Development of a Curriculum for Foreign-trained Pharmacists Seeking Licensure in Canada

Abstract

Demand for well-qualified health care professionals (including pharmacists) is projected to increase over the next ten to twenty years. In many jurisdictions, immigration will become an increasingly important human resource to replace aging, retiring workers and drive ongoing economic prosperity and growth. A lack of a systematic professional development and enculturation program for immigrant-professionals may result in unnecessary barriers. Bridging education provides a structured system for continuing professional development of professionals educated outside North America to acquire competencies and meet domestic standards of practice. The International Pharmacy Graduate Program in Ontario (Canada) has developed a model that has been recognized by the provincial government as “best- practice” for bridging education. This model consists of five elements: prior learning assessment and recognition, individualized learning plans, mentorship, distance learning opportunities, and peer-network formation. In particular, individualized learning plans link to a series of university-based courses (Canadian Pharmacy Skills I and II) benchmarked to B.Sc.Pharm educational outcomes. This paper describes development of these courses and results on candidates’ success rates in national licensing examinations.