Work & Business
Becoming a Licensed Pharmacist in PEI as an International Graduate
Pass both PEBC Qualifying Exams on your first attempt and you go straight to PACE; fail or skip one, and you owe 280 supervised practice hours first. Here's the full Gateway-to-registration sequence for PEI.
1. Pharmacists' Gateway Canada Is Your Mandatory First Step
Before you touch anything specific to PEI, enroll in Pharmacists' Gateway Canada and designate the Prince Edward Island College of Pharmacy (PEICP). Enrollment issues you a national Gateway ID, required to apply for PEBC Document Evaluation, and creates the profile PEI's regulator will later pull your progress from.
2. Document Evaluation Through PEBC
After enrolling, register directly with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) for Document Evaluation.
- Takes up to 8 weeks once all required documents are received
- Each document type has its own specific submission instructions, transcripts and licensing statements typically must come directly from the issuing institution or authority, not from you
- Once you pass Part I (MCQ), your Document Evaluation no longer expires, though your photo on file is only valid for 5 years
3. The Two Qualifying Exams
| Exam | What it tests | Sequencing rule |
|---|---|---|
| Part I (MCQ) | Multiple-choice knowledge exam | Must pass before attempting Part II |
| Part II (OSCE) | Objective structured clinical exam | Must be completed within 3 years of passing Part I, or Part I must be retaken |
Both exams are offered twice yearly (spring and fall). PEI licensure requires passing both parts.
4. PACE: The Practice-Based Assessment
After provisional registration, internationally trained pharmacists complete the Practice Assessment at Entry (PACE), adopted from the Ontario College of Pharmacists, conducted in PEI with a PEICP-appointed assessor.
| Pathway | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Direct entry | Pass both Qualifying Exam parts on your first attempt → apply directly for PACE |
| Indirect entry | Failed or skipped an attempt → complete 280 hours of supervised practice under an approved preceptor first, then apply for PACE |
Note the upcoming rule change: effective April 1, 2026, applicants must complete both parts of the PEBC Qualifying Exam before being eligible for PACE at all, plan your exam timeline with this in mind.
5. Provisional Registration Application Package
Submitted through PEICP's online Applicant Portal, once you have a Gateway ID:
- Language test results
- Proof of identity
- Professional liability insurance
- Police/vulnerable-sector check
- Current CPR/first aid certification
- Letters of standing from prior licensing jurisdictions
6. Practical Sequence
- Enroll in Pharmacists' Gateway Canada and designate PEICP immediately, this is the single point every downstream step depends on.
- Start PEBC Document Evaluation while gathering your provisional registration documents in parallel.
- Prepare seriously for both Qualifying Exam parts before your first sitting, passing both on the first attempt saves you the 280-hour supervised practice requirement entirely.
- Once PACE-eligible, arrange it in PEI directly with a PEICP-appointed assessor.