Laval Pharmacy Interview Prep Guide (2025-2026)

Université Laval’s Faculty of Pharmacy interview process is contextualized by the school’s values, program structure, and the broader healthcare environment. This guide provides a synthesis of key elements candidates should know. It outlines the interview format (which at Laval is a targeted process rather than a routine multiple-mini interview system), highlights the Faculty’s mission of training leaders in the optimal use of medications pha.ulaval.ca, and summarizes the Pharm.D. program’s structure and unique features (a four-year curriculum admitting ~224 students annually ulaval.ca, with modern simulation training and a community-oriented focus). It also connects these details to thoughtful questions candidates might ask during their interview.

Furthermore, the guide reviews current policy issues in Quebec (such as expanded pharmacist prescribing authority) and Canada (such as national pharmacare discussions), along with the non-academic criteria Laval considers (e.g. the CASPer situational judgment test used to assess personal attributes pha.ulaval.ca) and the competency frameworks shaping the program. Additionally, it identifies common themes from past interview questions, key application timelines for the 2025–2026 cycle, and concludes with overarching takeaways for interview preparation.

Unlike many pharmacy programs that use standard multiple mini-interviews (MMIs), Université Laval’s Faculty of Pharmacy historically has not held routine interviews for all candidates. Instead, interviews are only arranged in exceptional cases, typically when the admissions committee wants more information about a candidate’s personal qualities – for instance, if the CASPer situational judgment test results are inconclusive forums.premed101.com forums.premed101.com. In such cases, the interview is conducted in person, in French, and is essentially a one-on-one conversation forums.premed101.com. The process is closed-file (focused on assessing the candidate’s traits rather than re-examining academic records) and can be eliminatory forums.premed101.com. Because interviews are infrequent and offered only to borderline applicants, official post-interview acceptance rates are not published; however, being invited to one is generally a positive sign that the faculty is still interested in the candidate forums.premed101.com.

Understanding Université Laval’s mission and values provides important context for the interview. The Faculty’s mission centers on meeting population health needs by training leaders in the optimal use of medications and generating impactful research pha.ulaval.ca. The vision emphasizes innovation and global recognition for excellence in teaching and scientific discovery pha.ulaval.ca. These ideals suggest that Laval’s pharmacy program values not only strong scientific knowledge but also a commitment to patient-centered care and advancement of the profession. The school’s core values further highlight the attributes it hopes to instill and observe in its students:

• Humanism – emphasizing an inclusive, empathic approach to patient care and teamwork pha.ulaval.ca
• Excellence – striving to reach one’s full potential and continuously push the boundaries toward higher standards pha.ulaval.ca
• Engagement – deploying knowledge and skills with collaboration and involvement in the community pha.ulaval.ca
• Well-being – promoting balance and health through a supportive, enriching environment pha.ulaval.ca
• Audacity – encouraging innovative and bold ideas to distinguish the faculty through leadership and agility pha.ulaval.ca

In an interview setting, demonstrating alignment with these values—such as showing empathy, a drive for excellence, commitment to serving others, concern for wellness, or innovative thinking—can reinforce your fit with the faculty’s culture (though these qualities should be conveyed naturally through your experiences and motivations, rather than explicitly proclaimed).

Laval’s pharmacy program leads to a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree and is designed as an intensive first-professional program that prepares students for licensure and practice. It is a four-year, 164-credit curriculum offered only with a Fall intake, and features a blend of theoretical instruction, practical lab work, simulations, and clinical placements to train pharmacists for community and institutional settings ulaval.ca ulaval.ca. The Faculty is proud of its modern facilities and integrative approach – for example, its new health sciences education complex provides cutting-edge practice labs and interprofessional learning opportunities pha.ulaval.ca. Here are some key facts about the program:

• Intake and Size: ~224 students admitted each year into the Pharm.D. program pha.ulaval.ca, with half of the seats reserved for CEGEP students and the rest for university-level applicants ulaval.ca.
• Accreditation: The program is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) through 2030 pha.ulaval.ca, ensuring it meets national educational standards for pharmacy.
• Curriculum Highlights: The program uses a competency-based curriculum ulaval.ca focused on community pharmacy practice. Students progress through 12 academic sessions (semesters) including practical modules, simulation lab training, and multiple internship (stage) rotations in real healthcare settings ulaval.ca ulaval.ca.
• Unique Options: Laval offers an optional concentration in International Health within the Pharm.D. program pha.ulaval.ca, and engages students in research and innovation through faculty grants and awards (over $225,000 annually in student scholarships and research support) pha.ulaval.ca.
• Licensure Outcome: Graduates earn a Pharm.D. that qualifies them for pharmacist licensure in Quebec without additional training or examinations beyond the program, as it fulfills the requirements of the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec (OPQ) ulaval.ca.

Knowing these program details not only helps you understand what your pharmacy education at Laval would entail, but can also inform insightful questions to ask the interviewers. For instance, you might inquire about how the faculty utilizes the new simulation labs for hands-on skills training, about opportunities to engage in the International Health concentration, or about how the program’s competencies are integrated into the internship experiences. Such questions demonstrate your genuine interest in Laval’s offerings and show that you have thought about how you will take advantage of the program’s unique features.

Interviewers often probe how aware candidates are of the broader healthcare and policy context in which pharmacists operate. In Quebec, a significant development was the adoption of Bill 31 (enacted in 2021), which expanded the scope of practice for pharmacists. Under this law, pharmacists can now do things like prescribe certain medications (for minor ailments or in emergency situations) and administer vaccines globalnews.ca. They are also permitted to independently adjust or extend prescriptions from any prescriber, discontinue a prescribed therapy in consultation with the prescriber, substitute one medication for another (when appropriate), and order laboratory tests to monitor drug therapy globalnews.ca. This change underscores the evolving role of pharmacists as primary healthcare providers in the province. Candidates interviewing at Laval should be cognizant of how such changes impact the profession – for example, by improving patient access to care through pharmacies and increasing pharmacists’ responsibilities.

On a national level, Canada’s healthcare policy discussions around prescription drug coverage (often referred to as 'pharmacare') are also highly relevant. In early 2024, the federal government introduced the broad outline of a national pharmacare program to cover the cost of certain prescription drugs, starting with items like birth control and insulin straitstimes.com. While implementation will require negotiation with each province (since provinces administer healthcare) and may take time, the prospect of a universal drug coverage plan could significantly affect pharmacy practice, as it would influence medication access, dispensing volumes, and pharmacists’ roles in public health. Being aware of such major policy trends – both provincial and national – can help you show during the interview that you are engaged with the issues shaping pharmacy practice.

Admission to Laval’s pharmacy program is not based on academics alone; the faculty places considerable weight on personal attributes and experiences. The selection process includes specific tools to evaluate these qualities:

• CASPer Test – All applicants must complete an online situational judgment exam (part of the Altus Suite) which evaluates non-cognitive skills and interpersonal aptitudes. Laval explicitly uses CASPer to gauge traits like ethics, empathy, communication, and personal values deemed essential for success in the program pha.ulaval.ca. A weak performance on this test can even trigger an in-person interview for further assessment forums.premed101.com, underscoring its importance.
• Autobiographical Questionnaire – Applicants from a university-level background (those with 12+ post-secondary credits) are required to submit a detailed questionnaire about their experiences pha.ulaval.ca. This questionnaire asks about volunteer work, any pharmacy or healthcare experience, academic or leadership awards, and participation in socio-cultural or sports activities forums.premed101.com. The responses are assessed and weighted (constituting 15–25% of the selection formula for university applicants) pha.ulaval.ca to give the admissions committee insight into each candidate’s leadership, service involvement, and well-roundedness.

These non-academic criteria reflect the traits and experiences Laval values in future pharmacists – community engagement, relevant exposure to the profession, achievements, and interpersonal skills. In preparing for an interview, you should be ready to discuss your experiences in these areas if they come up, explaining what you learned from them and how they have shaped your desire to become a pharmacist (without simply reciting your résumé).

Université Laval’s Pharm.D. curriculum is developed following a competency-based approach ulaval.ca. This means the program is designed to ensure graduates attain a set of professional competencies by the end of their studies. As a fully accredited degree program, Laval aligns with the national standards and outcomes defined for pharmacy education across Canada pha.ulaval.ca. These frameworks – such as the educational outcomes of the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) and the entry-to-practice competency profile of the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) – outline the key roles, skills, and behaviors pharmacists must demonstrate.

In practice, this translates to training students to be well-rounded health professionals. For example, AFPC’s outcomes emphasize roles like Care Provider (expertise in medication therapy management), Communicator, Collaborator, Leader-Manager, Health Advocate, Scholar, and Professional. Throughout the Laval program, coursework and evaluations are mapped to such competencies – ensuring students can communicate effectively, work in healthcare teams, demonstrate leadership in pharmacy settings, advocate for patient health, and continually learn and improve in their practice. Showing awareness of these professional roles and expectations during your interview (for instance, understanding that a pharmacist must be not only a medication expert but also a communicator and health advocate) can signal to interviewers that you appreciate the full scope of the profession.

Although formal interviews for Laval’s pharmacy program are uncommon, when they do occur they tend to focus on the same personal qualities evaluated by the CASPer test pha.ulaval.ca and emphasized in the school’s values. In other words, past candidates have found that interview questions often explore areas such as ethical decision-making, communication skills, teamwork, and one’s motivation for pursuing pharmacy. For example, a candidate might be presented with a hypothetical scenario requiring them to navigate a professional ethical dilemma or to demonstrate empathy toward a patient – reflecting the emphasis on ethics and humanism. They might also be asked about their experience working in teams or dealing with conflict, which aligns with the importance of collaboration. Additionally, questions about an individual’s interest in the pharmacy profession (for example, 'Why do you want to become a pharmacist?') or their understanding of a pharmacist’s role are common in many pharmacy school interviews.

At Laval specifically, given that interviews are used only to clarify concerns (such as an inconclusive personality test result) forums.premed101.com, the questions may target whichever dimension was unclear in the application. For instance, if an applicant’s CASPer performance suggested a potential red flag in teamwork or ethical reasoning, the interview could delve deeper into that area with follow-up questions. Overall, the themes tend to be broad but rooted in core competencies – ethics, communication, teamwork, adaptability, and commitment to patient care. While preparing, focus on having a few clear personal examples or reflections related to these themes so you can discuss them comfortably if prompted (without sounding rehearsed).

Applying to the Université Laval Pharm.D. program requires careful attention to dates, as there are different deadlines for different applicant categories. Below are the key timelines for the 2025–2026 admissions cycle (for entry in Fall 2026):

• Application Deadlines – November 1, 2025 for 'university' candidates (those who have completed some post-secondary studies) pha.ulaval.ca; March 1, 2026 for 'college' candidates applying directly from CEGEP ulaval.ca. All applicants begin the program in the fall term of each year (there is no winter intake for the first-year class).
• CASPer Test Dates – All applicants must take the CASPer (TECT) exam as part of the admission process. Laval provides several CASPer test sittings in late 2025 and early 2026. For Fall 2026 intake, university-category applicants could take CASPer as early as September or as late as January (the last session offered was Jan 15 and Jan 22, 2026) pha.ulaval.ca, while CEGEP candidates had additional dates into February and early March 2026 (the final CASPer date was around Mar 3, 2026) pha.ulaval.ca. Applicants needed to distribute their CASPer results to Laval by mid-March 2026 for consideration pha.ulaval.ca.
• Decision Timeline – Admission offers are typically released in waves. University-category applicants often receive decisions by April 2026 (or early May), whereas CEGEP applicants (who apply later) tend to hear back by May or June 2026. Those placed on a waiting list may get offers throughout the summer – waitlist movement can continue up until August in some years forums.premed101.com. Accepted students usually must confirm their acceptance by a specific deadline (often around May 1 for first-round offers) forums.premed101.com.

Staying on top of these dates is crucial. Missing a deadline (either for the application itself or for sending in your CASPer scores) will result in an automatic refusal of your application, so create a personal timeline and set reminders. If you are invited to an interview, it would likely take place in the spring (after the initial evaluation of applications and CASPer results). Make sure to also monitor Laval’s official admissions communications for any updates or changes to the schedule.

Preparing for the Université Laval Faculty of Pharmacy interview involves more than practicing generic answers – it means understanding the program and its context in depth. In this guide, we reviewed how Laval’s interview process works (and how it is uniquely used), the core mission and values that drive the faculty pha.ulaval.ca, key aspects of the Pharm.D. program and what makes it distinctive, and the important non-academic criteria and competencies the school looks for in candidates. We also explored current policy developments in Quebec and Canada that could come up in conversation, and identified the kind of themes you might encounter in interview questions. Keeping these insights in mind, you can approach your interview with confidence, demonstrating both your knowledge of the program and your reflection on the role of pharmacists in healthcare. Good luck with your interview process!