Frequently Asked Questions – Hospital Pharmacy Residency Programs
What is a pharmacy residency program?
Generally, a year-long extended education program focusing on hospital pharmacy practice. A hospital pharmacy residency program is typically a 12-month directed postgraduate learning experience.
Through structured rotations in pharmacy practice, education, research, and administration, residency programs aim to prepare pharmacists for challenging and innovative pharmacy practice. Graduates of pharmacy residency programs are an important source of highly qualified pharmacists trained in institutional practice.
Where can I do a pharmacy residency in Canada?
Around 30 programs (year 1 programs) are available each year for students all across Canada. These programs “focus on direct patient care, pharmacy operations, project management and personal practice aspects of pharmacy practice.”
Currently 8 programs (year 2 programs) are available, which focus on “direct patient care, teaching and research.” Year 2 residency programs may be completed after successful completion of a year 1 residency program
There are 4 programs in Alberta, 5 programs in British Columbia, 1 program in Manitoba, 2 programs in New Brunswick, 1 program in Newfoundland and Labrador, 2 programs in Nova Scotia, 17 programs in Ontario, 2 programs in Quebec, and 2 programs in Saskatchewan.
More information can be found at here
Does it cost money to do a pharmacy residency? Do I get paid?
Tuition costs may vary between programs. Living and travel expenses are the responsibility of the student. A stipend is often offered and the amount varies among programs.
How many students are accepted into pharmacy residencies each year?
The 30 accredited year 1 programs in Canada represent more than 100 pharmacy residency graduates each year. Each program accepts a different number of residents. Please see details of each program: Year 1 programs
Do I need to be a CSHP student supporter to be accepted for a residency?
Being a CSHP Student Support is not a required to apply for a residency program. Membership status will be known at the time of application. Once an applicant is accepted into a pharmacy residency, they are required to be a CSHP member for the duration of the residency.
Do I need to do a residency the year after I graduate from pharmacy school?
No, students are eligible to apply to a residency program anytime after finishing a B.Sc.Pharm or Pharm.D program. PEBC/OSCEs are completed prior to starting a program and results may return after the residency has started their program.
Do I need to complete a pharmacy residency program in order to practice in a hospital?
Many hospitals across Canada require job applicants to have completed a pharmacy residency. Currently, completion of a pharmacy residency is not a requirement within hospitals in Newfoundland and Labrador.
What are the benefits of doing a pharmacy residency? Will it help be get a job?
A pharmacy residency is provides the opportunity to expand knowledge in many areas of hospital pharmacy practice (for example, oncology, infectious disease, internal medicine, etc). It also provides research experience under the guidance of. Employers look favorably on applicants who have completed a residency program.
How good do my grades need to be to be accepted for a pharmacy residency?
Grades are reviewed in the application for a residency program and strong academic performance is important. There are many other parts of the application, including essays, interviews and other methods of evaluating the applicant; grades are not everything!
When should I start preparing for a pharmacy residency?
Start planning early. Explore the CSHP website for more details on the programs offered and consider the location of programs and specialty areas offered. Start reaching out to programs the summer before you apply if possible. Plan early and pay attention to deadlines, which may vary between programs
Pharmacy Residency Application Roadmap.
How do I know what pharmacy residency site is the right choice for me?
Here are some steps you can take to choose which site(s) to apply for:
- Consider the specialty areas offered at each site.
- Contact site coordinators and previous/present resident at the site if possible and ask questions about the program.
- Consider the location of the site and if it is where you want to be for a year
- Ask questions about the structure of the research project
- Do not be afraid of applying to sites that have not taken MUN graduates before
- Visit sites if possible
How does the interview process work?
The interview process varies from site to site. Some may hold interviews with a panel, while others may administer situational or behavioral interviews. Be prepared before you attend.
Some interviews may only be offered in person, while others may allow for distance or teleconference interviews.
You may not get much notice of the date/time of your interview. Prepare for the possibility of booking flights with late notice.
MUN students may take advantage of the mock interviews offered by the Career Centre at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador as well as at the Writing Center.
What do I need to do to apply?
Application requirements will vary between programs. Reach out to coordinators and current/past residents if you have questions.
Seriously consider why you want to pursue a residency. Applications are alot of work and this will help you focus. Consider reviewing your social media profiles, as sites may look at these as part of their selection process.
Do I need hospital pharmacy experience to be accepted into a pharmacy residency program?
This will vary between programs. Most programs are interested in a variety of experiences and are not particular about the setting of practice. Some programs will weigh marks more heavily than experience in a hospital setting.
Source: *Compiled by: Kelly Mitchelmore, Allison Pittman and Jillian McInnis, CSHP NL Student Representatives 2016. Thank you to Sarah Mulrooney of the MUN School of Pharmacy Class of 2016 for providing input on these questions. Adapted in 2021.