Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply to the Island Health Residency Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Have a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy or Entry to Practice Pharm.D.
• Be Eligibile for licensure with The College of Pharmacists of BC at program start.
• Be a Canadian citizen or be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Be Fluent in the English language.


graduates of canadian pharmacy programs outside british columbia

Graduates of Canadian pharmacy programs outside of British Columbia need to:

• Pre-register with the College in March to sit the jurisprudence exam in June.
• Jurisprudence exam is only available three times per year (June, October and February).

Follow this link for more information:

BC College of Pharmacists - Registration of a New Canadian Graduate


International Pharmacy Graduates

If you obtained your pharmacy degree outside of Canada or the United States, here are the steps to register with the College:

1. Enroll with Pharmacists' Gateway Canada and apply for PEBC for the Document Evaluation and Evaluating exam
2. Pre-register with the College (allow at least 45 days to complete processing)
3. Successfully complete the English Language Proficiency (ELP)
4. Successfully complete the Jurisprudence Examination (JE)
5. Successfully complete the Structured Practical Training (SPT) offered in The Canadian Pharmacy Practice Program (CP3)
6. Successfully complete the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Exam – Part I (MCQ) and Part II (OSCE)
7. Apply to be a Full Pharmacist
8. Apply for Drug Administration (Optional)
9. Completing Additional Training (Optional)

Follow this link for more information:

BC College of Pharmacists - Registration of an International Graduate


Requirements to Emigrate to Canada or Obtain a Work Visa

If you are not a Canadian Citizen or do not have permanent resident status in Canada, then you will have to apply to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship the Federal Government of Canada.

Follow this link for more information:

Government of Canada - Department of Immigration and Citizenship