USA Pharm D applicable in Canada?

[shaq786]

1. If I go to a pharmacy school in the U.S., can I use that education to become a pharmacist in Canada? I guess what I mean is, does the system of pharmacy taught in the US work the same way in Canada?

2. How much is pharmacy school debt?

3. I hear alot about med school students being depressed(I guess becuase of all the studying and intensity that med school brings), is there a lower occurence of that in pharm school?

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[Cocogirl]

1. If I go to a pharmacy school in the U.S., can I use that education to become a pharmacist in Canada? I guess what I mean is, does the system of pharmacy taught in the US work the same way in Canada?

In Canada, the primary degree is Bachelors of Pharmacy. In order to get a Pharm D, you have to do 2 more years of school. Therefore, Bachelors = 1+4 years and then +2 more years for Pharm D. The entry level Pharm D exists only in the US at this time.

In order to practice pharmacy in Canada, you will need to pass the Canadian boards, law exams (specific to each province) and do a certain # of hours of graduate internship. This is regardless of whether you have a Pharm D or a B.Sc from the US. If you have a US Pharm D, a lot of Canadians do not consider it at par with a Canadian Pharm D but most hospitals will consider your credentials (especially if you have residency training also).

2. How much is pharmacy school debt?

Don't know in the US

3. I hear alot about med school students being depressed(I guess becuase of all the studying and intensity that med school brings), is there a lower occurence of that in pharm school?

I loved my years in pharmacy school - no depression there! It's a lot of work but a lot of play too (I guess depends on your class also- we had a fun one). 😀

 

[Apteka]

On that same note, has anyone had experience taking the Part I (MCQ) and Part II (OSCE) - the Canadian Board Exams with a degree from the USA?

I know it's pretty random question and I have seen the website at :

http://www.pebc.ca/EnglishPages/QEX/QEXUSInformation.html

It's kind of vague in terms of what is necessary (do I need just the degree? or do I need to pass my state board exam too?)

It seems as if I am eligible to sit for the canadian exam if I have graduated from a pharmacy school accredited by the ACPE... I finish in '08 and I just want to know what to expect in terms of the red tape/paperwork...

Any feedback on the format of the exam and if everyone actually has to go to Toronto to take it (true? not true?) would be appreciated! Thanks!!

 

[camjames]

This is a pretty rare scenario...mostly due to the economic aspects. As far as I know, Canadian pharmacists aren't paid as much per hour, the dollar is still worth less here (in Canada), and there are more taxes here...Why would anyone want to do this?? why???

 

[ZpackSux]

This is a pretty rare scenario...mostly due to the economic aspects. As far as I know, Canadian pharmacists aren't paid as much per hour, the dollar is still worth less here (in Canada), and there are more taxes here...Why would anyone want to do this?? why???

Because they Love Canada...

 

[jefguth]

1. If I go to a pharmacy school in the U.S., can I use that education to become a pharmacist in Canada? I guess what I mean is, does the system of pharmacy taught in the US work the same way in Canada?

You can definately attend pharm school in the US and get your license in Canada. After I was accepted to UofT last year a family friend, and pharmacist at a GTA area hospital, was telling me how lucky I was b/c she works with a few recent US PharmD grads that had to do their training stateside.

Also, you could alternatively look at schools in the UK - I understand that applying for a Canadian license as a foreign grad is not much of an issue for pharmacists regardless of where you're coming from. But to be safe, check with the regulatory boards for the provinces you would like to practice in. For example, if Ontario is where you want to be, look up the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

 

[tupac_don]

This is a pretty rare scenario...mostly due to the economic aspects. As far as I know, Canadian pharmacists aren't paid as much per hour, the dollar is still worth less here (in Canada), and there are more taxes here...Why would anyone want to do this?? why???

B.c they couldn't get into a Canadian school and they wanna live in Canada🙂

 

[Caverject]

how cool would it be to live in yellowknife, NW Territory

 

[tupac_don]

You can definately attend pharm school in the US and get your license in Canada. After I was accepted to UofT last year a family friend, and pharmacist at a GTA area hospital, was telling me how lucky I was b/c she works with a few recent US PharmD grads that had to do their training stateside.

Also, you could alternatively look at schools in the UK - I understand that applying for a Canadian license as a foreign grad is not much of an issue for pharmacists regardless of where you're coming from. But to be safe, check with the regulatory boards for the provinces you would like to practice in. For example, if Ontario is where you want to be, look up the Ontario College of Pharmacists.

I don't get it , how are you lucky if you got accepted to U of T, I would consider you to be unlucky. One in canada you still have 4 years for RPh, you get your Pharm D in States for that, if you accelerate only 3 years. Two pharmacy in US is on much higher level than in Canada. If you are a Pharm D from US, they will give you a specialist position, either right out of school or with 1 year experience in Canada. Whereas in States you have to have 2 years of residency to get a specialist position, on top of your pharm D. Also by the time you get your Pharm D, the guy from US just made 2 years worth of pharmacist salary and if he accelerates 3 years. I see no advantage whatsoever of going to school in Canada, unless money is an issue or location is an issue. Better education, faster route to making money, and overall better pharmacists (dare I say) coming from US schools.

The only reason why I can even ponder why that pharmacist told you that you are lucky for going to U of T, that if you wanna practice in Canada, you will know the Canadian system and drugs in Canada better than the US counterparts. So she probably says that b/c some of the US guys might have to struggle initially (very temporarily, mainly in the law and policy and procedure) to pick up the Canadian system, but thats the only thing I can think of.

p.s. Don't mean to start a flame war or anything, but I am a pharmacist and have seen the system in states and Canada

 

[jefguth]

I don't get it , how are you lucky if you got accepted to U of T, I would consider you to be unlucky. One in canada you still have 4 years for RPh, you get your Pharm D in States for that, if you accelerate only 3 years. Two pharmacy in US is on much higher level than in Canada. If you are a Pharm D from US, they will give you a specialist position, either right out of school or with 1 year experience in Canada. Whereas in States you have to have 2 years of residency to get a specialist position, on top of your pharm D. Also by the time you get your Pharm D, the guy from US just made 2 years worth of pharmacist salary and if he accelerates 3 years. I see no advantage whatsoever of going to school in Canada, unless money is an issue or location is an issue. Better education, faster route to making money, and overall better pharmacists (dare I say) coming from US schools.

The only reason why I can even ponder why that pharmacist told you that you are lucky for going to U of T, that if you wanna practice in Canada, you will know the Canadian system and drugs in Canada better than the US counterparts. So she probably says that b/c some of the US guys might have to struggle initially (very temporarily, mainly in the law and policy and procedure) to pick up the Canadian system, but thats the only thing I can think of.

p.s. Don't mean to start a flame war or anything, but I am a pharmacist and have seen the system in states and Canada

She thought going to UofT was good because you can go there and have about half the amount of pharm school debt and make the same money as a US trained PharmD. Also, you avoid all the headaches of being a foreign student in the US, believe me its a huge PITA.

I don't understand why you would think its advantageous to atain a US PharmD over the BScPharm. Once someones has the UT BScPharm they can get a license to practice in just about any state, correct me if I'm wrong. The program length is the same, in fact it's is possible to become a pharmacist through UofT 5 years post highschool, and the education is generally equivalent. Although, I realize PharmD's may be getting extra traing in things like adminstering vaccines that some of the States allow pharmacists to perform.

But you're right, it wouldn't really be much of a problem at all for a US PharmD to get adjusted to practice in Canada, its just that it cost that pharmacist a hell of alot more money to do the same job. Nothing wrong with that either - I'm doing the same thing, different profession.

Either way, its a moot point for me, I declined UofT's offer😀

 

[tupac_don]

She thought going to UofT was good because you can go there and have about half the amount of pharm school debt and make the same money as a US trained PharmD. Also, you avoid all the headaches of being a foreign student in the US, believe me its a huge PITA.

I don't understand why you would think its advantageous to atain a US PharmD over the BScPharm. Once someones has the UT BScPharm they can get a license to practice in just about any state, correct me if I'm wrong. The program length is the same, in fact it's is possible to become a pharmacist through UofT 5 years post highschool, and the education is generally equivalent. Although, I realize PharmD's may be getting extra traing in things like adminstering vaccines that some of the States allow pharmacists to perform.

But you're right, it wouldn't really be much of a problem at all for a US PharmD to get adjusted to practice in Canada, its just that it cost that pharmacist a hell of alot more money to do the same job. Nothing wrong with that either - I'm doing the same thing, different profession.

Either way, its a moot point for me, I declined UofT's offer😀

Hey,

Let me guess, you are going to med school? The Pharm D is a big deal, especially if you wanna practice in US, I guess Canada is not yet big on that, but in States its mandatory to have a Pharm D. BSc degree doesn't exist anymore. I imagine that in the next few years, Pharm D will become mandatory in Canada too. The whole point is that Pharm D is giving you more clinical and cognitive knowledge than BSc and that's where the whole push of the profession is towards.

Vaccines, dosing of some drugs, more clinical input in the hospital than the staff at Canadian hospitals. I can't speak for retail though.

See it does cost more in a short run, but you get the degree faster and you are much more flexible to work in US or Canada with a Pharm D from US. With BSc from Canada, you are stuck with Canada or retail in US.

But anyways like you said, moot point.

 

[SomeGuy]

Well, I just wanted to say a few things in general:

Its not very difficult for a US PharmD to get licensed in Canada, they may have to do a little extra internship, but that's about it in addition to any other Canadian grad. Their schools are in an equal state of accreditation as the Canadian schools. Going to the UK/Aus/elsewhere does have its PITA difficulties however when you come back.

Most US states don't even directly require the PharmD to get licensed. Many state boards of pharmacy don't even mention the words "PharmD" or "doctor(ate)" in their regulations. They want you to be a graduate of an accredited school in the US, or have the NABP's FPGEC (which doesn't require a PharmD for sitting).

I do take some offence to the statement that a Canadian BSc Pharmacist is limited to retail positions in the US, as the Canadian BSc program (at least my program back in 1994ish) was reformulated to be based upon the US PharmD, with the most notable differences being a course overload in every year, and only 4 months of rotations. I would hope that it really depends on your educational background and skills that would cause one person to be chosen over another, but maybe there is some blind discrimination. Maybe some DOPs can give us some perspective?

There aren't any plans to get rid of the BSc program in Canada, though there is quite a bit of talk about a complementary entry-level PharmD (outside of Quebec anyway).

Caverject: You could probably get a pretty sweet deal if you wanted to move there.

Anyways, don't infuriate the BScs around you in the US, for they probably make up about 80%+ of your colleagues.

Two pharmacy in US is on much higher level than in Canada. If you are a Pharm D from US, they will give you a specialist position, either right out of school or with 1 year experience in Canada.

Please, elaborate upon these two points. Is this based on fact, anecdotal evidence, or opinion?

 

[Caverject]

The Canadian BScs versus American PharmD controversey is complete bull****. Serisously, what's the point? Essentially, it is the same damn degree just called two different names depending on what side of the border you're on

 

[Requiem]

Tupac, you really have no idea what you're talking about.

The PharmD program is 4 years in the states (minus the accelerated), with minimum TWO years pre-reqs. Canada has 1 year of pre-requs.

You do NOT have to have a PharmD to practice on the States, you need to be certified by an ACPE accredited school and pass the naplex, etc.

A B.Sc Pharm from Canada certainly can land a clinical position, especially with a residency training (making them more specialized than a US Pharm D, oh no!!!)

Since you're so big on one program being superior how about this: Canadian PharmD's do more didactic training and clinical training than a US PharmD as they have 5 year B.Sc + 2 year PharmD.

Does anyone really care? No.
Are you trolling by means of ignorance? Sure are!

Better pharmacists coming from the states? You're a joke; do you realize the calibre of an individual as a professional is not determined by lettering; rather it is determined by character.

I wonder if the fact there are some "grandfather" RPh's in Canada practicing who only had to do two years community college irks you? They probably have better people skills as well, oops!