Licensing guide · Ontario

How to Become a Pharmacist in Ontario

Last checked 7 sources checkedNOC 31120

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the Ontario College of Pharmacists to work as a pharmacist in Ontario or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
pharmacist
Show the source
“In order to practice as a pharmacist in Ontario, you must be registered with the Ontario College of Pharmacists.”

From ocpinfo.com/applicants/register-as-a-pharmacist, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with Ontario College of Pharmacists

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 1 step without a listed fee

  1. Before applying for the Qualifying Examination for the first time, Canadian graduates of a CCAPP-accredited pharmacy program must submit a completed application and identification documents for ID and Education Verification.

    Source
    “You are required to first complete ID and Education Verification by submitting the completed application and ID documents if you graduated in Canada from a CCAPP accredited pharmacy program and intend to apply for the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination for the first time or if your ID and Education Verification expires.”
    pebc.ca/pharmacists/qualifying-examination/application-for-part-i-a...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Ontario College of Pharmacists

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

Steps not listed by the regulator Check with Ontario College of Pharmacists

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 7 steps without a listed fee

  1. Create a new Candidate Account in the Gateway, pay the enrollment fee, and once you have been exempted from or have successfully completed the PEBC Evaluating Exam, select Ontario as your provincial regulatory authority from your Gateway file.

    Source
    “Create a new Candidate Account - Pay the enrollment fee”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/register-as-a-pharmacist/international-pharm...

  2. After passing the Evaluating Examination, candidates may complete a structured bridging educational program that helps develop the knowledge, skills and abilities assessed in the Qualifying Examination, and in some provinces such a program is required for licensure.

    Source
    “After successful completion of the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination, there are a number of structured, preparatory “bridging” educational programs available in Canada, including: the International Pharmacy Graduate (CPS 1 and 2) Program in Ontario (University of Toronto)”
    pebc.ca/pharmacists/pharmacist-evaluating-examination/pharmacist-pr...

  3. The College confirms your PEBC results and language proficiency test scores with the Gateway and creates your OCP account, and you submit supporting documentation of your identity and citizenship or status in Canada.

    Source
    “The College will confirm your PEBC results and language proficiency test scores with the Gateway and create your OCP account; you do not have to pay the College’s initial application fee”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/register-as-a-pharmacist/international-pharm...

  4. Obtain personal professional liability insurance, submit a police background check, log in to your account to apply, pay the application fee, and enter and maintain your practice information for every site where you will practice as an intern.

    Source
    “Obtain personal professional liability insurance - Submit a police background check - Login to your account to apply - Pay the application fee”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/register-as-a-pharmacist/international-pharm...

  5. Successfully complete the Jurisprudence, Ethics and Professionalism exam by logging in to your account to apply and paying the exam fee.

    Source
    “Successfully complete the Jurisprudence, Ethics and Professionalism exam - Login to your account to apply - Pay the exam fee”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/register-as-a-pharmacist/international-pharm...

  6. Successfully complete the Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry by logging in to your account to apply, while your intern certificate of registration remains valid.

    Source
    “Successfully complete PACE - Login to your account to apply - Your intern certificate of registration must be valid while you are preparing for, applying for and completing PACE”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/register-as-a-pharmacist/international-pharm...

  7. Obtain or maintain personal professional liability insurance, log in to your account to apply, pay the application fee and new applicant registration fee, and update your personal and practice information including identifying a Designated Practice Assessment site in Ontario.

    Source
    “Pay the final application fees - Application fee - New applicant registration fee”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/register-as-a-pharmacist/international-pharm...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Ontario College of Pharmacists

7 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

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.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • Applicants must have graduated from an accredited pharmacy education program, or an international pharmacy education program recognized by PEBC and an approved bridging education program.

    Source
    “To register as a pharmacist, pharmacy technician, intern or intern technician in Ontario, applicants must have graduated from an accredited pharmacy education program, or an international pharmacy education program recognized by PEBC and an approved bridging education program.”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/registration-requirements/education

  • The educational requirements must have been met within the two years before applying, or the PEBC Qualifying Exam completed within two years before applying, to demonstrate currency of education.

    Source
    “The educational requirements for registration as a pharmacist, pharmacy technician, intern or intern technician must have been met within the two years before applying to ensure that the practitioner has current knowledge and skills to practice safely.”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/registration-requirements/education

Police check

  • For each application for a certificate of registration, applicants must submit a current police background check.

    Source
    “For each application for a certificate of registration as an intern, intern technician, pharmacist or pharmacy technician, applicants must submit a: 1. Current police background check”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/registration-requirements/good-character

Insurance

Good character

  • Applicants must declare that their past and present conduct shows they are suitable for registration, with no charges or convictions, findings of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, and no reason to believe they will not practise with decency, honesty and integrity.

    Source
    “When applying to register with the Ontario College of Pharmacists, applicants must declare that their past and present conduct demonstrates they are of suitable for registration.”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/registration-requirements/good-character

Other

  • Applicants already licensed in another Canadian province or territory must be registered and in good standing there to be eligible to work immediately in Ontario under the As of Right legislation.

    Source
    “Pharmacist registered, in good standing, in another Canadian province/territory”
    ocpinfo.com/applicants/as-of-right-legislation

Already licensed in another province?

Extra steps

Pharmacists already licensed in another Canadian province or territory who meet the eligibility criteria can practice in Ontario for up to six months while completing their registration requirements with the College.

Source
“pharmacists and pharmacy technicians already licensed in another Canadian province or territory who meet the eligibility criteria can practice for up to six months while completing their pharmacist registration requirements”
ocpinfo.com/applicants/as-of-right-legislation

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Ontario College of Pharmacists

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Ontario College of Pharmacists

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Ontario College of Pharmacists

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Ontario College of Pharmacists

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Ontario College of Pharmacists

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 31120, Pharmacists. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Ontario and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Ontario $37.00 $53.85 $65.00 Good (4 of 5)
Canada $40.00 $55.49 $67.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Ontario

Wages in every province and territory

Pharmacists in other provinces and territories

Regulated in all 12 other jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare pharmacist licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Register as a Pharmacist - OCP website ocpinfo.com/applicants/register-as-a-pharmacist · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. ID and Education Verification for Canadian Grads - PEBC pebc.ca/pharmacists/qualifying-examination/application-for-part-i-a... · fetched October 9, 2026
  3. International Pharmacy Graduate — Passed PEBC Qualifying Exam on 1st Attempt - OCP website ocpinfo.com/applicants/register-as-a-pharmacist/international-pharm... · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. References and Learning Resources - PEBC pebc.ca/pharmacists/pharmacist-evaluating-examination/pharmacist-pr... · fetched October 9, 2026
  5. Education - OCP website ocpinfo.com/applicants/registration-requirements/education · fetched October 10, 2026
  6. Suitability for Registration - OCP website ocpinfo.com/applicants/registration-requirements/good-character · fetched October 10, 2026
  7. As of Right Legislation - OCP website ocpinfo.com/applicants/as-of-right-legislation · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a pharmacist in Ontario?

Yes. Registration with the Ontario College of Pharmacists is required to practise in Ontario, and to use the title pharmacist.

Which exams are required?

PEBC Qualifying Exam, PEBC Evaluating Exam, Jurisprudence, Ethics and Professionalism exam, Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE).

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