Frequently Asked Questions

The first week of the first term includes both a mandatory Orientation Session and scheduled coursework for Patient Assessment Skills (PHRM 452). Students registered in the Critical Appraisal of Pharmacotherapy Literature course (PHRM 451) are also required to attend scheduled coursework on Day 5 of the first week.

This first week is typically delivered in-person at the UBC Vancouver Campus. Details and course times will be confirmed closer to the events, since details of in-person, on-campus activities may change. 

The orientation introduces students to the Faculty, its expectations for academic and professional conduct, and some of the skills required to succeed in the Flex PharmD Program.

Mandatory In-Person Flex PharmD Program Orientation and Coursework:
January 2022 Intake: Monday, January 10–Friday, January 14, 2022

Details will be emailed to students several weeks before the start of class.

For the most complete and up-to-date breakdown of the program fee, visit this link, and for practice fees, visit this link.

In selecting applicants, preference is given to well-qualified residents of British Columbia who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Admissions is not restricted to BC residents. We encourage all applicants who meet the admission requirements to apply for the program, regardless of their current place of residence.

There is one intake in January of each year. Please note that Flex PharmD is a limited life program designed to bridge practicing pharmacists into PharmD, and as such, may have limited admission cycles left.

No. Preference is not given to former UBC students. For details on the application process, please visit the Admissions Information page.

The program admits up to 30 students annually.

The program is designed to be taken part-time to accommodate working professionals’ schedules. Although a student may choose to take as many courses as possible per term, not all required courses will be offered in each term. As a result, it may not be possible to complete the degree on an accelerated timeline; this will depend on course availability.

Students will not be placed at a practicum site where an actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest may exist from the student and/or practice educator and/or practice site. This standard has been developed to avoid potential bias during the assessment process, and to ensure a professional student-practice educator and/or student-site of employment relationship is upheld.

Students may be able to complete a portion of their practicum requirements at locations within the same chain/banner/franchise/health authority/etc. where the student is or has been employed, or under the supervision of a practice educator from within the organization in which the student is or has been employed with whom no actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest may exist, and provided that the environment and supervision there meet the requirements and standards of the Office of Experiential Education (OEE).

The OEE has an established process of determining suitability of sites for practicums and will work with students on a case-by-case basis to align placements with student areas of interest as much as is possible.

Yes. The program has established a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process. Credit for prior learning depend on the amount and type of learning obtained from formal and non-formal experiences. Up to 50% of the degree requirements may be waived through PLAR. For more information on the PLAR process, please visit the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) page.

The Flex PharmD program prepares students to practice pharmacy as skilled clinicians. Every province has its own registration/licensing body that determines who may practice pharmacy. All questions regarding registration/licensing should be directed to the relevant provincial pharmacy regulatory authority.

To be considered for admission to the program, requirements include either a current registration as a pharmacist with the College of Pharmacists of BC, or with the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (Qualifying Exam) and eligibility for registration with the College of Pharmacists of BC.

If you are a registered pharmacist in another province or territory in Canada, the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) allows your current registration/license to be recognized in BC. Information about the registration process for Pharmacists from Canada is available from the College of Pharmacists of BC website.

If you have graduated from an international faculty of pharmacy that is not accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP), you must pass the PEBC examinations (Evaluating Examination, Qualification Examination 1 & 2), meet the English Language Proficiency assessment, complete a minimum of 500 hours of Structure Practical Training (SPT), and complete the Jurisprudence Examination (JE) before applying to the program.

Information about the registration process for IPGs is available from the College of Pharmacists of BC or Pharmacist Gateway Canada’s website. Additional information is available through the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Canadian Pharmacy Practice Program, a comprehensive program designed to help IPGs achieve the skills and competencies required to practice pharmacy in Canada.

PLAR credit is awarded if learning acquired through formal study (e.g., through structured credit programming by accredited educational bodies) or non-formal study (non-credit learning attained outside of formal studies) meets or exceeds the learning outcomes of the challenge course. Transfer Credit is a process whereby formal credit awarded by one institution may be applied toward a credential offered by another institution. There are no opportunities for transferring credits from another institution to the Flex PharmD Program.

You can initiate a request for PLAR at any time after admission to the Program; however, you are advised to decide which challenge option(s) are best for you within your first six months in the program.

1. Attend a PLAR Information Session or consult with the Flex PharmD Program Manager, pharmsci.plarpharmd@ubc.ca
2. Begin PLAR application for course challenge and review application package with the Program Manager
3. Pay assessment fees and (if applicable) register for the didactic course
4. Submit application and complete assessment: challenge examinations; or portfolio
5. Assessment application reviewed by Assessors
6. Results finalized by the Flex PharmD Student Progress & PLAR Committee
7. Candidates notified of results

• Didactic Course Challenges: PHRM 451, 453, and 454
• Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE): PHRM 491–496

The maximum credit that you can attain through PLAR is 50% of the overall credits in the Flex PharmD Program. A maximum of 12 weeks of the 26 weeks APPE can be challenged through PLAR. All students are required to complete 14 weeks of APPE to be eligible for Program completion.

A challenge examination is an assessment option available for didactic course challenges only. This can be completed as a written or oral examination or a performance assessment such as skills demonstration depending on the course and its learning outcomes.

An abbreviated portfolio assessment is an option available for either PHRM 454 or APPE challenges. This option is only available if you have completed an approved residency within the last five years, hold an in-date post-licensure certification or prescribing privilege or have earned an additional degree from Canada/USA. Refer to Table 1 for more information.

A full portfolio assessment is available for APPE challenges only, and only if an applicant has not met the maximum PLAR credit through another assessment option. The portfolio is a compilation of your prior learning and supporting evidence that demonstrate your skills and knowledge in relation to the specific learning outcomes for the APPE challenged.

PLAR credit provides an opportunity for you to acquire course credits for your prior formal and non-formal learning. If credit is awarded, it will reduce the amount of time you need to commit to earning the course-credits, or the number of weeks of experiential learning required for program completion.

The Flex PharmD Program Manager provides on-going assistance to students who would like to apply for PLAR challenges, including review of PLAR process, challenge options, application and/or portfolio development, revisions, application submission, etc. Contact the Program Manager for further details: pharmsci.plarpharmd@ubc.ca.

Fees vary depending on the type of assessment:

• Challenge Exam $450
• Abbreviated Portfolio Assessment $450
• Full Portfolio Assessment $750

PLAR fees must be paid at the time of application submission and are non-refundable.

Portfolios must be submitted within six weeks after paying the assessment fee. If additional time is required, you must contact the Student Services Assistant by emailing pharmsci.plarpharmd@ubc.ca. We encourage students to collaborate with the Office of Student Services on compiling a portfolio prior to paying the assessment fee.

No, the PLAR credits do not count towards your GPA. If you are awarded PLAR credits, you will receive a "PLA" notation for the course challenged. There will be no mark or grade indicated on your student record.

Assessors are faculty members responsible for assessing a student's prior learning based on evidence submitted. Assessors are individuals with expertise in the profession of pharmacy who have been trained in the principles and practices of Prior Learning Assessment.

Assessors determine if evidence provided by the student is authentic, comparable, current, and sufficient to meet program learning outcomes and qualitative. Quality of the learning experience is more important than the quantity, or amount of time spent in the activity.

A letter will be issued to the candidate regarding the results of the PLAR assessment. If credit is awarded, you will receive a "PLA" notation for the challenged course on your student record. If credit is not awarded, you are required to continue with the course as scheduled.

If you are unsatisfied with the results of your PLAR assessment, you may complete and submit an Appeal Application within 10 days of the assessment results. The Faculty’s Dean's Advisory Committee on Student Appeals (DACSA) will commence re-evaluation of your assessment accordingly.

Students may not challenge a didactic course or practicum more than once.