Exploring the Life of a Pharmacist in Ireland: A Comprehensive Guide

For an internationally trained pharmacist from outside of the European union or EEA dreaming of a meaningful career in Ireland’s high-quality healthcare system, understanding the TCQR pathway is very crucial. Whether you are from India, Canada, Nigeria,the UK, or any non-EU country, the guide walks you through what it is like to live and work as a pharmacist in Ireland, along with essential details on the TCQR pathway, visa types, salary scope and work culture.

As of 2025, the Pharmaceutical society of Ireland (PSI) has updated the Third Country Qualification Recognition (TCQR) pathway to make it more accessible and efficient for internationally trained pharmacists to grow their pharmacy profession. Here is your step-by-step roadmap:

How to Become a Pharmacist in Ireland via the TCQR pathway under pharmaceutical society of Ireland

What is the TCQR pathway application process?

The Third Country Qualification Recognition (TCQR) is the official route for non-European Union/EEA trained hospital pharmacists or community pharmacist to gain eligibility for registration in Ireland. pharmacist play a crucial role in the healthcare system. Pharmacy and other professions in healthcare is highly respected in Ireland.

If your degree is from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the UK, Canada, and Philippines or any non-European union /EEA nation and wish to work overseas especially in Ireland, you must complete this pathway to demonstrate that your education and training match Irish standards

What are the Key stages of TCQR Pathway to become a registered pharmacist in Ireland?

lets explain the registration process in detail:

Stage 1: Initial Review

• PSI checks the eligibility and verifies the documents submitted

• Application must be completed within 6 months, or it will be close

Stage 2: Holistic Assessment

Evaluates the Non-European union candidate's:

• qualification

• Internship and training

• Postgraduate experience

• Home country regulations

Outcome:

• Path A: qualification accepted - skip to final stage

• Path B: must complete the PSI equivalent examination (For non-European union applicants)

Stage 3: PSI Equivalence exam format

• Multiple-choice questions: questions from pharmacy practice, pharmacology, calculations and more

• Objective structured clinical examination: evaluate clinical judgment, patient safety, communications and more

Stage 4: Certification

Receive your Certification of Qualification Appropriate to practice making you eligible to register with the PSI

What is new in 2025 for aspiring pharmacy graduates who want to become a registered pharmacist in Ireland?

1. Broader Qualification acceptance

• Accepted pharmacy degree: B. Pharm, M. Pharm & Pharm D

• Open to a wider range of countries like India, Pakistan, Nigeria, South Africa etc

• Documents required include official transcripts, valid degree certificate and pharmacy license from home country.

2. No more adaptation or internship period

Pharmacy graduates can directly take the examination after approval without doing any extra internship hours

3. Change in the Exam structure-Competency based PSI Exam

Focused on practical pharmacy skills , rather than memorized knowledge

Included OSCE with real-life pharmacy scenarios

What is the salary of a pharmacist in Ireland (2025)

registered pharmacist in Ireland receives competitive salaries. skilled pharmacists has the options to grow and develop their career aspirations. if a pharmacist is willing to work in aging population, the pay can be easily doubled due to the immense demand

What are the Visa pathways for pharmacists in Ireland for NON-EUROPEAN union applicants?

Once you are eligible to register with the PSI, international graduates can check for various visa types to migrate to Ireland and work in pharmaceutical industry. Here are more relevant visa options.

Atypical working scheme (AWS) - for short term roles

• Allows non EU pharmacists to work in Ireland temporarily (up to 90 days)

• Commonly used during exam preparation or job search

• Must have PSI registration or exam eligibility to apply

Critical Skill Employment Permit (CSEP) - Long term

• Pharmacists are on Irealnd’s Critical Skills Occupation List

• Valid for 2 Years, leading to Stamp 4 (residency)

• Employer sponsorship needed

• Pathway to permanent residency and citizenship

General employment permit

• For non-critical roles (Less common for pharmacists)

• Not as fast tracked as CSEP

Stamp 1G visa type

• Available for some candidates completing qualification in Ireland (eg: masters)

• Allow full time work for 12-24 months

Life of a pharmacist in Ireland -Beyond Job security

Work environment and career opportunities

• Pharmacists enjoy high respect in the Irish healthcare system under the Irish government for patient care

• great work life balance with supportive work environment and a great team

• Collaborative cultures with GPs, nurses, hospital staffs and other healthcare professionals for medication management and patient care

• Technology driven settings (electronic prescriptions, eHealth tools for medication management etc)

• pharmacists are crucial in managing chronic conditions

• Many pharmacists work in quality assurance

Working hours with competitive salaries

35-40 hours per week as per Irish government in many pharmacies for a pharmacist in a typical day

• many pharmacies and Community pharmacies may work in the weekend switch double pay for the patient care

• Shift options available in hospital jobs settings for healthcare professionals and pharmacy staff

• Ireland offers the authority to Dispense over the counter medication for a registered pharmacist

• management of pharmacy phone calls and quality control with detailed information

• registered pharmacists jobs are very much in demand for aging population with various career opportunities for patient care

• Pharmacists offer medication management guidance

Living in Ireland-the Irish culture which support the Irish economy

• Safe, family-friendly and exciting cities with high job security: Dublin, Cork, Galway, limerick

• Growing multicultural communities in Irish culture with competitive salaries with excellent career opportunities

• Excellent public services, transportation in urban areas, and healthcare access with many rewards

CPD and Professional development

• CPD is mandatory for upskilling the registered pharmacists who is a member of PSI council

• pharmacist in Ireland will get experience in health product regulatory authority which will enhance the professional development and job security

• Many opt for clinical pharmacy, regulatory affairs, industry sector, academic roles, in community pharmacies help in smoking cessation program knowledge

• training in flu vaccinations procedures

• new medication development

• Drug information management

Which is the best training institute for the PSI Equivalency exam?

Preparing for PSI can feel overwhelming, but with proper planning you can excel at it.

At Elite Expertise we offer:

• Structured training for PSI (MCQs + OSCE) with live and recorded lectures

• Mentorship from internationally experienced trainers and educators

• Step-by-step support through the documentation and application process

• Structured mock practice and personalized study plan

• One-to-one doubt clearing sessions

• 24*7 connectivity with the admin team for all support

Meet our expert mentors:

• Mr. Arief Mohammad: Consultant clinical pharmacist (Australia)

• Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu: Consultant Clinical pharmacist in Australia

• Ms Rifiga Mohammad: Irish Registered pharmacist with real world insights into clinical standards

Conclusion:

Ready to begin your Irish pharmacy Journey? With PSI reforms, Ireland has become more welcoming to international pharmacists than ever before. The new changes in TCQR pathway simplifies the journey for international graduates due to the excessive growth in demand.

Join Elite Expertise’s next PSI Comprehensive preparation program and get fully prepared with mentorship, strategy and personalized guidance from experts and excel the exam with confidence and ease.

This blog is for informational and educational purposes only. The details provided about the Third Country Qualification Recognition (TCQR) pathway, visa options, salary ranges, and pharmacist registration requirements in Ireland reflect the most current understanding as of June 2025. Regulatory policies, visa processes, and professional standards may change, and readers are advised to verify all information with official sources such as the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Irish immigration authorities. Elite Expertise does not offer immigration or legal advice but provides academic preparation and mentorship for pharmacy professionals.

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About the Author

Krupa Karamchand

Content Writer | Elite Expertise

Krupa Karamchand is a B. Pharm graduate and KAPS-qualified pharmacist with over 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical field. As an experienced SEO content writer, she combines her in-depth healthcare knowledge with proven digital strategies to create informative, engaging, and search engine–optimized blogs. Krupa is passionate about making complex medical topics easy to understand and accessible to all readers.

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