Are MCQ and Osce mandatory BEFORE Internship in Ontario?
Hi all
I am really confuse regarding this question because I have heard answers in both ways.
So again...Is the requirement that IPGs undertake internship AFTER the Qualifying Examination an OCP's requirement or just a condition imposed by employers?
Please, let me know what do you know about this, because I don't want to rush attempting the MCQ and OSCE before feeling truly prepared and also I think the best way would be being able to face studentship and internship before the Qualifying Exam.
Thanks
If you are living in Ontario, you must fulfill the requirements of a pharmacy intern for several weeks (I am not quite certain of the length of time since it may vary). This is a mandatory requirement of the Ontario College of Pharmacy, not the employers. You will not be able to work as a licensed pharmacist until you fulfill all the requirements from the college (you must also write a jurisprudence exam). An employer cannot hire you as a pharmacist until you are licensed.
Make sense?
Paul
Paul
Thank you for replying.
I think I didn't explain myself clearly. I'm sorry for that.
My question is regarding Internship, not working as a licensed pharmacist. The Ontario College of Pharmacist doesn't require passing the PEBC Qualifying Exams (MCQ & OSCE) before the Internship, but it's necessary to successfully complete CPS I and II (if you are an IPG) and strongly recommend passing the Jurisprudence exam before the Internship (as indicated in the OCP website). However, I have been told that in order to have you as an INTERN, most employers in community pharmacy require that the applicants have already passed MCQ & OSCE. This seems not to be an issue for hospital pharmacy, but the possibility to get an internship in a clinical setting is much smaller for an IPG like me.
Summarizing, my inquire is for information about how feasible is getting a position as intern in community pharmacy in Ontario for someone like me, an IPG, after passing CPS I and II but not having taken the PEBC Qualifying Exam yet.
As far as I know, If you pass the CPS I you can start your studentship as long as there is a pharmacy who is willing to accept you. But , for internship I think some pharmacy will not accept you to do the internship if you have'nt pass the qualifying exam ( MCQ & OSCE ). Even the U of T graduate students they start their internship after they passed the qualifying exam. I guess no company will invest to pay some money for internship knowing that you have'nt get your license.
Oh I forgot to tell you that I passed CPS I and about to start CPS II.