Becoming a pharmacist in canada (2010, car insurance, credit)

[umop_3pisdn]

I'm currently a student in the US. I've been trying to learn more about moving to canada, but some information is vague. Would i need to study at a Canadian university to practice pharmacy in canada, or can I continue in the US and take some kind of competency test later? I plan on finishing pharmacy at UIC after transferring then moving to Canada. I'm not a citizen of the US, but I am a legal resident. Will this hurt me? As a pharmacist, is it easier than being a pharmacist in the states, not having to have to deal with insurance companies? Is the cost of living a drastic change from the US? Car insurance? Which city would be best in terms of housing? Haha, I'm sorry for all of the questions but I'm curious, and I had a hard time finding the information. I hope to become a canadian citizen one day.

And to any people who might know, are canadian pharmaists drug tested regularly? I'm not a junkie or an addict but I must say the lenient attitude towards cannabis is also a plus ,imo.

Thanks for reading and taking the time to reply, I really appreciate the help.

[Pookster]

Here are some links to Ontario-specific information.

Access to Professions and Trades in Ontario

Welcome to Ontario

My understanding is that it can take some time for the credentials of foreign-trained individuals to be recognized. It may be faster though for someone educated in the U.S.

[Cornerguy1]

Canadian pharmacies constantly deal with insurance companies.

Provincial health plans do not cover precription drug costs for most people, but many people have private coverages available through their place of employment.

You'll find there's a little more to moving to Canada than showing up at a port of entry with your suitcase and diploma.

This web site Welcome Page | Page d'accueil will take you to the Canadian government immigration site.

[WVUPharm2007]

With the US economy about to tank, you aren't the only US PharmD to think about the move up North. When my wife graduates from pharmacy school in '09, I'm thinking about moving. I visited Toronto last summer and thought it was awesome.

Anyway, this is the basic primer on the process:

1. Get the foreign worker thing sorted out with the immigration folk
2. Register with the college of pharmacy (what Canadians call their provincial boards of pharmacy), then intern for 3 months (that's Ontario...it's different based upon which you want to get licensed in.)
3. Pass the PEBC (similar to the US NAPLEX, but a tad harder with more in depth calcuation problems...shouldn't be a problem if you can pass the NAPLEX.)
4. Pass the law exam for which ever province you want to work in.
5. Get a job.

[dha]

i want to get a pharmacist licence in canada ,ill be so thankful if somebody help me

[TorontoFlintstone]

My husband is a pharmacist in Ontario, and he is also licencsed in PA & NY. But, we graduated in Canada.

One of the posters is right regarding the exams, it all depends on which province you would like to practice. Since we are in Ontario, the Ontario College of Pharmacist (OCPInfo.com : Homepage) would give you all the info that you need for Ontario, Canada. This is the licensing body for the Province of Ontario. They will also explain how many CE credits you need to renew the licence every year.

Hope this helps!

[niranjan]

Dear all,

I am pharmacist from india, passed in 2005. rightnow persuing MS in US. Please can anyone tell me that will i be eligible to appear for canada pharmacist licensing exam? do i need to go to pharmacy college in canada? on what visa i can go to canada to write qualifying exam from US?

thanks in advance for all your answers.

[Cornerguy1]

Originally Posted by niranjan

Dear all,

I am pharmacist from india, passed in 2005. rightnow persuing MS in US. Please can anyone tell me that will i be eligible to appear for canada pharmacist licensing exam? do i need to go to pharmacy college in canada? on what visa i can go to canada to write qualifying exam from US?

thanks in advance for all your answers.

As noted in several previous posts in this thread, pharmacists are licenced by the province in which they work.

Contact the licencing body for the province you are interested in. The web site for the Ontario licencing agency is listed several posts above this one.

[HAROON AZEEM]

I am a pharmacist working in pakistan and i have passed the pharmacy exam in 2003.this time i m running a pharmacy here.i have also got the degree of pharm.d.now i want to immigrate to canada.can anybody help me in this regard.

[anilmomin]

i am doing a pharm.D from pakistan.my degree will be finished in dec.2010 .could someone tell me that how much is it difficult to pass the canadian licensing exam and can i get training of community pharmacist without being previous experience.