How to become a pharmacist in BC

The road in one paragraph

Becoming a pharmacist in British Columbia takes about six years after high school. In Grade 11 and 12 you take Chemistry 12, Biology 12 and Pre-Calculus 12. After high school you complete at least two years, or 60 credits, of university science, including chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, math and English. Then you apply to the four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at UBC, the only pharmacy school in the province. The program includes long placements in community pharmacies and hospitals.

After graduating you pass the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada exams, which have a written part and a practical part with simulated patients. Then you pass the jurisprudence exam of the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia and register with the College. Only then can you work as a pharmacist.

Getting in

UBC sets the entry rules for the PharmD. You need the required first- and second-year university courses, a personal profile, and an interview. The exact course list and minimum average change from year to year, so read the current UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences admissions page before you choose your first-year courses. Competition is strong, so a clear plan from first year matters.

What it costs and what it pays

In our directory, tuition for the UBC PharmD is Not published. Budget as well for the two national exams and the College registration fee.

Pay comes from WorkBC data for pharmacists. The median wage is $52.00 per hour. Entry-level pay is around $40.87 per hour and experienced pharmacists earn around $64.00 per hour. WorkBC lists average annual pay of $98,631. British Columbia pharmacists can now prescribe for minor ailments and contraception, which has widened what the job involves.

Common mistakes and shortcuts

• Skipping organic chemistry or biochemistry in your first two years. UBC requires specific courses, and a missing one costs a full year. (Source: UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
• Preparing only for the written exam. The practical exam uses simulated patients and tests how you counsel and calculate under time pressure. Practise it. (Source: Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada)
• Forgetting the provincial exam. Passing the national exams is not a licence. You must also pass the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia jurisprudence exam and register. (Source: College of Pharmacists of British Columbia)
• Rewriting exams when you move. Pharmacists licensed in another province apply to the College under labour mobility rules instead of rewriting the national exams. (Source: College of Pharmacists of British Columbia)