Internships help ensure that pharmacist applicants develop the competencies they need to practice safely and effectively as pharmacists in Manitoba.
For further details, view the Internship Manual and IPG Internship FAQ below.
Finding a Preceptor
You are responsible for finding a pharmacy and preceptor in Manitoba to oversee your internship. If you have not found a preceptor yet, you can use CPhM’s Public Directory for Pharmacies to search for a practice site. Additionally, you can check the Pharmacists Manitoba Careers page for job postings.
Please note the following before you choose a pharmacist to act as your preceptor:
- Your immediate family members cannot act as preceptors. This includes parents, children, husbands, wives, aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, and in-laws.
- You cannot transfer internship hours spent with one preceptor to another preceptor. You will need the College Registrar’s approval if you decide to change your internship site or preceptor.
Duration of Required Internships
International Pharmacy Graduates (IPGs)
Complete a minimum of 600 hours of Internship
- Your internship must include 400 hours of direct patient care. Make sure the practice site can provide this before selecting your preceptor.
Out of Province CCAPP-accredited Canadian Pharmacist Program Graduates
Complete a minimum of 200 hours of Internship
Additional Authorizations
Under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, interns may engage in all aspects of pharmacy practice, except for those requiring additional training and certification by the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba. Interns may only perform these specialized practices if they have completed the required training and the preceptor pharmacist (or another supervising pharmacist at the practice site) has also received authorization from the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba. To administer injections, interns must also apply for injection authorization.
Administering Injections as an Intern
- Interns must apply for injection authorization to administer injections under supervision.
- To apply, submit the completed Intern Certification for Authorization to Administer Drugs and Vaccines by Injection form and supporting documents to registration@cphm.ca.
- Once licensed as a pharmacist, you must re-apply for authorization.
- For more information on required training, see the CPhM page here Administering Drugs and Vaccines by Injection | College of Pharmacists of Manitoba
IPG Internship Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please see the FAQ below for additional information for interns and preceptors.
How do I apply for an internship?
As an internship candidate, you must successfully complete the requirements outlined by the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Regulation and submit all required documents, including an application form, to the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba (CPhM). You cannot begin your internship program without authorization from CPhM.
If you are an IPG and you want to complete your internship in Manitoba, you must complete all of the steps outlined on the Pharmacists from Outside of Canada page.
How long will my internship take?
You must serve a 600-hour internship to be completed in a period of 15 to 21 weeks. This applies to IPGs and to graduates of post-secondary pharmacy programs from Canadian provinces outside of Manitoba.
How does an intern find a preceptor?
Interns are responsible for finding their own preceptors. The CPhM website provides a searchable listing of licensed pharmacies in the province of Manitoba. Interns can use this list to contact pharmacies to ask if there is a pharmacist on staff who is willing to act as their preceptor.
Interns must serve a minimum of 400 of the total 600 internship practice hours in a pharmacy that has direct contact with patients. If a practice site cannot meet this requirement, interns must contact CPhM to make additional arrangements.
Once a pharmacist has agreed to act as your preceptor, you can log into your online profile with CPhM and click on the “Name Your Preceptor” link to open a simple form. Once you submit the form, CPhM will automatically be notified of your request by email. CPhM will then notify your potential preceptor and provide them with instructions to apply to become a preceptor.
Please note that the preceptor role is entirely voluntary. If the pharmacist does not meet the requirements to become a preceptor, you will be responsible for finding another eligible pharmacist to act as your preceptor.
Can an intern change their preceptor after they start their internship?
Any changes in preceptor pharmacist and/or pharmacy will require the advance approval of the Registrar. You cannot switch preceptors and/or pharmacies during your internship without approval from CPhM.
How are internships evaluated?
The preceptor will evaluate you three times throughout the internship using the assessment forms outlined in the CPhM Internship Manual. Your internship will be evaluated each time you complete 200 hours.
Following each evaluation, the completed assessment forms shall be signed electronically by both the preceptor and the intern and submitted to CPhM within seven days of the completion of the 200-hour portion of the internship. Success will be based on the preceptor’s assessment of your performance.
Interns and preceptors are also required to assess the internship program using the forms contained in the Internship Manual and submit them to CPhM within seven days of completing the internship.
Can interns perform all the duties of a pharmacist during their internship?
An intern can engage in any pharmacy practice under the supervision of a pharmacist excluding practices that require additional training or CPhM certification. For instance, pharmacy practices such as administering injections or prescribing Schedule III Drugs require CPhM certification. You can only perform these tasks if you have completed the required training, and only under the supervision of a certified pharmacist who has received the appropriate training and certification.
You can also perform a final medication check only after successfully completing the demonstration of product release proficiency (DPRP) activity; however, this is allowed at the discretion of the preceptor who will remain accountable for the final medication check. Please see the Internship Manual for additional details.
Are preceptors required to recommend interns to be licensed once their internship is finished?
No, if a preceptor has doubts about the competency of the intern, the preceptor should not recommend the intern to be licensed to practice pharmacy in Manitoba. The Statement of Completion of Internship contained in the Internship Manual offers the following options:
- A declaration that the intern has successfully completed the internship requirements and is fit to practice as a pharmacist whereby the preceptor recommends the intern to be licensed to practice pharmacy in the province of Manitoba
- A declaration that the intern has not successfully completed the internship requirements and is not fit to practice as a pharmacist and a recommendation that the intern should not be licensed to practice pharmacy in Manitoba
- A request that the intern be evaluated by another preceptor selected by the Registrar for a period of at least 40 hours