Requirements (pharmacist)

To be eligible for the clinical pharmacist register, you must complete the following requirements:

1. Complete ACP’s Jurisprudence Learning Module.
   • The Jurisprudence Learning Module is an online module that reviews the different federal and provincial legislations and standards of practice that govern Alberta pharmacy practice.
   • The module includes nine chapters. Once all the chapters are complete, you will receive a certificate.
   • You must complete the module prior to beginning the Structured Practical Training (SPT) program.
2. Complete the Ethics and Jurisprudence Exam.
   • You must be on the student or provisional register to book this exam.
   • The exam must be successfully completed prior to beginning the  SPT program. Jurisprudence exam results are valid two years from the date of successful completion.
3. Complete the online ACP SPT program.
   • You must be on the provisional register to complete the SPT program.
   • The SPT program consists of a minimum of 1,000 hours, but additional hours can be expected in order to demonstrate entry-to-practice competencies.
     • Recent Canadian pharmacy graduates (within one year of graduation) are exempt from completing the SPT program if the graduate applies and registers on the clinical pharmacist register within one year of graduation from the CCAPP-accredited pharmacy program.
     • If it has been more than one year since graduation, Canadian graduates are required to complete the SPT program.
   • Provisional pharmacists completing the former SPT program must do so in accordance with the former program rules.
4. Successfully complete the PEBC Qualifying Exams.
   • PEBC Qualifying Exam results must be current within three years at the time of application to the clinical pharmacist register. If exam results exceed the three-year limit, you will be required to retake both Part I and Part II of the PEBC Qualifying Exam prior to registering as a pharmacist in Alberta.
5. If you are an internationally educated pharmacist graduate, you must complete the University of Alberta’s Certificate to Canadian Pharmacy Practice (CCPP) program, unless exempt.
   • You are not required to complete the CCPP program if you completed
     • a Doctor of Pharmacy program in the United States accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), or
     • the PEBC Qualifying Exams (Parts 1 and 2) on your first attempt.
6. Obtain personal professional liability insurance (minimum $2 million).
   • Pharmacists must maintain a minimum of $2 million of personal professional liability insurance (claims made or occurrence based) regardless of employment status. The policy must be in the pharmacist’s name. You do not require insurance while you are on the provisional register.
7. You’re ready to apply!
   • Once you have completed the above requirements, you are eligible to apply for registration on the clinical pharmacist register. You must not practise as a clinical pharmacist until the practice permit is approved and issued.

Note: If you wish to administer drugs by injection as a clinical pharmacist, you need to apply for authorization to administer drugs by injection.

As part of your application for initial registration with ACP, you must upload the following supporting documentation via the application process.

Your supporting documentation must be prepared as follows:

• the supporting documents must be in PDF format;
• the content of the PDF document must be clear and legible, including the notary stamp or photo if applicable, and meet the Scanning guidelines and checklist for document submissions; and
• notarized copies require a notary public to certify and attest that the document is a true copy.

Prepare and notarize (where applicable) the following documents.

1. Notarized identification form that includes a passport photo that was taken within the last 12 months.
2. Notarized copy of a primary ID which may be one of the following:
   • Canadian birth certificate,
   • Canadian passport,
   • Canadian citizenship card,
   • Canadian permanent resident card or letter of confirmation of permanent residence,
   • Canadian work permit, or
   • student permit (must not limit the applicant from working in a health profession).
3. Notarized copy of a secondary ID which may be one of the following:
   • passport from another country,
   • valid Canadian driver’s licence,
   • provincial identification card, or
   • Canadian Forces identification.
4. Registration Statutory Declaration
   • The statutory declaration must be declared before a notary public or a commissioner for oaths within the past six months. Out of province declarants must use a notary public.
5. Enhanced Police Information Check.
   • The Enhanced Police Information Check must be current within the past six months. This document does not need to be notarized.
   • An Enhanced Police Information Check includes the following:
     • Criminal record check
       • A search of adult convictions held within the RCMP National Repository of Criminal Records.
     • Local police information
       • A search of additional convictions located outside of the National Repository and judicial matters reported by local police jurisdictions.
6. Evidence of name change (if applicable)
   • If the name on any document is different from your legal name, you must submit a copy of either your name change or marriage certificate to confirm that you legally changed your name. This document does not need to be notarized.

If you need to disclose information to ACP, refer to the list below and send completed forms to registrationinfo@abpharmacy.ca or include as part of your application.

• Disclosure: criminal charges or offences
• Disclosure: judgement in a civil action
• Disclosure of medical information
• Disclosure: professional conduct

An applicant for registration as a regulated member must be sufficiently proficient in English to be able to engage safely and competently in the practice of pharmacists. Evidence of English Language Proficiency for provisional pharmacists is based on the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) approved language proficiency standards.

Graduates of a CCAPP or ACPE-accredited pharmacist education program located in Canada or in the United States, and provided in English will not be required to undergo additional language proficiency testing unless directed otherwise by ACP.

If you are an internationally educated pharmacist, you are required to take a language proficiency test (academic version of the IELTS or the OET) and achieve a minimum score in each of the categories for reading, writing, speaking, and listening in a single testing session per the NAPRA-approved language proficiency requirement policy.

• NAPRA Language Proficiency Requirement Policy
  • Evidence of English language proficiency must be added to your Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada profile.

English language proficiency results must be current within two years at the time of application to the provisional register.

ACP will continue to accept test results based on NAPRA’s former Language Proficiency Requirements for Licensure as a Pharmacist in Canada until September 1, 2024. After September 1, 2024, ACP will only accept test results based on the former requirements if the test was completed prior to September 1, 2024 and the test is still valid (completed within two years).

1. Where can I locate information on testing centres for the English language proficiency tests?
   • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (academic version)
   • Occupational English Test (OET)
2. If there is a choice between general and academic testing, which option should I choose?
   • If there is a choice between a general and academic test, the college requires an academic score.
3. Will the Alberta College of Pharmacy accept a French language testing score?
   • No. You must provide a NAPRA-approved English language testing score at the time of registration.
4. If my pharmacy degree was completed in an English medium outside of Canada or the United States, am I exempt from the language proficiency requirement?
   • No. If your pharmacy degree was obtained from any country other than Canada or the United States, you must provide a NAPRA-approved English language testing score at the time of registration.
5. Are there any exemptions to the English language proficiency requirement?
   • You may be exempt if you graduated from a high school, community college, private career college or university program located in Canada, and you provide evidence of the following:
     • the program was at least 3 years’ duration,
     • was provided in English, and
     • you successfully completed three consecutive English language courses. Second-language or additional language courses are not acceptable as evidence.
   • Your evidence should be notarized and provided directly to ACP.