Jump To:What does a PACE assessor do?
PACE assessors directly supervise and observe a candidate with whom they have no prior relationship to help the College determine if that candidate has met the practice-based registration requirement.
Assessors orient the candidate to their pharmacy for one week, and then directly supervise and observe the candidate throughout a 70 hour assessment period to assess their knowledge, skills and abilities according to the PACE Assessment Criteria. During the assessment, the assessor must also review documentation of cases describing actual practice situations the candidate managed at the PACE practice site and has posted in a secure online portal. At the end of the assessment, the assessor rates the candidate’s ability to demonstrate the entry-to-practice competencies using the Ontario Pharmacy Patient Care Assessment Tool (OPPCAT).
The assessor does not train the candidate on how to practise pharmacy, and does not provide feedback to the candidate about their performance. If you are a pharmacist who is interested in helping candidates prepare for PACE, you may prefer to be a coaching pharmacist instead. Please see the Info for Coaching Pharmacists page.
What are the benefits of being an assessor?
PACE assessors:
- Are provided with specialized assessor training and ongoing skills development opportunities
- Will be considered for future roles with the College
- May be invited to participate in registration-related opportunities with College stakeholders
- Receive an official Certificate of Appointment from the College
Assessors who have supervised a PACE candidate reported that having a candidate at their pharmacy had a positive impact, and they learned some great ideas from their candidate that helped to improve their own practice. To read more about the experiences of the assessors in our pre-pilot program, please read the article “Leadership, Learning, and Giving Back.”
Who can be a PACE assessor?
To be eligible to apply to be a PACE assessor, you must meet the PACE Assessor Criteria which includes:
- Providing patient care as a pharmacist in Canada for at least four years
- Being a Part A pharmacist in good standing
- Currently practicing a minimum of 24 hours per week in a community pharmacy in Ontario that supports a diverse patient population and delivers a wide range of pharmacy services in the full scope
- Incorporating continuing professional development into practice
Please review the PACE Assessor Criteria for more details about the expectations for assessors.
How can I become an assessor?
If you are interested in applying to be a PACE assessor, please complete this application form, and then submit it to regprograms@ocpinfo.com.
When reviewing your assessor application and College file, the registration advisor will look for how you have demonstrated:
- Understanding of and commitment to the Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics
- Advocacy for outstanding patient care and public protection
- Experience in providing objective evaluation of pharmacy students, applicants or personnel
- Excellent communication and documentation skills
The College may contact you and your reference for further information.
If your assessor application is accepted, you will be required to successfully complete assessor training which includes attending an assessor training workshop before you are appointed to be a PACE assessor.
How will PACE candidates be assigned to me?
If you are available to be selected as a PACE assessor, your practice site address will be listed for the candidate to select by city in an online application process. You will receive an email with the candidate’s name and proposed start date. If you have no previously established relationship with the candidate and the start date suits your schedule, you may accept their request. If you have an actual or potential bias or conflict of interest with the candidate, or the start date does not suit your schedule, you should inform the College through the online application process. Your name will only be shared with the candidate once you have accepted their request.
What are the time commitments for a PACE assessor?
During the PACE orientation week, you are required to arrange a 35-hour orientation for your candidate in your primary practice site (i.e., the one location which had been approved as part of your appointment to be a PACE assessor) based on the PACE Orientation Checklist. You may delegate the introduction to your pharmacy staff and your pharmacy’s workflow, and adequate training on your computer software to another staff member.
Throughout the 70 hour PACE assessment, you are required to directly supervise and observe your candidate as they practise with you in your primary practice site. You must also review the case documentation that they have posted, and submit your ratings of the candidate’s performance using the Ontario Pharmacy Patient Care Assessment Tool (OPPCAT).
To maintain your appointment as a PACE assessor, you are required to complete annual online training to recalibrate your use of the OPPCAT. This usually takes one to two hours to complete. Every three years, you will be invited to attend a re-appointment and skills development workshop if you wish to renew your assessor appointment.
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