Do international pharmacy graduates still need the Evaluating Exam?

Not always. Under the 2025 streamlined pathway, eligible international pharmacy graduates can skip the Evaluating Examination and apply directly to the Qualifying Examination. Whether you qualify depends on your program's accreditation and your licensure and practice history. Confirm your eligibility on the official PEBC website.

What is the difference between the EE and the Qualifying Exam?

The Evaluating Exam tests foundational sciences (pharmaceutics, pharmacology, physiology, medicinal chemistry). The Qualifying Exam is clinical: Part I is a multiple-choice exam on therapeutics, patient care, practice, and law and ethics, and Part II is an OSCE. The streamlined pathway removes the EE for eligible candidates but keeps both parts of the Qualifying Exam.

Does the streamlined pathway change how I should study?

Yes. If you skip the Evaluating Exam, you do not need to revisit basic sciences for that exam. Your preparation should focus entirely on the Qualifying Exam: clinical MCQ practice, full case clusters, OSCE stations, and jurisprudence. Free practice questions by topic are a good place to start.

Where is the official information on eligibility?

The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) is the only authoritative source. Eligibility criteria and effective dates can change, so verify your specific situation on pebc.ca before making plans.

The PEBC streamlined pathway, explained

In 2025 the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada introduced a streamlined certification pathway. Eligible international pharmacy graduates can now skip the Evaluating Examination and go directly to the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination, the two-part exam (Part I MCQ and Part II OSCE) that leads to certification.

This is a major shortcut for many internationally educated pharmacists. It removes a whole exam from the path to licensure, which means less time, lower cost, and one clear thing to prepare for: the Qualifying Exam.

2 exams

down to 1 for eligible grads

Part I + II

MCQ and OSCE remain

Clinical

the Qualifying Exam focus

What changed

Historically, most internationally educated pharmacists had to pass the Evaluating Examination first, then apply for the Qualifying Examination. The streamlined pathway removes the Evaluating Exam requirement for graduates who meet the new eligibility criteria, so they can apply directly to the Qualifying Examination.

The Qualifying Examination itself has not changed. It is still the two-part exam every candidate must pass: Part I is a multiple-choice exam and Part II is an OSCE.

Who is eligible

Always confirm your own eligibility directly with PEBC, this is a summary, not legal advice.

Graduates of pharmacy programs holding recognized accreditation from jurisdictions with comparable regulatory frameworks.
Candidates who, within the past several years, have held a full and unrestricted licence to practise and have practised for a qualifying period.
Eligibility details and effective dates are set by PEBC and can change, so verify your specific situation on the official PEBC website before you plan.

PEBC is the only authoritative source for eligibility. Use this page to understand the landscape, then confirm the specifics on pebc.ca.

The Evaluating Exam vs the Qualifying Exam

They test different things, which is why preparation differs.

The Evaluating Examination tests foundational sciences: pharmaceutics, pharmacology, physiology, and medicinal chemistry. The Qualifying Examination is clinical and practice-focused: therapeutics, patient care, pharmacy practice, law and ethics, and, in Part II, real patient interactions.

If you qualify for the streamlined pathway, your entire focus shifts to clinical and practice readiness. That is exactly what a strong question bank and OSCE practice are built to train.

How to prepare once you are on the Qualifying Exam track

Drill clinical MCQs across every domain until the reasoning is automatic, not just the facts.
Practise full linked clinical cases, the format the real exam uses for case clusters.
Train the OSCE separately with station-style counselling and assessment cases.
Use spaced repetition so what you learn in the summer still holds on exam day.

Frequently asked questions

Do international pharmacy graduates still need the Evaluating Exam?: Not always. Under the 2025 streamlined pathway, eligible international pharmacy graduates can skip the Evaluating Examination and apply directly to the Qualifying Examination. Whether you qualify depends on your program's accreditation and your licensure and practice history. Confirm your eligibility on the official PEBC website.
What is the difference between the EE and the Qualifying Exam?: The Evaluating Exam tests foundational sciences (pharmaceutics, pharmacology, physiology, medicinal chemistry). The Qualifying Exam is clinical: Part I is a multiple-choice exam on therapeutics, patient care, practice, and law and ethics, and Part II is an OSCE. The streamlined pathway removes the EE for eligible candidates but keeps both parts of the Qualifying Exam.
Does the streamlined pathway change how I should study?: Yes. If you skip the Evaluating Exam, you do not need to revisit basic sciences for that exam. Your preparation should focus entirely on the Qualifying Exam: clinical MCQ practice, full case clusters, OSCE stations, and jurisprudence. Free practice questions by topic are a good place to start.
Where is the official information on eligibility?: The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) is the only authoritative source. Eligibility criteria and effective dates can change, so verify your specific situation on pebc.ca before making plans.