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“Requirements and Procedures for Obtaining a Pharmacy Practice Certificate”

If you're unsure about the requirements and procedures for obtaining a pharmacy practice certificate, look no further!

13 July, 2024

Pursuing a career in pharmacy is a popular choice for many, but not everyone knows the requirements and procedures for obtaining a pharmacy practice certificate.

In this article, we will guide you through the conditions and procedures for obtaining a pharmacy practice certificate in Vietnam.

1Requirements for Obtaining a Pharmacy Practice Certificate

Requirements for Obtaining a Pharmacy Practice Certificate

Individuals who possess the necessary professional qualifications and aspire to practice pharmacy must ensure they meet the requirements for a pharmacy practice certificate. The relevant laws and regulations that outline these requirements can be found in Article 13, Chapter III of the 2016 Pharmacy Law. Some key points to note include:

Possession of a professional degree, certificate, or recognition relevant to the position and the pharmaceutical business.
Accumulation of practical experience in pharmaceutical businesses, the pharmaceutical departments of medical examination and treatment facilities, pharmaceutical training institutions, drug research institutions, drug and pharmaceutical ingredient testing institutions, drug administration agencies, or representative offices of foreign traders operating in the pharmaceutical field in Vietnam; medical examination and treatment facilities that match the practitioner’s expertise.
Holding a valid health certificate, issued by an authorized health authority, confirming the individual’s fitness to practice pharmacy.
No criminal record, current criminal sentence, or decision from a court of law; not currently serving a ban on practicing or engaging in activities related to pharmaceuticals as per a court ruling.
No restriction on civil act capacity.
For those voluntarily applying for a Pharmacy Practice Certificate through an examination, all conditions specified in this Article must be met.

2Application Procedure for the Pharmacy Practice Certificate

Application Procedure for the Pharmacy Practice Certificate

The application procedure for the pharmacy practice certificate is outlined in Article 24 of the 2016 Pharmacy Law. Specifically, the application dossier should include the following documents:

A completed application form for the Pharmacy Practice Certificate, accompanied by a portrait photograph taken within the last six months.
Certified true copies of professional qualifications or certificates.
A valid health certificate, issued by an authorized health authority, confirming the individual’s fitness to practice pharmacy.
Confirmation of practical experience duration, issued by the head of the institution where the applicant gained their practical experience.
Confirmation of completion of training programs and updates on professional pharmaceutical knowledge for cases where the Pharmacy Practice Certificate has been revoked as per Clause 9, Article 28 of the Law.
Certified true copies of the applicant’s identification documents, such as their citizen identification card, passport, or other relevant documents.
Judicial profile or equivalent document: For foreign nationals or overseas Vietnamese, a judicial profile or a document confirming that they are not subject to criminal prosecution or conviction, and are not banned from practicing or engaging in activities related to pharmaceuticals according to a court ruling, issued by a competent foreign authority.

In cases where the Pharmacy Practice Certificate has been revoked as per Clause 3, Article 28 of the Law, the applicant only needs to submit the application form as specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

3Registration Process for the Pharmacy Practice Certificate

Registration Process for the Pharmacy Practice Certificate

The registration process for the pharmacy practice certificate is governed by the Decree No. 54/2017/ND-CP, which provides detailed guidance on the implementation of certain provisions and measures of the 2017 Pharmacy Law.

Detailed Provisions on the Dossier for Applying for the Pharmacy Practice Certificate (Article 3)

1. Dossier for Applying for the Pharmacy Practice Certificate: In accordance with Article 24 of the Pharmacy Law, the dossier shall specifically include the following:

Application form for the Pharmacy Practice Certificate: Following the format specified in Form No. 02 in Appendix I attached to this Decree, the form should be accompanied by two 4cm x 6cm portrait photographs of the applicant, taken on a white background within the last six months.
Certified true copies of professional qualifications: For qualifications issued by foreign training institutions, they must be accompanied by certified true copies of documents recognizing their equivalence, as per Clause 2, Article 18 of this Decree.
Original or certified true copy of the Health Certificate: Issued by a medical examination and treatment facility as per the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.
Original or certified true copy of the Confirmation of Practical Experience Duration: Following the format specified in Form No. 03 in Appendix I attached to this Decree. If the practical experience was gained at multiple institutions, the total duration shall be calculated as the sum of the experience at each institution, and a separate Confirmation of Practical Experience Duration is required for each institution.
In cases where the applicant wishes to obtain a Pharmacy Practice Certificate for different scopes of practice, and there are specific requirements for the duration and nature of practical experience, the dossier must include the Confirmation of Practical Experience Duration and its Content from one or more institutions that meet the requirements for each scope and position of practice. If the different scopes of practice share the same requirements for practical experience duration and nature, a separate confirmation for each scope is not necessary.
Original or certified true copy of the Examination Result Confirmation: Issued by the examination organizing institution as per Clause 2, Article 28 of this Decree, for cases where the Pharmacy Practice Certificate is obtained through an examination.
For foreign nationals or overseas Vietnamese applying for a Pharmacy Practice Certificate through a dossier assessment, they must provide documents proving their proficiency in the Vietnamese language as per Clause 2, Article 14 of the Pharmacy Law.

2. For documents issued by competent foreign authorities, consular legalization is required. These documents must be translated into Vietnamese and notarized as per regulations.

3. The quantity of dossiers specified in this Article is one set.

Detailed Provisions on the Dossier for Applying for the Re-issuance of the Pharmacy Practice Certificate (Article 4)

1. Dossier for Applying for the Re-issuance of the Pharmacy Practice Certificate: In accordance with Article 25 of the Pharmacy Law, the dossier shall specifically include the following:

Application form for the Re-issuance of the Pharmacy Practice Certificate: Following the format specified in Form No. 04 in Appendix I attached to this Decree, the form should be accompanied by two 4cm x 6cm portrait photographs of the applicant, taken on a white background within the last six months.
Certified true copy of the previously issued Pharmacy Practice Certificate, except in cases where the certificate has been lost.

2. The quantity of dossiers specified in this Article is one set.

Detailed Provisions on the Dossier for Applying for the Amendment of the Pharmacy Practice Certificate (Article 5)

1. Dossier for Applying for the Amendment of the Pharmacy Practice Certificate: In accordance with Article 26 of the Pharmacy Law, the dossier shall specifically include the following:

Application form for the Amendment of the Pharmacy Practice Certificate: Following the format specified in Form No. 05 in Appendix I attached to this Decree, the form should be accompanied by two 4cm x 6cm portrait photographs of the applicant, taken on a white background within the last six months.
In cases of changing the personal information of the pharmacy practitioner, relevant documents confirming the change must be provided, including one of the following: Citizen identification card, passport, household registration book, citizen identification card, or other relevant documents issued by competent authorities as per legal regulations.
For cases of changing the scope of professional activities, the following documents confirming the change must be provided: Relevant professional qualifications and confirmation of practical experience duration at a suitable pharmaceutical facility.

2. Original or certified true copies of the documents specified in Points b and c, Clause 1 of this Article are required.

3. For documents specified in Points b and c, Clause 1 of this Article that are issued by competent foreign authorities, consular legalization is required. These documents must be translated into Vietnamese and notarized as per regulations.

4. The quantity of dossiers specified in this Article is one set.

Pharmacy Practice Certificate: A document issued by a competent state agency to individuals who possess the necessary professional qualifications to engage in activities related to the pharmaceutical sector. The certificate is valid for a period of 5 years, and holders must comply with legal regulations and pharmaceutical ethics.

Through this article, we hope that you have gained a clear understanding of the conditions and procedures for obtaining a pharmacy practice certificate in Vietnam. We wish you success in preparing the necessary documents and fulfilling the requirements to obtain your certificate.

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Frequently asked questions

There are several requirements that must be met to obtain a pharmacy practice certificate in Vietnam. Firstly, the applicant must be a Vietnamese citizen or a foreign citizen with a valid work permit. They must also have a bachelor’s or higher degree in pharmacy from a recognized institution and at least one year of practical experience in the field. Additionally, they need to pass a professional examination and meet the moral and health standards set by the Ministry of Health.

To obtain the pharmacy practice certificate, individuals must first submit an application dossier to the Department of Health or the provincial-level Health Service. The dossier should include documents such as a copy of their degree, work permit (if applicable), CV, health certificate, and proof of professional experience. Once the dossier is approved, they will need to take a professional examination, which consists of a written test and an interview. After successfully passing the examination, the certificate will be granted by the Ministry of Health.

Yes, the application dossier must be prepared carefully and include all the necessary documents. It should be submitted in a sealed envelope and include a cover letter, a list of enclosed documents, and two sets of certified copies of the required papers. All documents must be translated into Vietnamese if they are in a foreign language.

The moral standards set by the Ministry of Health include having good conduct and no criminal record. Applicants should also be free from any infectious diseases and have a good state of mental health, as certified by a medical examination.

Yes, foreigners who meet the requirements and obtain the pharmacy practice certificate are eligible to work as pharmacists in Vietnam. However, they must also have a valid work permit and their degree must be recognized by the Vietnamese authorities.