US Degree and Getting licensed as a pharmacist in Canada

[no-see-um]

Is it possible to graduate from a US school and be able to work as a pharmacist in Canada?

What has to be done in order to become a Pharmacist there?

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[WVUPharm2007]

As a US PharmD, you are eligible to take and pass all of their boards to get licensed. You also have to pass through their immigration dept. Though it's tough because they have different names for all of their drugs. I was thinking about doing it myself and move to Toronto, but the only pharmacy school in Ontario is in Toronto and everybody who graduates there wants to live there. I've been told its tough to get a job in town. You get paid less than in the US, but there is only one insurance company you ever have to bill....which is worth a cut in pay, IMO.....

 

[Apteka]

Is it possible to graduate from a US school and be able to work as a pharmacist in Canada?

What has to be done in order to become a Pharmacist there?

Here's the website I found that had info on this.
http://www.pebc.ca/EnglishPages/QEX/QEXUSInformation.html

Lots to read thru, and somewhat sparse in its explanation.

It seemed like a bit of a pain, to have to go thru more exam taking in order to substantiate your degree that you earned/ took an exam for already in the US.

As for the pay, I don't know how it compares to the pay in the US for similar clinical pharmacy positions.
I have heard that it's NOT necessarily a 'cut in pay' as WVU mentions.

 

[ZpackSux]

It may not be a cut in pay...but how about an increase in Taxes...

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I have heard that it's NOT necessarily a 'cut in pay' as WVU mentions.

Actually you're right about the majority of Canada. The cool spots like Toronto...not as much...

 

[no-see-um]

Actually you're right about the majority of Canada. The cool spots like Toronto...not as much...

Thanks for the replies. I think I may take the licensing exams for there. But it seems like there's a lot to learn for an outsider (like a parallel pharmacy universe). I'd have to take classes at a Canadian school for graduates in order to make this happen. Any idea how long that usually takes and how much $? And the idea that you don't have to work with insurance companies as much as pharmacists here, makes that totally appealing. Most of the 'problems' in pharmacies here that need to be remedied are not theraputic issues as much as they are insurance issues.

I'm interested in Vancouver or Ontario- perhaps even the Maritimes... And with regards to taxes, I have no problem with that, coming from a heavily taxed state. It's all in the Government budgeting as to where those taxes go, and I'm a little more satisfied with that part, at least. I'd definitely wish to keep a dual citizenship with the US (I'm always American), and from what I hear from those who are dual-citizens, they don't get doubly-taxed...

 

[Ross434]

I'm also interested in this.. What about citizenship though? Just because you're licensed to work does that mean you can easily get citizenship or permanent immigration status over there?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

You'll get the Canadian version of a Green Card until you are eligible or whatever to take the citizenship test. As a highly trained specialist, you'll have zero problem getting in legal.

 

[Requiem]

Us Canoodians are friendly, eh?

Open arms to all pharmacists! You shouldn't have any problem whatsoever with citizenship, and learning drug names is about as easy as it gets. Just takes some time, not much actual work required.

Look at it this way, even if you make a mistake you can just blame it on your American education

Good luck guys