Getting PharmD in US vs Canada

[BubbleDIA]

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I wasn't sure if this post belonged in pharmacy forum or pre-pharmacy forum so please move the thread where it is appropriate.

Hello everyone, I am a Canadian pre-pharmacy applicant, and I got accept to one US pharm school and 3 Canadian pharm school.

I am not sure if getting PharmD from US or Canada is better, but I intend to stay long-term in Canada so I feel like Canada is better choice for me.

Also, I am international so US pharm school will be expensive. I know if I get PharmD in US, I can study again to get license in Canada, but is vise-versa also true?

And, if I do get PharmD in US, do I have to practice certain days/years in US and pay yearly fees to maintain that license? I know this is true in Ontario.

Thank you in advance.

 

[zelman]

A PharmD is a degree that allows you to apply for licensure from a state (or territory/district/whatever). It does not need to be maintained. The licenses do. I am unaware of any that require more than continuing education and payment of fees.

I would strongly recommend taking the least expensive option.

 

[lord999]

If you intend to stay in Canada, stay in Canada for training. If you want to practice in the US, then come to the US (although it is "easier" to go from US to Canada than vice-versa due to the economics). In both Canada and the US, there are licensing maintenance requirements.

FWIW, I actually found the Canadian exam much more difficult than the US one being from a US education. I don't have any experience besides guest lectures, so I have no idea how the Canadian education differs besides a more serious attention to basic science than the US.

One other matter, the French speaking universities, Laval and Montreal, do not get easy entrance into the US and must go through the full FPGEC process although the PEBC allows the French speaking pharmacists to apply for the other provinces without a problem.

Some states require US proof of working eligibility (most use citizenship but some otherwise) in order to license.

 

[firework]

If you intend to stay in Canada, stay in Canada for training. If you want to practice in the US, then come to the US (although it is "easier" to go from US to Canada than vice-versa due to the economics). In both Canada and the US, there are licensing maintenance requirements.

FWIW, I actually found the Canadian exam much more difficult than the US one being from a US education. I don't have any experience besides guest lectures, so I have no idea how the Canadian education differs besides a more serious attention to basic science than the US.

One other matter, the French speaking universities, Laval and Montreal, do not get easy entrance into the US and must go through the full FPGEC process although the PEBC allows the French speaking pharmacists to apply for the other provinces without a problem.

Some states require US proof of working eligibility (most use citizenship but some otherwise) in order to license.

Anyone who got pharmacy degree from countries other US needs to go through FPGEC process, including Canadian graduates. Non-native English speakers need to pass TOEFL too. Doesn't matter where you went to school, it's the place where you were born decides if you are native speaker or not. Probably doesn't make sense in certain cases, but that's NABP's rule.