Last Updated on December 14, 2022
If you’re passionate about the health of your community and want to play a role in improving the lives of others, a career in pharmacy may be right for you.
A pharmacist is vital in helping people get well, and as our population ages and treatments become more complex, the need for pharmacists continues to grow. Whether through prescriptions, vaccinations, or asking about a remedy to an ailment, pharmacists are on the frontline of health care, ensuring the safe and effective delivery of drugs.
How do you know if pharmacy is right for you?
If you value helping people and working in teams, enjoy science, like challenges, and are an effective communicator, then pharmacy may be for you.
“Pharmacists need to be able to take initiative, adapt to different situations, handle stress, think critically and solve problems, work well with others, show leadership, handle ethical dilemmas, and commit to lifelong learning,” says Kaitlin Bynkoski, director of admissions and undergraduate affairs at Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy.
Key characteristics and skills needed to be an effective pharmacist
Characteristics
- a good memory
- attention to detail
- aptitude for science
- interest in continual learning
- empathy
- altriusm
Skills
- interpersonal communications
- team work
- leadership
- analytical thinking
- counselling
- problem solving
Source: Pharmacy4me
How to become a pharmacist in Canada
- From high school, you’ll study at university in what’s called an undergraduate program. You would normally study science and typically for two years or more.
- You’ll then apply to a pharmacy program at university, which takes a further four years to complete.
- Once you finish your pharmacy degree, you’ll write a national board examination through the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC).
- You also need practical hands-on experience though co-op, an apprenticeship, or an internship; and be fluent in English and/or French.
From high school, you should choose an undergraduate program that gives you the flexibility to take the courses required for admission into a pharmacy program.
What should you study first?
If you want to become a pharmacist and are applying from high school, there isn’t a specific undergraduate program you must take first. An undergraduate program usually takes three or four years to complete, but you can apply to a pharmacy program after two years if you’ve taken the courses required for admission.
Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy provides a list of the required university courses you need to take for admission to the program.
From high school, you should choose an undergraduate program that gives you the flexibility to take the courses required for admission into a pharmacy program.
At Waterloo, we recommend the Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or Honours Science undergraduate programs as they offer the most flexibility to meet these requirements.
Where can you study to become a pharmacist?
There are 10 schools of pharmacy in Canada, including Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy which is home to Canada’s first and only co-op pharmacy program.
- Dalhousie University
- Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Université de Montréal
- Université Laval
- University of Alberta
- University of British Columbia
- University of Manitoba
- University of Saskatchewan
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo
Pharmacists wear white coats and many hats
There’s more to pharmacists than you think. In addition to being at your community pharmacy, pharmacists are on the frontlines of every aspect of healthcare — helping to ensure better outcomes for patients. (Source: pharmacistsforhealthierlives.org) https://player.vimeo.com/video/355566456?color=ffffff&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0Watch video on Vimeo
My experience volunteering at a pharmacy has inspired me to continue my studies towards becoming a pharmacist. It’s motivated me because I can give back to the community and do something that I enjoy.tiffany, Waterloo Science student
Being a pharmacist involves strong communication skills, the ability to work in a team, attention to detail, and empathy when helping community members.
Canada has approximately 42,500 licensed pharmacists working in more than 10,000 pharmacies. Of those, 70% work in community pharmacies, 15% work in hospitals, and 15% work in settings such as the pharmaceutical industry, government, associations, colleges, and universities.Canadian Pharmacists Association
Tips for students considering pharmacy as a career
“Volunteer at a pharmacy and make sure you enjoy every aspect of it. It’s important to choose a career that you love and won’t get tired of. You can get some great experience and advice from pharmacists that can help your applications,” says Tiffany, a Waterloo science student who plans to study pharmacy.
She recommends researching the different pharmacy requirements and planning out when to take the required courses.
Tiffany says that there isn’t a rush on taking the required courses, and that it’s important to have a balance of courses you need to take and courses you’re interested in.
She adds that “it’s a good idea to research the pharmacy programs since they’re all different in how the courses are taught, campus life, co-op opportunities, etc. Each university is unique and it’s important to select a program that fits your needs the best.”
The business side of pharmacy
Pharmacists may work as a salaried full-time or part-time employee of a drugstore chain or independent pharmacy. They may also be employed as managers, taking on duties such as business administration, budgeting, hiring staff and handling customer complaints. Some pharmacists own their own pharmacies. In addition to their roles as pharmacists, owners also undertake management duties and business operations such as building rental and maintenance, utilities and bill payments, book-keeping and payroll, business registration and licensing and government and regulatory reporting (Source: Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada/National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities)
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Psychiatric Nursing
University of Winnipeg Winnipeg, Canada
Brandon University and The University of Winnipeg are working together to offer the four-year Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing at the Brandon University School of Health Studies off-campus site – located in the lower level of the Rice Financial Building at 491 Portage Ave (near the main campus of The University of Winnipeg). 1,138 EUR / module 4 years B.Sc. Full-time Featured
Pharmacy Technician
Humber College Toronto, Canada
Humber College’s Pharmacy Technician diploma program prepares graduates for various careers in pharmacy including community, hospital, industry and long-term care settings. 10,209 EUR / year 2 years Bachelor Full-time Featured
Biopharmaceutical Science
University of Ottawa Ottawa, Canada
The Biopharmaceutical Sciences program (BPS) offered at University of Ottawa is an interdisciplinary program in the health related sciences. 23,255 EUR / year 4 years B.Sc. Full-time
Pharmacology
McGill University Québec, Canada
One of the greatest challenges in the biomedical sciences today is to understand disease processes and to develop new therapies. Pharmacology offered by McGill University is the multidisciplinary science that deals with all aspects of drugs and their interactions with living organisms. 27,263 EUR / year 4 years B.Sc. Full-time
Pharmacy
Medicine Hat College Medicine Hat, Canada
You can begin your Pharmacy studies at Medicine Hat College and then apply to transfer to another institution. Choosing university transfer studies at Medicine Hat College can offer you many advantages. Lower tuition costs, smaller class sizes and more one-on-one time with instructors can prepare you for a smooth transition into a larger university. Bachelor Full-time
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Laurentian University Greater Sudbury, Canada
During the Pharmaceutical Chemistry program at Laurentian University you will study how the pharmaceutical industry, designs, synthesizes and develops new drugs. 3,859 EUR / year 4 years B.Sc. Full-time
Pharmacy
University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Canada
Pharmacy program offered by University of Saskatchewan is the art and science of preparing and dispensing medications, and the provision of drug and health information to the public. Pharmacists are vital members of healthcare teams. They work with patients to determine their medication needs and the care required to best meet these needs. 11,375 EUR / year 4 years B.Sc. Full-time
Pharmacology
University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada
This Pharmacology program from University of British Columbia emphasizes the experimental and laboratory aspects of pharmacology. You’ll learn both the whole-animal and isolated-tissue techniques, as well as biochemical and chemical procedures. 6,302 EUR / year 4 years B.Sc. Full-time
Pharmacy
University of Waterloo Waterloo, Canada
Pharmacy graduates from the University of Waterloo are medication experts who identify, resolve, and prevent medication-related problems for their patients. 22,702 EUR / year 3 years Bachelor Full-time
Nursing – Accelerated
University of Prince Edward Island Charlottetown, Canada
The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Accelerated program at the University of Prince Edward Island is intended for applicants with a university degree who wish to become professional nurses. 8,740 EUR / year 2 years B.Sc. Full-time
Pharmacy Technician
Centennial College Toronto, Canada
Centennial College’s Pharmacy Technician program offers a dynamic curriculum that is based on the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) competencies. 9,606 EUR / year 2 years Bachelor Full-time
Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology (Honours)
University of Toronto Toronto, Canada
The Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology (Honours) program of University of Toronto are integrative biological sciences that examine the properties of chemical compounds and their interactions with living systems. 34,271 EUR / year 4 years B.Sc. Full-time
Pharmacology
University of Toronto Toronto, Canada
The Pharmacology program of University of Toronto is an integrative biological science that examines the properties of chemical compounds and their interactions with living systems. 34,271 EUR / year 4 years B.Sc. Full-time
Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Honours)
University of Ontario Institute of Technology Oshawa, Canada
The Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Honours) is a specialization within the Chemistry program at University of Ontario Institute of Technology. The Pharmaceutical Chemistry program provides an integrated basic grounding in chemical science fundamental to the pharmaceutical industry. 14,107 EUR / year 4 years B.Sc. Full-time
Biological and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
University of Guelph Guelph, Canada
The Biological and Pharmaceutical Chemistry program of University of Guelph explores biological processes through the deeper insight and molecular understanding that biological and pharmaceutical chemistry provides. 17,190 EUR / year 3 years B.Sc. Full-time
