The Manitoba government is making it easier for internationally trained pharmacists, including those from the United States, to practise in Manitoba through a new streamlined registration and licensure pathway that took effect in December 2025.
“Pharmacists are one of the most accessible health-care providers, especially in rural and remote communities,” said Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara. “By making it easier for qualified pharmacists, including those from the U.S., to practise in Manitoba, we are improving timely access to care and strengthening our universal health-care system. More pharmacists mean better access to services, more time for patient care and stronger continuity of care for families across the province.”
The initiative builds on the Manitoba government’s recent success in recruiting physicians from the U.S. and reflects a broader effort to remove unnecessary barriers for qualified health professionals while maintaining strong public safety standards. Expanding the pharmacy workforce strengthens Manitoba’s health-care system by improving timely access to publicly funded care and supporting continuity of services across the province.
Manitoba offers pharmacists the opportunity to practise in a publicly funded system where patients receive care based on need, a model that reflects core Canadian health-care values and supports equitable access to care, the minister noted.
“Pharmacists play a critical role in Manitoba’s health-care system and in communities across the province, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” said Kevin Hamilton, registrar and CEO, College of Pharmacists of Manitoba. “This expedited pathway helps ensure Manitobans can receive timely, continuous pharmacy care by allowing qualified internationally trained pharmacists from select jurisdictions to enter practice sooner, while still meeting Manitoba’s high regulatory standards.”
In 2025, 51 pharmacists educated in the United States became licensed to practise in Manitoba. Since the Manitoba government introduced the streamlined pathway, three new internationally trained applicants, including one from the U.S., are advancing through the expedited pathway, demonstrating early momentum following implementation.
Previously, internationally trained pharmacists went through an application process that took approximately four and a half years. The new pathway is anticipated to reduce that timeline to about 75 days, allowing qualified professionals to practise more quickly while maintaining Manitoba’s rigorous licensing standards.
Eligible jurisdictions currently include the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland. Applicants must be in good standing, meet recent practice requirements, complete a Manitoba jurisprudence exam and undertake a supervised practice period to support a safe and effective transition into Manitoba’s health-care system.
