PSI Exam for Pakistani Pharmacists, TCQR Pathway

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) Exam is one of the most important steps for a Pakistani pharmacist to become certified and practice his or her profession in Ireland. The most widely used pathway of such candidates is the PSI TCQR pathway.

The Third Country Qualification Recognition (TCQR) route is meant to be followed by pharmacists whose qualification is not within the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) and Pakistan is one of them. Such a process qualifies internationally trained pharmacists so that they can practice in Ireland.

TCQR pathway is a well-planned and comprehensive procedure to make sure that pharmacists acquired their qualifications in a country not belonging to the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) have all the possible tools to become a fully qualified pharmacist able to meet the professional standards set in Ireland.

PSI Exam for Pakistani Pharmacists: Guide to Application Submission

The first step to be taken by the pharmacists is that they have to fill an official application to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI). This application should be supported with a number of documents, among other things, evidence of professional qualification, proof of pharmacy education, and pharmacy qualifications, an elaborate curriculum vitae (CV), certificate of good standing of the regulatory body in the home country of the applicant (e.g. Pakistan), which demonstrates compliance with the regulatory framework of the applicant's home country, and evidence of practical training.

Application Form and Fees (Stage 1)

TCQR process commences with the filling-in of TCQR1 application to the PSI. Applicants must:

Get a TCQR1 form on the official PSI site and complete it.

• Submit essential supporting documents, including:
  
  

• TCQR2 Statutory Declaration Form

• TCQR3 Certificate of Identity Form
  TCQR4 Regulatory Data Form

• Academic transcripts

• Proof of pharmacy qualifications (degree certificate)

• Curriculum vitae (CV)

• Passport copy

• Evidence of practical training

• Birth certificate

• Certificate of current registration and good standing from the home country (e.g., Pakistan)
  
  

Fee: €500 (non-refundable)
The applications are valid up to six months and lack of full documentations within the time frame might lead to rejection.

2. Holistic Assessment (Stage 2)

Once your application is accepted, the Holistic Assessment evaluates:

• Educational background (e.g. education length and format)

• Amount and type of training in pharmacy

• Regulatory controls in home country of the applicant

Based on this assessment, PSI will decide whether:

• You qualify by Irish standards (Path A) you are given a Certificate of Qualification Appropriate for Practice, OR

• There are gaps that have to be filled by using an Equivalence Examination (Path B)

Fee: €1,000
Appeal Fee: €300 (if you wish to contest a decision)

3. Equivalence Examination (if required)

In case PSI finds gaps, then you will have to go through the Equivalence Exam that will evaluate your skills to address the requirements of an Irish pharmacist.

The exam consists of:

• MCQ (Multiple-Choice Questions)
  Examines in pharmacology, law of pharmacy, pharmaceutical calculations, patient safety, clinical therapeutics.
  
  

• OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)
  Evaluates the pharmacy practitioner skills in situations that simulate pharmacy practices. You can be expected to do things like patient counseling, ethical decision making, and medication management.
  
  

Fee: €3,000
Depending on the result of the holistic assessment, you may be asked to complete either one or both components.

4. Registration and English Language Proof

After you pass the Equivalence Exam (where applicable) then you are able to apply to the PSI to become a registered professional.

• English language proficiency (e.g., IELTS, OET) is only required at the registration stage, not during earlier TCQR stages.
  
  

• Proficiency should be proven with the required scores of professional communication as per PSI.
  
  

Registration Fee: €540
Once registered, you are legally allowed to practice pharmacy in Ireland.

Eligibility Criteria for Pakistani Pharmacists

Pakistani pharmacists should be able to qualify to TCQR pathway by fulfilling the following criteria:

Educational Requirements: Graduates of Pharm D (particularly of such countries as USA and Canada) were previously the only people who could qualify. But now, PSI accepts:

• Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm)

• Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm)

• Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D)

NARIC Ireland advises about the academic recognition of a foreign qualification in terms of the comparison, where possible, to a major award type and level on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

The PSI does not specifically specify that a NARIC evaluation is required in respect of the TCQR pathway. Rather, they do their own thorough evaluation of your qualifications.

Nevertheless, in case your degree is not a clear equivalent of the Irish standards, PSI can require additional verification. In these applications, it would be helpful to get a NARIC Ireland (QQI) statement of comparability to make up your application.

Professional Registration: Candidates should be registered as pharmacists with the authority of the country of Pakistan or any other country.

Documentation: They are required to submit academic transcripts, copies of syllabus, registration certificates and certificates of good standing.

Language Proficiency: Language proficiency in English may be requested at the registration phase, and not during the qualification recognition phase.

The PSI Equivalence Examination

The PSI Equivalence Examination checks the qualification of an applicant against the Irish standards. The test is divided into two:

Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) Examination: This is a written examination which tests subjects in these areas pharmacology, pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical calculations.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE): It is a practical examination that consists of simulated conditions in pharmacies to evaluate the clinical skills and decision making capacity.

Depending on the result of the holistic assessment, the applicants will be invited to pass both components or only one of them.

Competitive Salaries and Benefits

A career as a pharmacist in Ireland means that international pharmacists not only have the chance of working in a respected healthcare system, but they will have access to competitive salaries and a full benefit package. In Ireland, pharmacists have one of the highest median pay in the entire Europe and are normally paid anything between 60,000 to 80,000 euros annually.

Along with competitive salary, the pharmacists also receive high paid vacation leaves, sick leaves, maternity or paternity leaves, which helps them maintain a good work-life balance.

The benefits of the PSI registration process also lead to a continuous professional growth, networking and the support of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. Foreign pharmacists can now effortlessly go through the TCQR procedure with the assistance of organizations such as Elite Expertise that will enable them to go through the process. Such assistance assists them to overcome the difficulties and reap the benefits of practicing pharmacy in Ireland.

TCQR pathway does not only clear the existing obstacles in the way of overseas pharmacists but also opens the door of a fruitful career with great job prospects and good salaries as well as a favorable professional climate to pharmacists in Ireland.

Costs Involved in the TCQR Pathway

The 2025 TCQR pathway and exam structure have major changes introduced by the PSI. These are important changes that are expected to eliminate the past obstacles to international pharmacists so that they can find it easy to begin their careers in Ireland.

The TCQR process was to make the process of registration easy for the candidates. TCQR pathway is a process that identifies that the overseas qualifications are on par with the Irish standards which is necessary to enable registration and practice in Ireland.

The TCQR pathway involves several fees:

TCQR Pathway fees

Preparation Tips for the PSI Exam

In order to pass PSI Equivalence Examination, the following preparation strategies can be considered:

Know the Syllabus: Get to know the syllabus of the MCQ and the OSCE. Pay attention to such areas as pharmacology, pharmacy law, care of patients, and pharmaceutical calculations.

Practice Clinical Scenarios: You will participate in mock OSCEs in order to enhance your practical skills and decision-making.

Increase English Proficiency: Where necessary, train and meet the acceptable standard in an English language proficiency test.

Get Advice: Take preparatory classes in institutions such as Elite Expertise, that offer special training to international pharmacists. Seek personalised guidance to address your specific needs during the preparation process.

Role of Elite Expertise in PSI Exam Preparation

Elite Expertise, guided by Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu and Mr. Arief Mohammad, provides special programs that would help Pakistani pharmacists go through the TCQR pathway. The services that they offer include:

Blueprint-Aligned Curriculum: Courses that align with the most current syllabus of the PSI examination.

Practice-Oriented Learning: Focus on the case-based learning and practice examinations to practice the real life situation.

Flexible Learning Options: This refers to availability of the live and recorded sessions to fit with different schedules.

Expert Mentorship: Advice of the professionals, experienced faculty members that offer personal assistance in the preparation process.

To know more and to enroll into their programs visit the official site of Elite Expertise.

Final Thoughts

TCQR pathway of PSI is a chance that gives Pakistani pharmacists an opportunity to practice in Ireland which is a country that has a strong healthcare system and professional opportunities. With good understanding of the process, qualification requirements and right preparation of the examinations, pharmacists can then follow this path with ease and build their careers in other countries.

In order to learn more and to start the application process, check the official website of Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

This blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only. While we aim to provide accurate and current information regarding the PSI TCQR pathway and registration process for Pakistani pharmacists, regulatory requirements, fees, and procedures are subject to change by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) and other official bodies. Readers are strongly encouraged to verify all information through the official PSI website or authorized sources before making decisions. Elite Expertise does not provide legal or immigration services but offers academic support and exam preparation guidance for internationally trained pharmacists.

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About the Author

Sahana Rao

Sahana Chinthapatla is renowned for her expertise in scientific and medical writing, backed by an MPharm in Pharmacology and years of experience in research analysis and scientific writing.

As the Head Business Writer at Elite Expertise, she provides insightful and well-researched content on KAPS, OPRA, PEBC, PSI and global pharmacy pathways, guiding aspiring pharmacists in their professional journeys.

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Head Business Writer | Elite Expertise