Alberta

Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP)

Licensure Requirements

Requirement

Time (Months)

Cost

Enrolment in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada

$385

PEBC Document Evaluation

2

$715

PEBC Evaluating Examination

4

$910*

PEBC Qualifying Examination

4.5

MCQ =
$855*

OSCE =
$1,915*

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Bridging Program

10

$13,600

Application to ACP

$646

Jurisprudence Examination

Structured Practical Training

6

Licensure / Registration

$969 per year

* Fee is per attempt. Up to four attempts are permitted.
** Total may differ, depending on the number of attempts made to pass the PEBC Evaluation Examination and/or the PEBC Qualifying Examinations.

Financial Information

International pharmacy graduates (IPGs) who want to work as a pharmacist in Canada should be aware of the various fees and costs for each stage of the licensure process. Fees are charged for such things as enrolment in the Gateway, Document Evaluation, examinations, registration for internships and other components.

If candidates need to take additional training and education to qualify for a Canadian licence, they will also need to plan and budget for those additional costs.

Costs of Licensure

IPGs often underestimate the costs associated with obtaining a licence to practise in Canada. They will need to submit fees to separate organizations at different times throughout the process, such as when enrolling in the Gateway, registering to write exams and applying for their final licence.

Costs will differ for each province and territory. The specific fees charged in each Canadian province or  territory are presented on their respective pages under the menu item “How to Apply”.

Candidates should also think about the costs of living in Canada while they progress through the licensure process.

Other Extra Costs

The process to licensure can incur additional unexpected costs that are important to keep in mind.

  • Additional education: Candidates may choose to complete additional training to improve their knowledge and skills in pharmacy and language. This can be in the form of registering for a course, hiring a tutor, or purchasing online tools or books.
  • Travel costs to examination centres: Candidates living outside of major Canadian cities must account for travel costs when scheduling an examination. This may include accommodation (i.e., hotel).
  • Immigration: Immigration is an expensive process. Further details are available on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.
  • Living costs: The cost of living will vary across Canada.

Resources

The Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition (FRC) program was developed to support the credential recognition process for internationally trained professionals who want to work in a regulated profession in Canada.

Visit the FRC program page for more information on the available resources, including financial resources, for candidates who are going through the licensure process.

Some financing options may also be available for candidates in the form of short-term loans from a Canadian banking institution.

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