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Recently, changes have been implemented that will impact new internationally educated pharmacist graduate (IEPG) applicants.
Please note that these changes only impact new applicants who are IEPGs, not those who are already on the clinical pharmacist register.
Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada certification pathway
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) has announced upcoming changes to the certification pathway for IEPG candidates.
PEBC will no longer offer the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination after the October 2026 session. Effective January 2027, all IEPG candidates who successfully complete their document evaluation process will be eligible to enroll in the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination.
More information about the change and about next steps depending on which stage the IEPG candidate is currently at is available on the PEBC website.
University of Alberta Diploma in Canadian Pharmacy Practice program
Previously, any IEPG candidate who did not pass Parts I or II of the PEBC Qualifying Exams on the first try had to complete the University of Alberta’s (U of A) Certificate to Canadian Pharmacy Practice (CCPP) program.
The U of A has replaced the CCPP program with the new Diploma in Canadian Pharmacy Practice (DCPP) program.
Now, any IEPG candidate who does not pass Parts I or II of the PEBC Qualifying Exams on the first try will be required to complete the U of A’s DCPP program.
ACP will continue to recognize the certificates from the former CCPP program. However, now that the U of A has introduced the DCPP program, this will be the required program moving forward. Note that the U of A’s Certificate in Canadian Pharmacy Fundamentals is not sufficient; the DCPP or CCPP is required for those who do not pass Part I (MCQ) or II (OSCE) on a first attempt.
For more information, refer to the U of A’s FAQs for DCPP, Certificates + Courses webpage.
