How to Become a Chemist in British Columbia
Do you need a licence?
Certification is voluntary
Certification is voluntary for chemists in British Columbia. You can work in the job without it.
- Protected titles
- Professional Chemist (P.Chem.), Chemist in Training (C.I.T.)
Show the source
“Licensing by a provincial association of chemists is required in Quebec and available but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.”
From noc.esdc.gc.ca/Structure/NocProfile, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 3 steps
- Licensed in another province: 3 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 3 steps
- Annual fees
-
- Professional Chemist (P.Chem.) membership fee: $250
- Chemist-in-Training (C.I.T.) membership fee: $100
- Professional Technologist in Chemistry membership fee: $200
- Registered Technologist in Chemistry membership fee: $100
- Retired Professional Member fee: $75 (for Retired Professional Member)
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $650
-
The applicant chooses which class of membership to apply for.
-
The applicant gathers transcripts or degree certificate, a current CV, and a professional reference.
Source
“A copy of your transcripts or your degree certificate or diploma. We may ask to have you submit a verified copy as part of the assessment.”
pchembc.ca/application-forms -
The applicant registers with the membership portal, completes the application stages, uploads documents, and pays the applicable fees online.
Source
“You will enter contact information, educational history, employment history if applicable, upload your supporting documents, and identify the professional reference we will contact. The system accepts online credit or interac email payments of the applicable fees according to the current fee schedule.”
pchembc.ca/application-forms
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees: $650 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
- Professional Chemist (P.Chem.) membership fee: $250
- Chemist-in-Training (C.I.T.) membership fee: $100
- Professional Technologist in Chemistry membership fee: $200
- Registered Technologist in Chemistry membership fee: $100
- Retired Professional Member fee: $75 (for Retired Professional Member)
Licensed in another province
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $650
-
The applicant documents their current professional registration, for example with a copy of their most recent registration document.
Source
“You must document your current professional registration for example with a copy of your most recent registration document.”
pchembc.ca/application-faqs -
The applicant provides contact details, a current CV, details of their primary degree and current employment, and a professional reference in the online application.
Source
“We also require your contact details, and a current CV that clearly outlines current or projected work as a chemist in BC. In the online application process, you will also have to provide details of your primary degree, your current employment, and the name and contact information of professional reference”
pchembc.ca/application-faqs -
The applicant reviews and signs the Code of Ethics.
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees: $650 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
- Professional Chemist (P.Chem.) membership fee: $250
- Chemist-in-Training (C.I.T.) membership fee: $100
- Professional Technologist in Chemistry membership fee: $200
- Registered Technologist in Chemistry membership fee: $100
- Retired Professional Member fee: $75 (for Retired Professional Member)
Trained outside Canada
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $650
-
The applicant has their foreign credential evaluated by ICES or WES and obtains the required report.
Source
“We require a “Comprehensive Evaluation Report” from ICES, or a “Course-by-Course Report” from WES, as we need to assess the course content of your degree or diploma.”
pchembc.ca/application-faqs -
The applicant uploads the credential evaluation report directly to their online application.
-
Applicants with work experience outside Canada must fully document that work and provide a verifiable professional reference.
Source
“your work experience outside Canada needs to be fully documented, and you will also be required to provide a professional reference that can be verified.”
pchembc.ca/application-faqs
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees: $650 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
- Professional Chemist (P.Chem.) membership fee: $250
- Chemist-in-Training (C.I.T.) membership fee: $100
- Professional Technologist in Chemistry membership fee: $200
- Registered Technologist in Chemistry membership fee: $100
- Retired Professional Member fee: $75 (for Retired Professional Member)
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- New Applicant Fee: $50 (not applicable for Associate, Student or Retired applicants)
Source
“New Applicant Fee (not applicable for Associate, Student or Retired applicants) | $ 50”
pchembc.ca/fee-schedule
Requirements
Education
The minimum educational requirement for registration as a Professional Chemist or Chemist in Training is a four-year BSc in Chemistry normally consisting of at least sixteen courses of one-term duration each.
Source
“The minimum educational requirement for registration as a Professional Chemist or Chemist in Training is a four-year BSc in Chemistry normally consisting of at least sixteen courses of one-term duration each (lectures plus associated laboratory work) which covers a range and depth of chemical disciplines.”
pchembc.ca/application-faqs
Experience
Applicants for Professional Chemist registration must have completed at least four years of post-degree full-time work as a chemist.
Source
“Applicants for Professional Chemist registration must have completed at least four years post-degree full-time work as a chemist.”
pchembc.ca/application-faqs
Residency
The association only registers applicants who are currently working in chemistry in BC.
Source
“Although we consider past work experience from outside BC, we only register those currently working in chemistry in BC.”
pchembc.ca/application-faqs
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
Proof of current registration in Alberta, Ontario, or Quebec is sufficient for registration in BC under reciprocal recognition agreements. Source
“We have reciprocal recognition agreements with Alberta (ACPA), Ontario (ACPO), and Quebec (OCQ); proof of current registration in these provinces is sufficient for registration in BC.”
pchembc.ca/application-faqs
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia
Credential assessment
ICES Comprehensive Evaluation Report
Evaluate foreign chemistry degree for registration
Source
“We require a “Comprehensive Evaluation Report” from ICES, or a “Course-by-Course Report” from WES, as we need to assess the course content of your degree or diploma.”
pchembc.ca/application-faqs
Exams
Not stated by the regulator Check with Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $26.69 | $39.95 | $59.34 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $24.00 | $38.46 | $65.93 | — |
Chemists in other provinces and territories
- Alberta Title protected
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Licence required
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Voluntary certification
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- noc.esdc.gc.ca/Structure/NocProfile noc.esdc.gc.ca/Structure/NocProfile
- Apply for Membership – Association of the Chemical Profession of British ColumbiaAccountAccountLinkedinLinkedinInstagramInstagramToggle Menu Close pchembc.ca/application-forms · fetched October 10, 2026
- Application FAQs – Association of the Chemical Profession of British ColumbiaAccountAccountLinkedinInstagramToggle Menu Close pchembc.ca/application-faqs · fetched October 10, 2026
- Fees & Payments – Association of the Chemical Profession of British ColumbiaAccountAccountLinkedinInstagramToggle Menu Close pchembc.ca/fee-schedule · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
1
Do you need a licence to work as a chemist in British Columbia?
No. Only the title is protected in British Columbia. Registration with the Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia is needed to use the title Professional Chemist (P.Chem.) or Chemist in Training (C.I.T.).
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