Accreditation
This summarizes the accreditation process in Canada. It is UP TO YOU to remain up-to-date on all accreditation requirements as they may change. Please be your own accreditation advocate!!
Dentistry
Important: The information on this page is intended to provide you with the basics of the credentialing process. It is your responsibility to contact your provincial regulatory body to ensure you are familiar with the process to return. While we review this content on an annual basis, it is subject to change at any time. Please ensure you review all information provided by the regulatory bodies for the most up-to-date information. LaunchPad is not responsible for your credentialing process.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) recognizes the following countries general dental training programs: https://ndeb-bned.ca/en/accredited
This means that Canadian graduates of a dental program in those countries can return to practice in Canada via the same process outlined below as graduates of a Canadian dental school, which includes passing the National Dental Examination Board (NDEB) written and clinical exams and registering with your provincial dental regulatory authority.
Steps to Certification
Pathway to Certification
1. Graduate with a general dentistry degree whose accreditation is recognized by the CDAC.
2. Complete the NDEB’s certification process:
- Apply through the NDEB portal
- Submit proof of graduating with an accredited degree in general dentistry (your original transcript)
- Register, study for, and pass the NDEB written and clinical exams (taken a maximum of 3 times each)
- NDEB app fee = $450, written exam = $,1000, OSCE = $1,000
Once you’ve passed the exam and have provided proof of your graduation, you will be certified and a certificate will be issued.
3. Register with your provincial dental regulatory authority (below).
Provincial Requirements
While all Canadian provinces require you to have Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada certification in order to become licensed to practice, each province has additional licensing requirements. Check the website for your provincial regulatory body:
College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia (CDSBC)
Alberta Dental Association and College (ADA&C)
College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CDSS)
Manitoba Dental Association (MDA)
Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO)
Ordre des dentists du Québec (ODQ)
New Brunswick Dental Society (NBDS)
Dental Council of Prince Edward Island (DCPEI)
Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia (PDBNS)
Newfoundland Dental Board (NLDB)
NWT Dept of Health and Social Services: professional_licensing@gov.nt.ca
Yukon Consumer Services: (consumer@gov.yk.ca with CV)
Physiotherapy
Important: The information on this page is intended to provide you with the basics of the credentialing process. It is your responsibility to contact your provincial regulatory body to ensure you are familiar with the process to return. While we review this content on an annual basis, it is subject to change at any time. Please ensure you review all information provided by the regulatory bodies for the most up-to-date information. LaunchPad is not responsible for your credentialing process.
In order to practice physiotherapy in Canada, you must register with the physiotherapy regulatory body in the province you intend to practice. The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) recognizes degrees from many countries, as long as you meet the requirements including completion of a minimum number of clinical hours.
Steps to Practice
If you studied physiotherapy abroad, in order to return to Canada, you must first complete a course called “The Context of Physiotherapy in Canada,” offered at the University of Toronto, which has an online course that you can complete before you return home.
Once you complete the course, your next step is to apply to the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) to have them assess your qualifications based on two criteria:
- Education (degree at an accredited university)
- Supervised clinical hours (minimum of 1,025)
Once the Alliance successfully assesses your credentials, you would need to complete the Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE) like any other physiotherapy graduate in Canada prior to provincial registration:
- Have credentials assessed by the CAPR
- Write the Physiotherapy Competency Exam (PCE)
- Register with the provincial regulatory body where you intend to practice
Step #1: Credentialing requirements
- A qualified physio degree (notarized copy)
- A minimum of 1,025 hours of supervised clinical practice, including 100 in musculoskeletal, 100 in neurological, and 40 in cardiorespiratory
- “Knowledge of Physiotherapy Practice within the Canadian Healthcare System” online course
- Valid ID
- Fluency in English (granted based on degree)
- Cost: $1,077 assessment fee plus courier costs
Step #2: Physiotherapy competency exam
- 4-hour 200-question written exam covering history-taking, physical examination, data interpretation, clinical problem solving, ethics, client-management skills, interviewing, communication; clinical practice areas including musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular/respiratory, and other multi-system
- 3-hour 16-station clinical exam covering biological sciences, social sciences, applied science, scientific inquiry, clinical science, and professional practice
- total cost of $2,815 (2020) for both written ($1,002) and clinical ($1,813) components
- results take 6 (business) weeks for written exam and 12 weeks for clinical exam
Step #3: Applying for provincial licensure
- Each province and territory have their own requirements (similar but varying), conditions and fees
- Often looking for PCE completion, criminal record check, professional history, English proficiency, and professional insurance
You are encouraged to contact the regulators directly so you’re 100% clear on the accreditation process. You can contact the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators or your provincial authority with any detailed accreditation questions.
Track Your Hours
You will need to be proactive in clarifying requirements with the provincial regulatory body where you intend to practice and tracking your hours in the program to make sure you will meet them.
pharmacy
Important: The information on this page is intended to provide you with the basics of the credentialing process. It is your responsibility to contact your provincial regulatory body to ensure you are familiar with the process to return. While we review this content on an annual basis, it is subject to change at any time. Please ensure you review all information provided by the regulatory bodies for the most up-to-date information. LaunchPad is not responsible for your credentialing process.
Both Canadian and foreign trained pharmacist’s gain licensing through the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).
All graduates must also apply for certification through the provincial regulatory body in the province in which they wish to work.
Steps to Practice
The following stages need to be completed to become certified to practice as a pharmacist in Canada as an international pharmacy graduate (IPG) or Canadian pharmacy graduate (CPG):
Step #1 Enrol with the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada
Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada will assess your qualifications and competence for entry-to-practice through a series of evaluations. They will also offer info and guidance in preparation for the PEBC’s licensing process.
Step #2 Submit Application
After graduation, submit your application and proof of pharmacy degree completion to the PEBC for document evaluation. If your educational credentials and licensure statements are acceptable, you will be eligible to write the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination.
Step #3 Pass the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination
This exam evaluates whether your pharmacy education is comparable to that of Canadian pharmacy graduates.
Step #4 Pass both Part 1 (MCQ) and Part 2 (OSCE) of the Pharmacist Qualifying Examination to receive PEBC’s Certificate of Qualification
- Pharmacist Qualifying Examination – Part I (MCQ)
The Qualifying Exam Part I (MCQ) is a multiple-choice primary exam toward Canadian pharmacy licensure. The MCQ evaluates the knowledge of Canadian pharmacy graduates and international pharmacy graduates seeking licensure. It is written in two sittings, on two consecutive half-days. - Pharmacist Qualifying Examination – Part II (OSCE)
Part II of the Qualifying Examination is an objective structured clinical examination(OSCE), and is taken on a different day from Part I. The OSCE consists of a series of “stations” simulating common and/or critical practical situations.
Step #5 Apply to a Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA)
You must formally apply to the Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA) in the province or territory in which you want to work. While PRAs have many similar requirements, each jurisdiction may have variations or unique conditions for licensure.
Step #6 Structured Practical Training (SPT)
Each Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA) requires that candidates complete a training program in a licensed pharmacy. This ensures that IPGs will have experience in a pharmacy patient care setting that meets the national standards. Each province has a different requirement for the number of hours of structured practical training you will need to complete.
Step #7 License Registration
This is the last step in the licensure or registration process! The PRA will confirm that you have successfully completed all of the requirements to be licensed. You will be charged a fee for your licence and you will need to renew your licence and pay a fee each year. (See next section.)
Provincial Requirements
While all Canadian provinces require you to have PEBC certification in order to become licensed to practice, “each province has additional licensing requirements. These may include practical experience, English or French language skills, and jurisprudence examinations.” (PEBC.ca) Contact the regulatory authority of the province you wish to practice to learn more.
If required to complete further practical experience, apprenticeship/internship bridging programs for international graduates are available through the following universities:
- University of Toronto: International Pharmacy Graduate Program
- University of British Columbia: Canadian Pharmacy Practice Program
- Bredin Institute in Calgary and Edmonton: International Pharmacy Bridging Program
Visit the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada website for further accreditation and certification information.
