Singapore Pharmacy Licensing for International Pharmacists

Singapore Pharmacy Licensing for Pharmacists is governed by the Singapore Pharmacy Council (SPC). It is extensively governed by the Ministry of Health Singapore (MOH Singapore).

Both bodies are working for the betterment of the Pharmacy Profession in Singapore by working on the basic pharmacy structure, licensure and more importantly the continued education of the Pharmacists.

The road to becoming a Pharmacist in Singapore starts from the website of MOH Singapore. You can find a separate section for foreign-trained Pharmacists and the complete procedure to get a Singapore Pharmacist License.

Become a Pharmacist in Singapore

To work in Singapore as a Pharmacist following eligibility criteria must be reviewed before starting the licensing journey.

The applicant needs to be a graduate with a Singapore degree in pharmacy or a recognized qualification by the Singapore Pharmacy Council (SPC) from a tertiary institution outside Singapore.
For Singapore degree holders, at least 12 months of practical pharmacy experience at SPC-approved training sites is required.
For those with recognized qualifications from a foreign tertiary institution:
- Completed prescribed training and registered as a pharmacist in the country of study.
- Currently holds a valid license to practice in that country.
- Accumulated a minimum of 3 months of practical pharmacy experience at an SPC-approved establishment in Singapore.
- Selected for employment as a pharmacist in Singapore at an SPC-approved hospital, institution, or pharmacy practice.
Successfully passed the competency and forensic examinations prescribed by SPC.
After meeting SPC’s registration requirements, the applicant can be conditionally registered as a pharmacist for a minimum of 12 months.

Pre-registration Pharmacy Training

Following are a few pre-registration training completion conditions provided by the Singapore Pharmacy Council

Meet minimum pre-registration training period.
Pass both Competency and Forensic Exams.
Attain minimum competency per the Singapore Pharmacy Council (SPC) Competency Standards Framework.
Fulfil all other pre-registration training requirements.

Requirements for Singapore Pharmacy License (Foreigners)

Foreign pharmacists looking to work in Singapore is willing to work in Singapore should comply with the requirements set by the Singapore Pharmacist Council (SPC) which includes

Candidates applying must obtain a Pharmacy degree from these universities only. In short, they are only accepting students from Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the United States of America, Ireland, and New Zealand.
Candidate must have a job offer letter to initiate a procedure of registration. That job offer letter must be with SPC-approved training centers only. Full list of SPC-approved training centres.

Documents Required

Here are all the documents which will be needed by a candidate to submit to SPC for a license. All original documents must be verified by the SPC Secretariat before an application is sent to the Registrar.

The application is approved according to the decision of the council. A time period of 5 to 7 days (working) should be allowed for the process of approval from the registrar and processing, in order to start the pr-registration training.

Original pharmacy qualification transcript along with the Letter of verification on the period of pharmacy study will be directly submitted from the university of pharmacy where the candidate has completed the studies.
Original Letter of Good Standing will be submitted directly from the foreign registration authority of the country of originality of the candidate
Personal Identification document
Registration certificate with accepted foreign registration authority
Pharmacist registration evidence status with accepted foreign authority.
Degree scroll or basic pharmacy qualification
Job offer letter for pre-registration training position from an SPC-approved training institution.
Testimonials which will be original. These should not date back more than 6 months from the date of application from at least last 2 employers.
Curriculum Vitae (original) mentioning all relevant education details and work experience details
Duly signed Pre-Req application form by the preceptor and pharmacy manager
English proficiency evidence. This requirement is only for those candidates who studied pharmacy other than UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Check the full list of Pharmacy Universities allowed to send their candidates for Singapore Pharmacy Registration.

Pre-Registration Appointment

Moreover, 1 day before the appointment should be with SPC for pre-registration.

For documents to be sent directly to SPC via normal mail, please send to:
SINGAPORE PHARMACY COUNCIL
College of Medicine Building
16 College Road #01-01
Singapore 169854

For documents to be sent directly to SPC via registered mail or couriered services, please send to:

SINGAPORE PHARMACY COUNCIL
81 Kim Keat Road
NKF Centre, Level 9
Singapore 328836
Tel: (65) 6478 5068
Fax: (65) 6478 5069

Approval of an application is dependent on the Singapore Pharmacy Council’s decision. An applicant should expect 5 to 7 working days for processing and a prior approval letter from the Registrar which will be issued to them before they can start their pharmacy pre-registration training.

Pre-Registration Approval

If a candidate gets pre-registration approval he can start training in the approved training centers. The training period will be from 3 months to 12 months.

Applicants have to take the test compulsory test of Forensic Examination relating to the Pharmacy Laws of Singapore and the SPC competency exam for Assessment

Forensic exams are conducted 3 times a year. Upcoming Singapore Pharmacy Law exams will be held on the following dates

11 November 2014
28 April 2015
3 August 2015
2 November 2015

Fees

Fees for the compulsory Singapore pharmacy forensic or law exam will be S$300.

An examination should be taken with SPC and an application should be submitted with the application form and payment at least 2 weeks before the examination date.

Passing marks for the Forensic Exam are 60.

SPC Competency Examinations (Assessments)

These exams are conducted 4 times a year. Upcoming exams will be conducted on the following dates

1 September 2014
1 December 2014
9 February 2015
8 June 2015
7 September 2015
7 December 2015

The exam date for the pharmacy examination/assessment exam with SPC should be booked. The application form will be submitted at least 2 weeks before the examination/assessment date. Note up to now there are no overseas centers for these examinations or assessments.

Once two of these exams Forensic Examination and fulfilling the criteria for pre-registration applicant may now apply for conditional registration to the Council office. The application should be submitted with the following documents

Pre-Registration Pharmacists Evaluation Summary Form
Application for Registration Form with Registration feed of S$250
Notification of Forensic Examination passing result conducted by SPC
Singapore Pharmacy Practicing Certificate Application Form and application feed of S$500.

Singapore License Final Approval

If approved by the Registrar, a conditional registration certificate will be issued by the council to the applicant. The applicant can now start work as a pharmacist under Conditional Registration with an approved institution or company.

Conditions which rule to the Practise for Pharmacists on Conditional Registration

Restricted to practice in SPC special areas.
Supervisory Framework by registered pharmacist with a minimum of 3 years working experience.
Could be pharmacist-in-charge but subject to Supervisory Framework.

After the completion of conditional registration, the applicant may now apply for Full Registration.

Congratulations. Finally!

Conclusion

Good luck with your process of Singapore Pharmacy License where you will not only be satisfied but you will gain experience and give value to your degree. You will be amazed by the advancement in the health industry in Singapore. Although all these conditions and procedures seem difficult you will excel with these to become a top-notch Pharmacist. Even if you have not digested the whole process you can drop us your query.

FAQs for the Singapore Pharmacy License Process

Q: How many attempts are allowed in the Competency Exam (SPC) and Forensic Exam?

A: Maximum 3 attempts within 2 years from the first attempt are allowed

Q: What exams do I need to pass for the pharmacy license?

A: You need to pass both the competency examination and forensic exam (SPC) as part of the license process. The maximum number of attempts is typically three within a specified timeframe.

Q: Can I apply for a Singapore pharmacy license if my qualification is from a foreign institution?

A: Yes, you can apply as a foreign pharmacist in Singapore with your pharmacy qualification recognized by the SPC and you meet all specified requirements, including practical experience and exams.

Q: How can I check if my foreign qualification is recognized by the SPC?

A: You can visit the Singapore Pharmacy Council’s official website to find a list of recognized foreign qualifications and guidelines for recognition.

Q: How to become a pharmacist in Singapore from India?

A: If you have an Indian BPharm degree, you can’t directly become a pharmacist in Singapore. You need to enrol in a Pharmacy technician course at a Singaporean university. After completing the course, passing exams, and doing internships, you can then become a pharmacist.