Nova Scotia Attracts Over 100 Foreign-Trained Pharmacists with Streamlined Licensing Program

The initiative, launched a year ago, simplifies licensing for pharmacists from five countries with similar standards to Canada.

The Nova Scotia College of Pharmacists introduced the program in December 2023 to address healthcare workforce shortages.
The initiative waives Canada's national licensing exam and internship requirements, replacing them with a jurisprudence exam, a letter of good standing, and a background check.
To date, 102 pharmacists from the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand have applied, with 32 already licensed and 70 applications in progress.
The program significantly reduces licensing approval times from years to weeks, making Nova Scotia a more viable destination for healthcare professionals.
The province plans to continue recruitment efforts for another year, complementing other initiatives aimed at attracting international healthcare workers.