Pharmacy Officer

Overview

As a member of the military, Pharmacy Officers provide pharmaceutical care to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. They offer expert advice on drug therapy for emergency medicine, intensive care therapy, pain management, infectious diseases, and medical countermeasures for nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. Pharmacy Officers also identify and resolve complex drug-related problems.

Overview

As a member of the military, Pharmacy Officers provide pharmaceutical care to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. They offer expert advice on drug therapy for emergency medicine, intensive care therapy, pain management, infectious diseases, and medical countermeasures for nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. Pharmacy Officers also identify and resolve complex drug-related problems.

Pharmacy Officers also manage and control medical supplies and equipment. Within the CAF, Pharmacy Officers are the experts in medical materiel procurement and medical supply chain management. They leverage their training and experience to ensure entitled personnel have access to medical supplies wherever they are stationed – be it a base in Canada, or on operations overseas. Pharmacy Officers perform contracting functions for the procurement of medical supplies and work collaboratively with non‑medical CAF members to transport cold chain medications around the world.

Pharmacy Officers typically provide pharmacy services at health clinics in Canada, although they also work in a medical depot or in support of military missions in a field medical unit. Pharmacy officers face challenging clinical situations and will also serve as leaders, administrators, and material managers.

If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Work environment

Entry plans

• Direct Entry Options
• Paid Education Options

If you already have a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) or a Pharm D degree from a recognized Canadian university, have passed the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada’s qualifying exam, hold a current license to practice client-based pharmacy in a Canadian province or territory, and are in the possession of a letter of ’Good Standing’ from your professional regulatory authority, the CAF may place you directly into the required on-the-job training program following basic training. Because this on-the-job training leads directly to an intensive 6 month clinical residency, it is also necessary that all candidates (except for very recent graduates) possess— or seek out—clinical experience in a tertiary care facility as delineated in the entry standard prior to applying to the CAF. Basic training and military officer qualification training (of which this clinical residency are part) are both required before being assigned.

Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP)

Due to the requirement for CAF officer to obtain a university degree, the CAF will pay successful recruits to complete a bachelor degree program at a civilian Canadian University. Recruits will receive full-time salary including medical and dental care, as well as vacation time with full pay in exchange for working in the CAF for a period of time. Candidates must attend a civilian Canadian University as the Royal Canadian Military College System does not offer a degree that matches this occupation. If you are applying for this program, you must apply to the CAF and a Canadian universities concurrently as the CAF does not have reserved seats.

For further information, please contact a Canadian Forces Health Services Recruiter: HSRecruiting-RecrutementSS@forces.gc.ca

Training

After enrolment, Pharmacy Officers attend Basic Military Officer Qualification training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Pharmacy Officers take the Condensed Health Services Basic Military Officer Qualification Training which consists of two weeks of Distance Learning and four weeks of in-house training in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Topics covered include general military knowledge, the principles of leadership, regulations and customs of the CAF, basic weapons handling, and first aid. Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in training ex