Nova Scotia - Pharmacists' Gateway Canada

Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP)

Licensure Requirements

STREAMLINED LICENSING PATHWAY

Starting December 2023, candidates are eligible to apply directly with the NSCP through this new licensing pathway if they:

Have practised sufficient direct patient care in the last two years to maintain their competence to practise; and,
Hold an active pharmacist license/registration in good standing in a designated jurisdiction:
○ Australia
○ Great Britain
○ New Zealand
○ Republic of Ireland
○ United States of America.

Note: Candidates may also be eligible for the streamlined pathway if they have ever held a license/registration in one of the designated jurisdictions.

Candidates eligible for the streamlined pathway are not required to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and must contact the NSCP directly to start their licensing process.

More information is available on the NSCP website.

Requirement

Time (Months)

Cost

Enrolment in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada

$380

More details

Candidates are asked to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and designate the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP).

Enrolment in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (the Gateway) is a mandatory first step in the process to become a licensed pharmacist in Canada except in the province of Quebec. It provides a national ID number, which is required to apply to the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) for Document Evaluation and creates a profile where candidates can track their progress using a licensure model and becomes a document repository where the pharmacy regulatory authorities (PRAs) can access information uploaded by PEBC and the candidates’ language test report. International pharmacy graduates wishing to start the enrolment process are invited to visit the candidate portal. This information can only be viewed by the candidate, PEBC, the PRA (once the candidate applies to them) and NAPRA administrators as appropriate.

PEBC Document Evaluation

$705

More details

After enrolling in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and receiving a national ID number, international pharmacy graduates (IPGs) must register directly with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) to have their documents evaluated. Timing: It will take up to eight weeks (two months) for PEBC to complete the Document Evaluation from the date all required documentation has been received. PEBC has specific instructions for the submission of each required document. To avoid delays in starting the Document Evaluation, IPGs should familiarize themselves with the requirements. More details regarding the submission of each document can be found on the PEBC website.

PEBC Evaluating Examination

$900*

More details

Candidates whose documents are favourably evaluated by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) are eligible to take the PEBC Evaluating Examination. The examination is offered twice a year: once in the winter and once in the summer. Timing: The application deadline is typically four months before the examination date. PEBC will post the examination results three weeks after the examination date. Due to the timing of the examination, each additional attempt to pass this examination will add approximately six months to the licensure process. More details on the application process are available on the PEBC website.

PEBC Qualifying Examination

4.5

MCQ = $845*

OSCE = $1,895*

More details

Candidates who successfully pass the PEBC Evaluating Examination are eligible to apply for the PEBC Qualifying Examination Part I & II. The examinations are offered twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. Candidates wishing to be licensed in Nova Scotia must successfully pass both parts of the Qualifying Examination. This requirement can be met at any time prior to applying for licensure with the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP).

Timing: The application deadline is typically four to five months before the examination date. The PEBC will post the examination results six weeks after the examination date. Due to the timing of the examination, each additional attempt to pass this examination will add approximately six months to the licensure process.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

More details

Language proficiency is a requirement for licensure in all provinces in Canada.

English language proficiency must be demonstrated prior to applying to the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP). Candidates who meet the criteria to submit their education as evidence of language proficiency are not required to submit language proficiency test results.

Language proficiency test results must be current within two (2) years. Candidates 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 (2014); and
• tests taken starting September 1, 2024, will need to meet the requirements of the new policy (2024).

Language test results from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) can be submitted by email at gatewayinfo@napra.ca. The Test Report Form (TRF) number will be used to confirm the validity of the language test results. Candidates who took the language test from the Occupational English Test (OET) must submit their results letter by email at gatewayinfo@napra.ca. Candidates are also asked to ensure that NAPRA has permission to view their results on our OET verifier account. Our organization is listed as “National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities – NAPRA”. This is required to confirm the validity of the language test results. Language test results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL-iBT) will be accepted if the test was taken on or before August 31, 2024. Results can be submitted by email and candidates are asked to ensure that the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) is the Destination Institution (DI). It is required to confirm the validity of a language test results. More details on this requirement are available on the Language Requirements page. Fees and timing will differ from one language test provider to another.

Application to NSCP

$200

More details

Candidates who have successfully completed the PEBC Evaluating Examination are eligible to apply to the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP).

Candidates must complete two steps:

1. Apply through their profile on Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada; and,
2. Register as an intern ($200).

Applicants are encouraged to contact Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), a community-based organization that welcomes newcomers and offers a full range of support along a settlement continuum.

More details on the application process are available on the NSCP website.

Jurisprudence Examination

$385

More details

Candidates who have completed their application to be interns with the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP) can apply for the Jurisprudence Examination.

More details on the application process are available on the NSCP website.

Structured Practical Training

$1,403

More details

Candidates who have met the language proficiency requirements, completed the Jurisprudence Examination and their registration as interns with the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP) can apply to start their structured practical experience (SPE) program of 20 weeks.

Candidates are required to complete a 20-week SPE program. The fee must be paid prior to the beginning of the SPE program. The preceptor and SPE site must be approved by NSCP.

Following the completion of the 20-week SPE program, candidates must complete a one-week competency-based assessment. Candidates are required to contact NSCP to apply for this assessment.

More details on the application process are available on the NSCP website.

Licensure / Registration

$1,763

More details

Candidates who have completed all the licensure requirement may apply for a licence with the Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists (NSCP).

Candidates must complete and submit the application for registration as a pharmacist in Nova Scotia and include:

• Initial registration fee ($482)
• Application for registration as a pharmacist in Nova Scotia ($1,281)
• Proof of professional liability insurance

After successful completion of all of these requirements, the candidate will be granted a licence to practise pharmacy in the province of Nova Scotia.

* 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 accommodations (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.

Financing Resources

Some financing options may also be available for candidates wishing to take a Bridging Program, in the form of short-term loans from a Canadian banking institution such as Scotiabank or RBC Royal Bank.

The Windmill Microlending provides microloans to immigrants to help them pay for the costs of obtaining the licensing or training they require to work in their field in Canada.

The Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund (AICLF) is a micro-loan fund for internationally trained immigrants in Atlantic Canada. Providing micro-loans to newcomers allows them to overcome financial barriers to upgrade their skills and obtain their license or certification so that they can:
• Practice their occupation, regulated or unregulated
• Find opportunities in field or a related field
• Change career to adjust to the labour market needs

We invite candidates to visit the AICLF website to learn more, take our eligibility test, apply or discover successful applicant testimonials.

Other Resources

Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) is a community-based organization that welcomes newcomers and offers a full range of support along with a settlement continuum.