In order to practise as a pharmacist in B.C. it is necessary to be registered with the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. Additional assessment procedures are conducted by the College of Pharmacists of B.C., and upon satisfying these criteria, applicants are eligible to register. Most colleges and university colleges in B.C. offer the various prerequisite courses required to gain admission into the UBC pharmacy program. Interested students should contact UBC for a current list of appropriate science courses. Enrollment to the program is competitive, and final selection is at the sole discretion of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Preference is given to well-qualified residents of British Columbia.
One-year residency programs in hospital pharmacy and community pharmacy, as well as continuing education courses, are also available. In addition, UBC offers master's and doctoral programs specializing in biopharmaceutics, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutics, pharmaceutical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacy practice and pharmacy management, for those interested in a career involving research. Prospective pharmacists should be able to present information clearly and quickly, work with a high degree of precision and maintain accurate records. Manual dexterity, analytical and problem-solving skills and knowledge of computer applications are necessary. Pharmacists who own or manage a pharmacy must learn to manage a business and supervise staff.