OSCE pharmacy

OSCE pharmacy examples

Pharmacy OSCEs differ from medical ones, because pharmacists spend much of their time on counselling and checking. The PEBC names these task types for its pharmacist exam, and they are a guide to what pharmacy students may also meet.

• Taking a medication history.
• Evaluating a prescription.
• Resolving a drug therapy problem or an ethical dilemma.
• Counselling a patient.
• Follow-up with a patient.
• Spotting prescription errors.
• Answering a drug information request.

Interactive and non-interactive stations

In the PEBC Part II, interactive stations involve a simulated patient, client or health professional, and an assessor scores you. Non-interactive stations are written or paper tasks, such as checking a prescription. Your school may use a similar split, but ask your tutor.

The PEBC also tells candidates to help the person on the spot, instead of only referring on, and to use the references provided. Such habits are good to practise at school too.

Check your school, then practise

We cannot speak for your school. Your pharmacy school sets the number of stations, the minutes, the pass rule and the list of references you may use. For Canadian licensing, read our PEBC OSCE page.

Practise counselling aloud against a clock. Use the checklist and OSCE tips for a frame. See OSCE stations for how station types work.

Common questions

What is OSCE in pharmacy school?

It is a practical exam of timed stations where pharmacy students show skills such as counselling, checking prescriptions and answering drug questions.

What are OSCE examples for pharmacy?

Task types include a medication history, counselling, prescription checks, spotting errors and answering a drug information request.

Is the PEBC OSCE the same as a pharmacy school OSCE?

No. The PEBC OSCE is a licensing exam for pharmacists in Canada. A school OSCE is set by the school.