Finances & Licensure

Programs may vary with regard to:

  • How the program is administered (e.g., is the program run privately by a hospital or region, or is it a program of a University; do you need to pay “student fees” while in the program);
  • The dollar value of and terms and conditions associated with the residency stipend;
  • Other types of support available to pharmacy residents (e.g., access to computers, parking, lab coats, pagers, photocopying, library & shared or dedicated office space, casual hours of work, health benefits, amount of financial support for education leave/conference attendance, employment skills coaching, unionization, assistance with relocation expense, and post-residency employment incentives, etc.);
  • The need to be licensed as a pharmacist during or by a set time after starting the program;
  • Liability insurance coverage (e.g., at the residency home site, when you train at sites other than your home site);
  • Student loan payment deferral options.
  • Seek current information about licensing and exam costs from the Registrar of the pharmacy regulatory authority in the province where the program is located. This is because costs and requirements for licensing will become important if you decide to remain in that province or transfer to another province after the residency, or if you want to seek casual hours of work to supplement your stipend.