[lt17]

Ok i see what you mean. In Canada the pay is almost as much as the US. I know in my city starting wage for a pharmacist fresh out of the program is about $45CDN/hr + bonuses + benefits n all that. However, that is in the city, if you're willing to go out to the underserved areas in smaller towns you can make $50-55CDN/hr (starting wage). Then again, I live in Alberta where the economy is booming like crazy and a huge shortage of workers and you can get a job at McDonalds and be paid $15/hr. There is a massive shortage of pharmacists in Canada and the States due to the aging population, all of the pharmacists retiring and whatnot. The thing is we have our interning all throughout the program and it is unethical to be paid for our practicum's AND we have to pay to the university as if it were a course (so we are working full time, no pay, paying the university $800 to work for a month this summer. I'm quite bitter if you hadn't noticed). So at least you get paid your intern year.

Well the thing is the US pharmacy programs all require a minimum of 3 years before even being allowed to apply to pharmacy though. Maybe they just feel the pharmacy program in AUS isn't long enough or doesnt have the same curriculum that they have or something. You could try sending a letter to the NABP explaining your situation to them.

Again, regarding the A-levels & IB (i took this haha) I still don't think it matters, because they'll be looking at your pharm degree not what you did before or after. They may feel that the UK degree is at the level they want and the AUS degree is not what they want.