What IELTS score do pharmacists need in Canada?

NAPRA: all four subtests must be completed in a single testing session, and every subtest must reach its cut score because the overall score is not considered. Scores must be valid under the testing agency's own guidelines; NAPRA notes they are typically valid for two years. Remotely proctored tests are accepted if they are as secure and reliable as on-site tests.

Ontario: results must come from a single test sitting and be no more than two years old. Its policy (last revised June 2026) lets the Registrar extend validity to a maximum of three years after the test date, for example if you have passed the PEBC Qualifying Examination, a practice-based assessment or an approved bridging programme in the past two years. Ontario still accepts current scores dated 31 December 2023 to 31 December 2025 that met its previous requirements.

Whether IELTS One Skill Retake counts is not stated by NAPRA or the OCP.

NAPRA recommends accepting education instead of a test, including graduation from a CCAPP-accredited pharmacist programme in Canada or an ACPE-accredited programme in the United States, taught in the language required for licensure.

Ontario accepts graduation from a CCAPP-accredited Canadian pharmacist programme, an ACPE programme with "PharmD Program accreditation" status (not "International Accreditation"), or full licensure as a pharmacist in another Canadian province or territory. Everyone else needs one of the tests above, unless the OCP's non-objective evidence policy applies. Regulators change these rules, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current scores on the OCP page before you book a test.