What the PEBC Qualifying Exam Part I is
The Pharmacist Qualifying Examination has two parts. Part I (MCQ) is a single-day, computer-based, closed-book multiple-choice exam, taken at a Prometric test centre or by remote proctoring. Part II is the OSCE, a performance-based exam taken separately. This practice pack covers Part I only: the OSCE cannot be practised as written multiple choice.
Exam format at a glance
| Part of the exam | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Question type | Single-best-answer multiple choice. Each question assesses one competency from the blueprint. |
| Number of questions | Not published on the official PEBC pages we checked |
| Time | 270 minutes |
| Pass mark | Not published as a fixed number. The standard was set by a panel of practitioners in June 2016 and is applied to each version of the exam by statistical equating. Results are pass or fail only, and each question is worth one mark. |
| Tools | An on-screen scientific calculator and an online formula sheet |
| Style | Negative words such as NOT, NEVER and EXCEPT are shown in bold capitals. Calculations and lab values use SI units, and drugs are named by generic name. |
| Cost | $870 for Part I (MCQ), listed as the 2027 fee. Part II (OSCE) is $1,950. |
| Next sitting | Part I runs November 2 to 6, 2026, with results released December 17, 2026 |
PEBC offers an official 60-question online sample exam on the 2026 blueprint. The number of answer options per real question is not stated on the PEBC pages we checked; our questions have four options each.
The 2026 blueprint
The blueprint (version 03-2026, in effect from May 2026) is based on the 2024 NAPRA Professional Competencies for Canadian Pharmacists at Entry to Practice. The approximate Part I weightings are:
| Competency area | Approximate weight |
|---|---|
| Providing Care: Clinical Care | 50% |
| Providing Care: Distribution | 20% |
| Professionalism | 12% |
| Knowledge and Expertise | 11% |
| Communication and Collaboration | 4% |
| Leadership and Stewardship | 3% |
What our practice test covers
We split Clinical Care into two sections, assessment and care planning, and implementation and monitoring, so our section sizes track the official weightings. Federal controlled substance questions follow the Controlled Substances Regulations (SOR/2025-242), in force October 1, 2026, which replaced the Narcotic Control Regulations, the Benzodiazepines and Other Targeted Substances Regulations and Parts G and J of the Food and Drug Regulations. Hypertension questions follow the 2025 Hypertension Canada primary care guideline.
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Clinical Care: Assessment and Care Planning | Gathering information, assessing drug therapy problems and planning care |
| Clinical Care: Implementation and Monitoring | Putting the plan in place, counselling, monitoring and follow-up |
| Providing Care: Distribution | Dispensing, compounding, calculations, controlled substances and safe supply |
| Knowledge and Expertise | Pharmacology, pharmaceutics and the evidence behind drug therapy |
| Communication and Collaboration | Working with patients and the care team |
| Leadership and Stewardship | Medication safety, quality improvement and use of resources |
| Professionalism | Ethics, legal duties, consent, privacy and accountability |
How to prepare
Read the PEBC blueprint and plan around the weightings: half the exam is clinical care. Practise one section at a time and read every explanation, including for the questions you got right. Work calculations with a basic scientific calculator and SI units, as on the real exam. Try PEBC's official sample exam, then take our timed mock to practise your pacing.
Checked against PEBC information on October 30, 2026. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Aptitude Tests Canada is an independent practice platform. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada, NAPRA or any provincial pharmacy regulator. Our questions are original practice questions, not real exam questions.
Practice questions with answers
Tap a question to see the correct answer and explanation.
A 58-year-old man with type 2 diabetes had a myocardial infarction two years ago. He takes metformin 1,000 mg twice daily. His A1C is 8.2% and eGFR is 62 mL/min/1.73 m2. Which addition is MOST appropriate?
- Bedtime NPH insulin 10 units
- Gliclazide MR 30 mg daily
- Sitagliptin 100 mg daily
- Empagliflozin 10 mg daily
Answer: D, Empagliflozin 10 mg daily. Diabetes Canada guidelines recommend adding an SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1 receptor agonist with proven cardiovascular benefit for adults with type 2 diabetes and clinical cardiovascular disease. Empagliflozin reduced major cardiovascular events and mortality in this population.
A patient on warfarin for atrial fibrillation has an INR of 5.2 with no bleeding. What is the MOST appropriate management?
- Give prothrombin complex concentrate
- Give vitamin K 10 mg intravenously
- Continue the current dose and recheck INR in 4 weeks
- Hold 1 to 2 doses, then resume at a lower dose
Answer: D, Hold 1 to 2 doses, then resume at a lower dose. For an INR between 4.5 and 10 without bleeding, CHEST guidance recommends holding warfarin and resuming at a reduced dose with closer monitoring. Routine vitamin K is not recommended, and PCC is reserved for major bleeding.
How many mL of 70% v/v isopropyl alcohol are needed to prepare 500 mL of a 30% v/v solution?
- 286 mL
- 350 mL
- 214 mL
- 150 mL
Answer: C, 214 mL. Using C1V1 = C2V2: V1 = (30% x 500 mL) / 70% = 214 mL, made up to 500 mL with purified water.