Information for Applicants
Frequently asked questions by applicants and their answers are shown below.
Jump To:How do I get ready for PACE?
To prepare for PACE, you should review the material on the PACE pages of the College’s website, particularly the Candidate Tool Kit for PACE and the embedded resources.
This online Self-Assessment Tool has been created to help you decide if you are ready for PACE. You may complete it at any time as you prepare for PACE. Reflecting on your responses in the Self-Assessment Tool and understanding the explanation of the answers will help you determine what other preparation or practice may be required before you apply for PACE.
During PACE, you are expected to already be comfortable practising in the scope of the profession and with drug distribution processes, including how to use pharmacy software systems. To prepare for practice, you should review the College’s Practice Tools and e-Learning Modules. Please note that working or volunteering as a pharmacy assistant does not allow you to practise in the scope of the profession so you may not have sufficient practice opportunities to fully prepare for PACE. You are encouraged to register as a student or intern and to practise in the scope of the profession before applying for PACE.
If you have questions about your readiness for PACE and would like to speak to a registration
advisor, please email us at regprograms@ocpinfo.com with the following information:
- Some dates and times (Monday to Friday, 8 to 4) you would be available.
- The telephone number to call you.
Please allow at least two business days to process your appointment request.
How do I find an assessor?
In the online application for PACE, you will be able to choose the city in which you would like to complete your assessment and select a practice site address where a PACE assessor practices. To ensure an objective and independent assessment, you must choose a practice site at which you have not worked or volunteered, and where you have no prior relationship with the staff. If you or the assessor recognizes that you have a previously established relationship with each other or an actual or perceived bias or conflict of interest, you must choose another practice site and assessor.
What do I do during my PACE?
Activities that you are expected to perform during PACE include, but are not limited to:
- Interpreting, preparing, and processing prescriptions (including technical and therapeutic verification),
- Counselling patients,
- Solving drug therapy problems,
- Providing recommendations,
- Managing workflow,
- Dealing with practice issues,
- Interacting with pharmacy staff and other healthcare professionals, and
- Performing various cognitive services including MedsChecks, Pharmaceutical Opinions, and adapting/extending/initiating prescriptions
Candidates who have registered their injection training with the College may perform injections as opportunities arise under appropriate supervision. PACE candidates may also provide COVID-19 antigen point of care tests (POCT) as long as they have the knowledge, skills, and abilities and are comfortable to do so. However, administering injections and providing POCT are not required activities for PACE. PACE candidates should not be scheduled to only administer injections, vaccines and/or tests as they are in the practice site to demonstrate their entry-to-practice readiness in all competencies throughout their PACE period.
What type of insurance do I need if I am completing PACE on an unpaid basis?
In addition to the Personal Professional Liability Insurance that is a registration requirement for all members of the College, you should arrange for your own student accident insurance (sometimes called accidental death and dismemberment or AD&D insurance). Since most PACE candidates are unpaid, they are not covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). An assessor may refuse to allow you to complete PACE in their practice site if you do not have student accident insurance.
You may wish to check with your liability insurance provider or other insurance carriers for their student accident insurance products that are comparable to WSIB. The College does not endorse any particular insurance carrier.
Can I take a break during PACE?
No, you may not take a vacation break during or between your Orientation and Assessment phases. Do not plan any time off until at least four weeks after your PACE start date to ensure sufficient time for your entire assessment to be completed. Taking pre-booked time off during your PACE may result in your attempt being terminated.
What can I do if I have concerns about my assessor or the pharmacy that affected my performance during PACE?
If a situation develops during the assessment period that you believe affected your performance, you should immediately inform your assessor and/or Registration Programs staff about your concerns. You should also review the PACE Administration Appeals policy.
What should I do if I have applied for PACE and am unable to continue?
If you need or decide to discontinue PACE at any time after your start date has been confirmed and before the end of your assessment, you must immediately inform the College at regprograms@ocpinfo.com and provide your reason(s) for not being able to complete PACE. You should also let your assessor know that you are not continuing PACE as you had planned.
What will happen if I am not successful in PACE more than once?
If you are unsuccessful on any PACE reassessment, you will have to:
- Make a request to a panel of the Registration Committee. Your request should explain what you have done to improve your practice competence since your first PACE attempt. The panel may order you to complete additional education, examinations and/or training before you may apply to re-attempt PACE.
- Pay a reassessment fee to gain access to the PACE application. The 2023 fee is $1,122.85 plus HST.
Both of these requirements will apply to your third and any subsequent PACE attempts.
Helpful Links