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Note: The Pilot Program to Prepare for Practical Training (P4T) concluded in December 2022. NAPRA thanks all P4T mentors and mentees for making the project a success. While the mentorship component is now completed, the Diagnostic Tool and Learning Modules (DTLM) introduced as part of P4T continue to be available online to pharmacy professionals and other interested participants, with no prerequisites or requirements. To learn more: NAPRA Diagnostic Tool and Learning Modules.

As part of efforts to facilitate a smoother entry to pharmacy practice in Canada for international pharmacy graduates (IPGs), the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) launched the Pilot Program to Prepare for Practical Training (P4T) in 2019.  This multi-year project, funded by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program, is specifically designed to address the learning and skill gaps that have been identified as barriers to success for IPGs seeking to become licensed pharmacists in Canada. It includes a diagnostic tool and three learning modules, which are available online, and a mentorship program.

The P4T mentorship program matches IPGs with experienced Canadian pharmacists, providing them a unique opportunity for hands-on learning. We address below three of the questions which IPGs raise most frequently regarding the P4T program.

Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Will It Take Me to Be Matched to a Mentor?
It may take approximately six to eight weeks to be matched to a mentor. The speed with which successful interviewees are matched to a mentor depends on the availability of mentors in their geographical area. The P4T team will notify the applicant as soon as a potential match is identified.

How Can I Update My Language Test Results in Gateway?
Applicants may complete their language proficiency testing any time prior to applying to become P4T mentees. Language proficiency results must be added to the IPG portal on Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada (Gateway) by NAPRA or by the pharmacy regulatory authority (PRA) to which the applicant applied from their profile in Gateway. There is NO functionality in the Gateway profile that allows applicants to update their language test results directly in Gateway as the test results must be verified before they are added to the Gateway profile.

If the language proficiency test is taken through the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the results may be made available directly to the applicant. In this case, applicants are asked to submit their results, including the Test Report Form (TRF) number, along with their national ID number to gatewayinfo@napra.ca.

Candidates who completed the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) must indicate NAPRA as the destination institution. The destination institution (DI) code is 7603.

Once the language proficiency results are received, they will be verified using the online secure portal of the language test provider and the applicants’ profile will be updated as appropriate.

What Is the Best Way to Contact the P4T Team?
The P4T team provides support to IPGs as they progress through the various stages of the mentorship process, starting from the time IPGs express interest in becoming P4T mentees. The fastest way for IPGs to reach the P4T team with any question or request they have is by email at p4t-4pf@napra.ca. Email messages sent to individual P4T email addresses will not get attended to as quickly and we highly encourage IPGs to direct all queries to the program’s general email address.

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