In February 2024, the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) published the NAPRA Language Proficiency Requirement Policy which outlines updated recommendations to NAPRA’s members – the provincial and territorial pharmacy regulatory authorities (PRAs) – for a language proficiency requirement for licensure as a pharmacist or a pharmacy technician in Canada. As with all NAPRA documents, the NAPRA Language Proficiency Requirement Policy is not applied by NAPRA but serves as a model that PRAs can adopt or adapt for use in their respective jurisdictions. NAPRA is pleased to share that the updated policy will come into effect in a majority of provinces on September 1, 2024.

Based on the results of a rigorous scientific process, the language proficiency requirements set out in the NAPRA policy aim to ensure that pharmacy professional applicants seeking licensure possess the necessary language proficiency to comprehend and communicate for safe, effective, and ethical practice in a Canadian setting. While most PRAs are adopting the requirements recommended by NAPRA, others may adapt it for use, depending on the laws and regulations around language proficiency in their province. Applicants should therefore ALWAYS check the website of the PRA in their jurisdiction or contact them to determine the language proficiency requirement applicable in that jurisdiction.

Main Changes

The updated requirements presented in the 2024 NAPRA Language Proficiency Requirement Policy differ from those outlined in the previous policy in two significant ways:

• Introduction of education as evidence of language proficiency. The updated policy recommends that PRAs accept education as evidence of language proficiency and defines the criteria to be used in assessing that applicants meet the necessary education requirements.

• Changes in tests accepted and cut scores. The language tests that PRAs are recommended to accept as evidence of language proficiency are the Academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Occupational English Test (OET) for English, and the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) Canada for French. Applicants should also note changes in minimum passing scores.

While the above-listed language proficiency tests are the ones recommended by NAPRA, some PRAs accept other language proficiency tests. PRAs may also accept other evidence of language proficiency than the NAPRA-recommended ones. It is thus very important that applicants verify with the PRA in the jurisdiction where they are seeking licensure to establish what requirements apply.

Timeline

Pharmacy professional applicants who plan to submit language test results as proof of language proficiency in jurisdictions other than Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec (see note below) should note that tests accepted and cut scores for:

• tests taken on or before August 31, 2024, will be assessed under the requirements of the previous policy; and
• tests taken starting September 1, 2024, will need to meet the requirements of the new policy.

NOTE: At this time, candidates applying for licensure in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec are NOT affected by the new language proficiency requirement policy.

For information pertinent to their specific case, all applicants are advised to contact the PRA in the jurisdiction in which they are seeking licensure.