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Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada: Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions

Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada FAQ

Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada for International Pharmacists (Gateway) offers international pharmacy graduates (IPGs) who wish to practise pharmacy in Canada a one-stop destination where they can find the most current, complete, and accurate information about licensure in Canada. This practical and easy-to-use tool guides IPGs through every step in the licensure process for each province and territory, starting with helping them identify what requirements can be completed before they even arrive in Canada. Additionally, Gateway provides IPGs self-assessment tools, various educational resources, and valuable insight into pharmacy practice in Canada. The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) administers Gateway on behalf of its members, the pharmacy regulatory authorities (PRAs).

In addition to serving as a resource and pathway to licensure for IPGs, Gateway establishes a central and confidential national document repository for IPGs. IPGs are thus no longer required to submit the same documents (copies of pharmacy degrees, university transcripts, language proficiency test results, etc.) to the various organizations involved in the licensure process, as was the case before Gateway was created. This promotes seamless communication among the concerned parties (IPGs, PRAs, the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada, Gateway/NAPRA) and significantly streamlines the process.

Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions  

The Gateway team at NAPRA provides support, by phone or email, to IPGs as they progress through the various stages of the licensure process and to others interested in the licensure process. A few of the most frequently raised issues are addressed here.

Why Have I Not Yet Received My National ID Number? 
Once IPGs complete the enrolment process in Gateway, they are assigned a national ID number which serves as the unique identifier used throughout the licensure process. The national ID number is generated and sent to the applicant within 2 business days from the time the payment for enrolment is submitted. Therefore, IPGs may not receive their national ID number the moment they enrol. If, however, the national ID number is not received within 2 business days of enrolment, the applicant is asked to send a request by email to gatewayinfo@napra.ca which includes name, date of birth, date of enrolment and, where possible, a copy or screenshot of the payment receipt for the enrolment fee. If a person other than the candidate makes the payment, their name should also be included as that helps to find the transaction.

How Can I Update My Language Test Results in Gateway? 
Applicants may complete their language proficiency testing any time prior to applying to the PRA they had designated during their initial enrolment to Gateway. Language proficiency results must be added to Gateway by NAPRA or the PRAs. There is no functionality in the Gateway profile that allows applicants to update their language test results directly in Gateway as the test results must be verified before they are added to the Gateway profile.

If the language proficiency test is taken through the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the results may be made directly to the applicant. In this case, applicants are asked to submit their results, including the Test Report Form (TRF) number, along with their national ID number to gatewayinfo@napra.ca.

Candidates who completed the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT) must indicate NAPRA as the destination institution. The destination institution (DI) code is 7603.

Once Gateway receives language proficiency results, they will be verified using the online secure portal of the language test provider and applicants’ profile will be updated as appropriate.

How Do I Apply to the Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (PRA)? 
Once the necessary requirements are met, candidates must apply to the PRA of their choice through their profile in Gateway. This will give the selected PRA access to the applicant’s file and its content. It will also allow the PRAs to update all pertinent information regarding structured practical training and assessments, jurisprudence examination results and final licensure status.

These are the steps for candidates to apply to the PRA of their choice from their Gateway profile: 

  1. Go to the PRA section from the top left menu.
  2. Expand the first section to manage the currently designated PRA (which was selected upon initial enrolment to Gateway).
  3. Select the PRA and see the available actions. 
  4. Click on “Apply”.

For further information or any other questions, the Gateway team can be reached at (613) 569-9800 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm ET or at gatewayinfo@napra.ca

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