BCPS and PEBC are different things
The PEBC Qualifying Exam is part of becoming a licensed pharmacist in Canada. BCPS (Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist) is an optional specialty credential from BPS for pharmacists who are already licensed and want to show advanced pharmacotherapy expertise. You need a license first; BCPS comes after.
Eligibility for Canadian pharmacists
- Education. A pharmacy degree from a program outside the U.S. that qualifies you to practise where you are. A Canadian pharmacy degree meets this.
- Licensure. A current, active license to practise pharmacy in the U.S. or another jurisdiction. A Canadian provincial license meets this.
- Experience, within the past 7 years, by one of these routes:
- Practice route: at least 3 years of pharmacotherapy practice after licensure, with at least 50% of your time on activities in the BCPS content outline, confirmed by an employer letter.
- Residency route: a completed CPRB-accredited year-1 residency in Canada, or an ASHP-accredited PGY1.
Preparing for a U.S.-based exam
- Study the guidelines the exam is built on. BPS is a U.S. organisation, so expect U.S. guidelines and practice standards rather than Canadian ones where they differ.
- Get comfortable with U.S. lab units. If you work in SI units, practise reading values such as creatinine and glucose in mg/dL. Our free reference lab ranges book is on the resources page.
- Don't skip professional practice. Biostatistics, study design, medication safety and pharmacoeconomics make up 28% of the exam.
- Practise at exam pace. 150 questions in 3 hours 45 minutes is about 1.5 minutes each.
For the full content outline and a 12-week plan, see the BCPS exam guide. To compare prep options, see how to choose the best BCPS prep course.
Built in Canada
RxBlueprint is a Canadian company. Our BCPS Prep Course has case-based questions written and reviewed by board-certified clinical pharmacists, a 150-question mock exam weighted to the BPS domains, study guides and flashcards. It's a one-time payment of $99, $149, $249 USD for 1, 6 or 12 months.
Common questions
Can a Canadian pharmacist become BCPS certified?
Yes. BPS accepts a pharmacy degree from a program outside the U.S. that qualifies you to practise where you are, and an active license in any jurisdiction, so a Canadian degree and a Canadian license meet those two requirements. You also need the experience requirement: 3 years of pharmacotherapy practice or a completed PGY1-equivalent residency.
Does a Canadian hospital residency count for BCPS?
A CPRB-accredited year-1 residency in Canada counts for the BCPS residency route, in the same way as an ASHP-accredited PGY1 in the U.S.
Is BCPS the same as the PEBC exam?
No. The PEBC Qualifying Exam is part of getting licensed as a pharmacist in Canada. BCPS is an optional specialty certification from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) for licensed pharmacists who want to show advanced pharmacotherapy expertise.
Are RxBlueprint prices in Canadian dollars?
No. Plans are priced in U.S. dollars ($99, $149, $249 USD for 1, 6 or 12 months), and your card issuer converts the amount at checkout.
Try the questions first
10 free case-based BCPS questions with full rationales. No account needed.