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Pharmacist Qualifying Examination · Last updated November 2026

PEBC Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Part I (MCQ): free practice test

Part I of the two-part exam for PEBC certification as a pharmacist in Canada. It tests entry-level competence against the NAPRA 2024 competencies: Clinical Care (about 50%), Distribution (20%), Professionalism (12%), Knowledge and Expertise (11%), Communication and Collaboration (4%) and Leadership and Stewardship (3%). Windows run in February, May, July (Part I only) and November. The Evaluating Examination's last sitting was October 2026, so international graduates now go from Document Evaluation straight to Part I.

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About the PEBC Pharmacist MCQ exam

Part I of the two-part exam for PEBC certification as a pharmacist in Canada. It tests entry-level competence against the NAPRA 2024 competencies: Clinical Care (about 50%), Distribution (20%), Professionalism (12%), Knowledge and Expertise (11%), Communication and Collaboration (4%) and Leadership and Stewardship (3%). Windows run in February, May, July (Part I only) and November. The Evaluating Examination's last sitting was October 2026, so international graduates now go from Document Evaluation straight to Part I.

What's on the exam

PEBC Pharmacist MCQ
Cardiovascular and Renal Care
7 key facts
Endocrine and Respiratory Care
7 key facts
Infections and Immunization
7 key facts
Mental Health, Neurology and Pain
7 key facts
Self-Care and Special Populations
7 key facts
Distribution, Compounding and Calculations
7 key facts
Pharmacokinetics and Evidence-Based Practice
7 key facts
Law, Ethics and Professionalism
7 key facts

Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →

How to pass the PEBC Pharmacist MCQ exam

  • 200 questions in 260 minutes is about 78 seconds each. Case-based questions take longer, so move quickly through one-line recall and calculation items.
  • Clinical Care is about half of Part I. Know first-line choices, monitoring and red flags for the common conditions in Canadian guidelines, not rare diseases.
  • Distribution is 20% of Part I, more than in the OSCE. Prescription review, calculations, compounding and product checks are reliable marks.
  • 50 questions are unscored pretest items and you can't tell which. Treat every question as if it counts, and never leave one blank.

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Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the Calculations & Canadian Targets Sheet.

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What's in the premium PEBC Pharmacist MCQ prep

Premium PEBC Pharmacist MCQ prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.

3,000practice questions, every answer explained
6full-length mock exams, 200 questions each, timed
800flashcards with spaced repetition, sorted by topic
60comprehensive key notes across 8 topics

Your step-by-step study path

  1. 1
    Cardiovascular and Renal Care8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Notes free with an account
  2. 2
    Endocrine and Respiratory Care8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  3. 3
    Infections and Immunization8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  4. 4
    Mental Health, Neurology and Pain8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  5. 5
    Self-Care and Special Populations7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  6. 6
    Distribution, Compounding and Calculations7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  7. 7
    Pharmacokinetics and Evidence-Based Practice7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  8. 8
    Law, Ethics and Professionalism7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  9. Final step: 6 full mock exams200 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.
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Free with an account

Read the complete PEBC Pharmacist MCQ study notes for “Cardiovascular and Renal Care”

Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 15 minutes of reading: Hypertension: diagnosis, targets and first-line therapy · RAAS blockers: what to check · Dyslipidemia · Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction · Atrial fibrillation and anticoagulation · Chronic kidney disease and dosing, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.

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Study tools included

3,000 practice questions

3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organized topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.

6 full mock exams

6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.

Exam Readiness Score

One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready to book. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.

800 flashcards + spaced repetition

800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.

60 comprehensive key notes

60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.

Mind maps

See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.

Sample questions with answers

These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.

1. A 68-year-old man with non-valvular atrial fibrillation has no other stroke risk factors. His CrCl is 60 mL/min. Using the CCS 'CHADS-65' approach, what is the most appropriate stroke prevention?
Answer: A direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC). In the CCS algorithm, age 65 or older alone is enough to recommend oral anticoagulation. A DOAC is preferred over warfarin for non-valvular AF. ASA and clopidogrel alone are not recommended for stroke prevention in AF.
2. A patient with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF 30%, NYHA class II) takes sacubitril/valsartan, bisoprolol and spironolactone at target doses. eGFR is 55 mL/min/1.73 m². Which addition do CCS heart failure guidelines recommend?
Answer: Dapagliflozin. CCS guidelines recommend four foundational therapies for HFrEF: an ARNI (or ACEI/ARB), an evidence-based beta-blocker, an MRA and an SGLT2 inhibitor such as dapagliflozin or empagliflozin. Non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers and NSAIDs worsen heart failure.
3. A 59-year-old with type 2 diabetes and a myocardial infarction last year takes metformin 1,000 mg twice daily. A1C is 7.8% and eGFR is 70 mL/min/1.73 m². According to Diabetes Canada, which agent should be added?
Answer: Empagliflozin. For adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, Diabetes Canada recommends adding an SGLT2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist with proven cardiovascular benefit. Empagliflozin is the only option here with that evidence.
4. A 25-year-old with asthma uses salbutamol about three times a week and takes no controller. According to the 2021 Canadian Thoracic Society guideline, what is the preferred change?
Answer: Start as-needed budesonide-formoterol (or a daily low-dose inhaled corticosteroid). The CTS no longer recommends SABA alone for adults and adolescents with mild asthma. Options are as-needed budesonide-formoterol or a daily low-dose ICS. A LABA must never be used without an ICS.
5. A healthy, non-pregnant 30-year-old woman has symptoms of uncomplicated cystitis. Her CrCl is normal and she has no allergies. Which regimen is most appropriate first-line?
Answer: Nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals 100 mg twice daily for 5 days. Nitrofurantoin for 5 days, TMP-SMX for 3 days (if local resistance allows) and single-dose fosfomycin are first-line. Fluoroquinolones are reserved because of resistance and adverse effects, amoxicillin has high E. coli resistance, and moxifloxacin doesn't reach useful urinary levels.
6. According to NACI, when should a pregnant person receive the Tdap vaccine?
Answer: In every pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 32 weeks of gestation. NACI recommends Tdap in every pregnancy, regardless of previous immunization, ideally at 27 to 32 weeks. Maternal antibodies cross the placenta and protect the infant from pertussis before their own series starts.
7. A patient stable on lithium for bipolar disorder is started on a new medication. Which new medication is MOST likely to raise the serum lithium concentration?
Answer: Hydrochlorothiazide. Thiazides reduce sodium excretion, and the proximal tubule then reabsorbs more sodium and lithium, raising lithium levels. NSAIDs and ACE inhibitors do the same. Theophylline increases lithium clearance, and acetaminophen and amlodipine have no meaningful effect.
8. A patient takes oral morphine 60 mg per day and is being switched to oral hydromorphone. Using a ratio of 5 mg oral morphine to 1 mg oral hydromorphone, what is the equianalgesic daily dose BEFORE any reduction for incomplete cross-tolerance?
Answer: 12 mg. 60 mg ÷ 5 = 12 mg of oral hydromorphone per day. In practice the new dose is then reduced (often by 25 to 50%) for incomplete cross-tolerance, with breakthrough doses available.
9. A healthy adult smokes 25 cigarettes a day and has the first one within 30 minutes of waking. They want to quit using a nicotine patch. Which starting patch strength is most appropriate?
Answer: 21 mg/24 h. Heavy smokers (more than 20 cigarettes a day, or first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking) should start at the highest patch strength, 21 mg/24 h, ideally combined with a short-acting form for cravings. Under-dosing nicotine is a common reason quit attempts fail.
10. A 32-year-old at 24 weeks' gestation has confirmed hypertension that needs drug treatment. Which antihypertensive is the most appropriate choice?
Answer: Labetalol. Labetalol, long-acting nifedipine and methyldopa are first-line in pregnancy. ACE inhibitors and ARBs are contraindicated (fetal renal toxicity), and spironolactone has anti-androgenic effects on the fetus.
11. Heparin 25,000 units is added to 500 mL of D5W. The order is 1,000 units per hour. At what rate should the infusion run?
Answer: 20 mL/h. Concentration = 25,000 units ÷ 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Rate = 1,000 units/h ÷ 50 units/mL = 20 mL/h.
12. A new prescription for a patient with rheumatoid arthritis reads: 'Methotrexate 2.5 mg tablets, take 3 tablets daily, #90.' What should the pharmacist do?
Answer: Contact the prescriber, because methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis is dosed once weekly. Low-dose methotrexate for RA is given once weekly. Daily dosing is a known cause of fatal toxicity. The pharmacist must resolve the drug therapy problem with the prescriber before dispensing, not guess or change the directions alone.
13. In a trial, the rate of stroke is 10% with placebo and 6% with the study drug over 3 years. What is the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one stroke over 3 years?
Answer: 25. Absolute risk reduction = 10% − 6% = 4% = 0.04. NNT = 1 ÷ 0.04 = 25. The relative risk reduction (40%) sounds larger, which is why the exam often tests ARR and NNT.
14. A pharmacy discovers that a quantity of oxycodone tablets is missing and can't be accounted for. Under federal law, the loss must be reported to Health Canada's Office of Controlled Substances:
Answer: Within 10 days of discovery. The Narcotic Control Regulations require a pharmacist to report any loss or theft of a narcotic to the Office of Controlled Substances within 10 days of discovering it. There's no minimum quantity.
15. Under the NAPRA National Drug Schedules, which category of non-prescription drug may be sold only from a licensed pharmacy, but from its self-selection area?
Answer: Schedule III. Schedule III drugs are sold only in pharmacies, from the self-selection area, with a pharmacist available. Schedule II drugs need pharmacist intervention and are kept where the public can't reach them. Schedule I needs a prescription. Unscheduled drugs can be sold anywhere.

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Certification guide

How to become a pharmacist in Canada (international graduates): To practise as a pharmacist in Canada outside Québec, you need PEBC certification plus a licence from the province or territory where you'll work. For international pharmacy graduates the PEBC path changed in late 2026: the Evaluating Examination has ended, so the route is now Document Evaluation, then the [Qualifying Examination](https://pebc.ca/pharmacists/qualifying-examination/general-information/) Part I (MCQ), then Part II (OSCE). Here are the steps and what they cost.

PEBC Pharmacist MCQ exam FAQ

How many questions are on the PEBC Pharmacist MCQ exam?

200 multiple-choice questions (150 scored, 50 unscored pretest questions), standalone and case-based, with a time limit of 260 minutes of testing time in a 4.5-hour sitting. Format: closed book, computer-based, one section (on-screen calculator and formula sheet provided).

What is the passing score for PEBC Pharmacist MCQ?

Not published. PEBC uses a criterion-referenced pass/fail standard and reports pass or fail only; practise to 70% or higher.

How much does the PEBC Pharmacist MCQ exam cost?

C$870 (2027 fee); international graduates also pay C$715 for Document Evaluation. Part II (OSCE) is C$1,950. PEBC sets new fees each exam year, so confirm on pebc.ca before you apply.

Which languages is the PEBC Pharmacist MCQ exam offered in?

English or French.

Where do I take the PEBC Pharmacist MCQ exam?

Prometric (test centre or remote proctoring).

Is this PEBC Pharmacist MCQ practice test free?

Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full PEBC Pharmacist MCQ prep is Premium at C$207 a month for this exam.

What's in the premium PEBC Pharmacist MCQ prep?

3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (Cardiovascular and Renal Care: 375; Endocrine and Respiratory Care: 375; Infections and Immunization: 375; Mental Health, Neurology and Pain: 375; Self-Care and Special Populations: 375; Distribution, Compounding and Calculations: 375; Pharmacokinetics and Evidence-Based Practice: 375; Law, Ethics and Professionalism: 375), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 200 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 8 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.

Compare PEBC Pharmacist MCQ with the other PEBC MCQ

Related practice tests

Exam details are summarized from the official candidate information available in November 2026. PEBC changes formats and fees, so confirm with The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) before you book. PEBCQuizBank is not affiliated with The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada or Prometric.

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