Pharmacists

Pharmacists are required to have a Doctor of Pharmacy (known as a PharmD). They must also pass a board examination administered by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada and in order to practise in B.C., must also pass an English language fluency exam.

Before becoming fully licensed, pharmacists must have 1,000 hours of practical experience through a structured training program. These requirements may be reduced to 160 or 500 hours for formally licensed pharmacists who had left the industry and are applying to be re-licensed. Pharmacists from outside of Canada must take The University of British Columbia (UBC)'s Canadian Pharmacy Practice program.

Experiential education makes up one quarter of UBC’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Entry-to-Practice PharmD Program curriculum. In addition to classroom-based courses, students must complete 1,700 hours (42.5 weeks) of supervised practicum experience within a variety of patient care settings. After graduation, additional residency training programs are offered by B.C.’s health authorities.

Pharmacists frequently come into contact with hazardous chemical compounds, meaning they must take workplace hazardous materials information systems training. First aid and advanced cardiac life support certifications are beneficial, but not required. Retail pharmacists who plan to establish their own practices often take accounting and other business courses.

Pharmacists trained outside of B.C.:

Pharmacists who are certified by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references or criminal record check.

Those trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction must enroll in UBC’s Canadian Pharmacy Practice Program.

Contact the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

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View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

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Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

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A significant number of job openings are expected in response to new job creation and the need to replace retiring workers.

The demand for pharmaceutical services is rising in response to B.C.’s aging population. The largest increase in pharmacy activity has taken place in community pharmacies, including those located in food and general merchandise stores. Many jobs will be created in retail pharmacies as more merchandisers open pharmacies in their stores.

According to the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, an increasing number of hospitals, especially in small communities, have reported long-term vacancies for pharmacists. Temporary vacancies that result from maternity leaves are also difficult to fill.

Industry also reports a current shortage of pharmacists in small rural communities. As such, demand for both community and hospital pharmacists in these smaller communities is high.

Graduates of clinical and non-clinical hospital pharmacy programs, and pharmacists with previous experience working in hospitals, are also in demand in the province.