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities – NAPRA”. This will allow us to confirm your results before adding them to your profile. Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada will not be able to confirm your results from OET if they are not properly shared with us.
To meet the English language proficiency requirement, you must submit results for the Academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The General Training version does not meet the minimum requirement.
Additionally, there is a version of the language test offered at a testing facility and an online version that is remotely proctored. Language test results from a remote-proctored examination are not accepted by all the pharmacy regulatory authorities (PRAs). Confirm your PRA’s language proficiency requirements before considering the online examination sitting.
The TOEFL iBT® Test Destination Institution (DI) code for NAPRA is 7603. We are listed under the institution name “National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities”.
You must send us a copy of your language test results letter by email. Additionally, please ensure that the testing centre shares the results with us. Our organization is listed as “National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities – NAPRA”. This will allow us to confirm your results before adding them to your profile. Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada will not be able to confirm your results from OET if they are not properly shared with us.
Diagnostic Tool & Learning Modules
The diagnostic tool and all three learning modules (DTLM) are available for a fee. Pharmacy professionals, international pharmacy graduates, and pharmacy students alike will find information relevant to their pharmacy practice in Canada in the DTLM and are encouraged to participate in this learning program. Visit the DTLM page on our website for more information.
Those who wish to enrol in the NAPRA Diagnostic Tool and Learning Modules (DTLM) program are invited to do so as follows:
* Visit the NAPRA DTLM registration page
* Create a new account
* Choose a course
* Pay the required fee.
The diagnostic tool and learning modules will be available for one (1) year after registration.
A certificate of completion will be provided once the diagnostic tool and all three learning modules have been completed. You may contact gatewayinfo@napra.ca if you require certificates of completion for individual components of the program.
Other
The next step in the licensure process is to apply for the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada’s (PEBC) Document Evaluation. Please go to the PEBC website for instructions.
The documents for the PEBC Document Evaluation must be submitted to the PEBC and not to Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada. Please consult the PEBC website for their address.
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) is responsible for assessing the authenticity of the primary pharmacist qualification (i.e., the candidate’s pharmacy degree). For more details on how to request the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report, please consult the PEBC website.
Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (Gateway) and the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) are two separate entities. Gateway cannot confirm the status of your document evaluation. PEBC will release the results to you before they are updated in your profile on Gateway. You may wish to contact PEBC directly at pebcinfo@pebc.ca for specific details.
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Evaluating Examination is required for all international pharmacy graduates (IPGs) to be eligible to apply for the PEBC Qualifying Examination. The PEBC Certificate of Qualification is issued once the candidate successfully passes both parts of the PEBC Qualifying Examination. The certificate is a licensure requirement in all the provinces except for Quebec. In Quebec, although it is not a requirement to submit the PEBC Certificate of Qualification, a candidate may still submit it with their application to the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec (OPQ).
Candidates who are licensed in the United Kingdom may be eligible for the streamlined licensing pathway in Nova Scotia. Please check with the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP) prior to registering in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada.
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) has information to help you prepare for the Evaluating Examination and Qualifying Examination. The webpages below contain instructions, sample questions, and review guides specific to each examination.
PEBC Evaluating Examination
PEBC Qualifying Examination
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Document Evaluation results are valid for five years from the date on the results letter. This means that you must successfully complete the Evaluating Examination while the document evaluation results are still valid.
The PEBC Evaluating Examination results do not expire.
The PEBC Qualifying Examination has two parts. Once you successfully complete one part, you have three years to successfully complete the remaining part.
As part of your application with the pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA), you must complete the “Apply to PRA” section through your profile with Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada. This will allow the PRA to view your profile information as well as examination results and documents scanned in by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).
Please complete the following steps to apply to the PRA of your choice:
1. Ensure you are using the full version of a Web browser on a desktop or laptop.
2. Log into your Gateway profile.
3. Click on “PRA” on the blue bar at the top of the page.
4. Go to “Manage Current PRA”.
5. Click on the field “View Current PRA Designations”.
6. Confirm that the appropriate PRA is selected.
7. Click to see available actions.
8. Click on “Apply”.
Your application will be reviewed in the next two business days. A notification email will be sent to you and the PRA once this review is completed.
Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada does not have a list of accepted international pharmacy programs. During the Document Evaluation, the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) will examine your transcripts and determine whether the courses you took are equivalent to the Canadian standards for entry to practice in pharmacy.
The licensure and immigration processes are separate. Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada is not involved in the immigration process. Please contact the Government of Canada for more information regarding the immigration process.
You may appear for the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) evaluating and qualifying examinations while you are in Canada on a visitor visa.
It is important to note that you will be required to have the appropriate authorization to work in Canada from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) when you apply to the pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA) of the province where you wish to work. In most provinces, you are eligible to apply to the PRA after you successfully complete the PEBC Evaluating Examination.
Please note that the licensure and immigration processes are separate. Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada is not involved in the immigration process. You are responsible for obtaining the appropriate authorizations required during the licensure process from the IRCC.
If you have forgotten your password to login to Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada, you can use the ”Forgot Password” icon on the sign-in page or contact Client Services. If you have forgotten your username, you will need to contact client services directly by calling 613-569-9800 or sending an email to gatewayinfo@napra.ca.
Client Services operate Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada is available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada’s office is not open to the public but is accessible to candidates by telephone, email, or mail. Candidates may contact Client Services by telephone at +1 613-569-9800, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET. They may also reach us in writing, by email at gatewayinfo@napra.ca or by mail.