Pharmaceutical Jobs in Canada

Pharmacy deals with the study of chemicals and biological systems to apply the knowledge gained for the formulation of novel therapeutic drugs in the health sciences sector. Pharmacists are involved in the many different and varied areas related to the drug development process, as well as therapy and medical information. Pharmaceutical Science is a highly demanding field due to the ever-changing trends. Pharmaceutical-related careers are ample in Canada due to the current shortages, the growing number of hospitals and diseases, and the well-developed resources to manage it all.

An evergreen sector, since humans will always require drugs to combat diseases no matter the state of the economy, a Master's in Pharmacy will always offer a sufficient amount of job opportunities after graduation. Canada through its booming pharmacy sector, a strong economy, and high standards of safety and living is the perfect destination for a graduate degree in this stream of study. Additionally, Canadian universities promote good relations with the industry and provide ample opportunities for internships during the course curriculum itself. This ensures that the amount of money invested in the study is recovered quickly within a few years after graduation.

Pursuing MS in pharmacy from Canada.

Places to Work in Canada as Pharmacists

Pharmacists in Canada have employment opportunities in the following locations:

• Hospitals- Pharmacists can find rewarding careers in hospitals, where they play a crucial role in patient care and medication management.
  

  Top Hospitals in Canada

  1. St. Joseph's Health Care London
  2. Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital
  3. Chaleur Regional Hospital
  4. Victoria General Hospital
  5. Saskatoon City Hospital
  6. Grace Hospital
  7. Sturgeon Community Hospital
  8. High River General Hospital
  9. Lamont Health Care Centre
  10. Banff-Mineral Springs Hospital, Covenant Health
  11. Wingham and District Hospitals
  12. Prince County Hospital
  13. The Credit Valley Hospital
  14. Digby General Hospital
  15. South Shore Regional Hospital
  
  
• Pharmacies- Pharmacists have the opportunity to secure employment within the setting of a pharmacy, where they can work directly with patients to dispense medications, provide counseling on proper medication use, and offer advice on managing health conditions.

  Top Pharmacies in Canada

  1. Shoppers Drug Mart
  2. Rexall
  3. Pharmaprix
  4. London Drugs
  5. Jean Coutu
  6. Guardian
  7. IDA
  8. Costco Pharmacy
  9. Walmart Pharmacy
  10. Loblaw Pharmacy
  11. Familiprix
  12. The Medicine Shoppe
  13. Remedy's Rx
  14. Pharmasave
  15. Pharmachoice
  
  
• Canadian Armed Forces- Pharmacists in the Canadian Armed Forces pharmaceutical services to military personnel and their families.
• Education Institutes- Pharmacists have the opportunity to work in academia, teaching future pharmacists and conducting research in the field of pharmacy.
• Government Agencies- By working in government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pharmacists can contribute their expertise in medication management, drug safety, and public health initiatives.
• Tele pharmacy- Pharmacists in Canada can also explore opportunities in telepharmacy, where they provide pharmaceutical care remotely through technology.
• Pharmaceutical companies- Pharmacists have the opportunity to secure employment within pharmaceutical companies, where they can work in various roles such as drug development, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, and marketing.

  Top Pharmaceutical Companies in Canada

  1. Johnson & Johnson
  2. Merck
  3. Novartis
  4. AbbVie
  5. Novo Nordisk
  6. AstraZeneca
  7. Pfizer
  8. Bayer
  9. Apotex
  10. GlaxoSmithKline
  
  
• Insurance companies- Pharmacists can pursue careers in insurance companies and work in various roles such as pharmacy benefit management, drug utilization review, medication therapy management, assessing and evaluating insurance claims related to prescription medications, and clinical pharmacy services.
• Regulatory affairs- Pharmacists can also pursue roles in regulatory affairs, ensuring that medications meet safety and efficacy standards set by government agencies.
• Independent Pharmacies- Pharmacists also have the option to open their own independent pharmacies, providing personalized care and medication management to their local community.

Working as a Pharmacist in Canada

• Canada, boasting a population of approximately 38 million, houses the global pharmaceutical market's ninth-largest sector. Between the years 2022 and 2031, it is projected that there will be approximately 16,100 job opportunities for Pharmacists. Simultaneously, there will be an estimated pool of 20,000 job seekers ready to fill these positions. Although, the margin isn't very huge - which means that 90% of pharmacy graduates will secure a job in the field of pharmaceuticals in Canada.
• The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CphA) notes that the Canadian population needs drugs and medications more than ever, with their growing population and for the need to keep diseases at the minimum.
• The demand for pharmacists in Canada has been growing at a rapid pace ever since retail outlets providing pharmaceutical services have been expanding and providing 24-hour services. This causes a ripple effect leading the pharmaceutical and biotech companies to recruit more pharmacists than ever before.
• Pharmacists are not contained in a single field of work. They can work either in a retail store or in the healthcare sector. Moreover, pharmacists are required by pharmaceutical firms, drugstores, and hospitals; which expands the area of work for any pharmacist.
• As mentioned previously, the demand for pharmacists is very high in Canada. But, there are certain areas that have a higher need for pharmacists in their area, and they are as follows - Alberta, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan.
• As far as Canada is concerned, pharmacists have been given a lot of importance. It is important to note that the universities in Canada provide a world-class degree in Pharmaceutical and Pharmacy, by providing diverse subjects which can be mixed and matched at the convenience and choice of the student. Furthermore, universities provide a practical experience to the students and provide an opportunity to take part in world-leading research, expanding the knowledge and skill set of every student.
• The universities play a vital role in the expansion of the pharmaceutical field since the research conducted by them pushes forward the importance of drugs and medicine more than ever. Furthermore, Canadian universities are exceptionally famous for their groundbreaking- research in the field of health care and medicine.
• Due to the importance placed on Pharmaceuticals and pharmacy-related courses - recently, pharmacists have been considered ideal for patient counseling. Moreover, pharmacists are also being given the title of drug experts.

As of January 2024, the number of registered and licensed pharmacists in every state and province of Canada is as stated below:

State/Province	Number of Pharmacists
Alberta	6,281
British Columbia	6,981
Manitoba	1,637
New Brunswick	1,040
Newfoundland and Labrador	743
Northwest Territories	77
Nova Scotia	1,488
Nunavut	46
Ontario	18,313
Prince Edward Island	243
Quebec	11,217
Saskatchewan	1,945

Median Salary for Pharmacist in Canada

The following data presents the median salary per hour for Pharmacists in each Canadian province as of November 2023.

State/Province	Median Salary (approx.)
Alberta	CAD 50/hr
British Columbia	CAD 47/hr
Manitoba	CAD 51/hr
New Brunswick	CAD 50/hr
Newfoundland and Labrador	CAD 45/hr
Northwest Territories	CAD 66/hr
Nova Scotia	CAD 42/hr
Ontario	CAD 52/hr
Prince Edward Island	CAD 50/hr
Quebec	CAD 60/hr
Saskatchewan	CAD 52/hr

Job Prospects as a Pharmacist in Canada

• As mentioned above, there are ample job opportunities in Canada especially in the Pharmaceutical field due to shortages of skilled pharmacists in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island regions. This increases the chances of pharmacy graduates getting a secure and stable job in Canada. Once the students work for a set amount of hours (or years) they can apply for a permanent residency in Canada.
• Pharmacists have various roles to play depending on the environment in which they work.
• Community Pharmacists are involved with providing information on the type of drug, its required dosage, and storage. They can work with the government or private hospitals and clinics or can also set up their own drugstore.
• Hospital Pharmacists work in the hospital environment with the major role of making sure that the correct amount of medicines are delivered to the patients in cases of intravenous as well as oral administrations. They are in charge of compounding drugs if necessary.
• Industrial Pharmacists are involved in research and conducting trials. They are responsible for drug safety and its appropriate promotion.
• Consultant Pharmacists are involved in consultative services to patients and clients providing them with the necessary drug information.
• Veterinary Pharmacists to take care of animal diseases.
• Careers in Pharmacy Informatics are also growing wherein the pharmacists are involved with the management and optimization of the health system.
• Careers are also available in the educational sectors to provide quality education and training in pharmaceutical science to prospective students.

Minimum Requirements to Work as a Pharmacist in Canada

• A bachelor's degree in pharmacy or a related field that contains a good number of pharmacy courses. Although, it is quite preferable to have a master's degree in the related field so as to enhance and boost a student's career in the field.
• Good experience and training. Make sure the training and experience are from a certified researcher or professional.
• Individuals must possess excellent knowledge of clinical sciences and pharmaceutical chemistry along with good communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• License required by the Pharmacists authorizing their practice.

Get a look at how to earn a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Canada.

Advantages of Pharmacy Related Jobs

• Pharmacists are paid a very high salary ensuring a luxurious lifestyle. Furthermore, pharmacists have ensured a secure job in Canada as the demand increases every day.
• Pharmacy-related careers can be pursued at any place around the world, so a Pharmacist will never run out of a job whichever place they go to.
• With the increase in diseases there has been a mounting need for new drugs and effective therapy. As the need for new drugs increases so does the need for qualified Pharmacists.
• The course is not very expensive and is also assisted by many funding opportunities such as scholarships and assistantships.
• A career in pharmaceutical science will be highly challenging and never mundane.
• Canada has well-developed research facilities with up-to-date technology which are relevant requirements in this field.