Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE)
Why did the College replace the Structured Practical Training (SPT) Program with PACE?
PACE for pharmacy technician applicants meets the Ontario regulation that health regulatory colleges cannot require Canadian experience as a registration requirement. The College’s SPT Program—with its training and assessment components—was seen as requiring pharmacy technician applicants to have Canadian experience. [References: Section 16.2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 18 (ontario.ca) and subsection 4. (3) of O. Reg. 508/22: REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS (ontario.ca)].
Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) is the College’s practice-based assessment. PACE assesses an applicant’s readiness to safely and independently practice as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician performing the authorized acts of the profession.
Successful completion of PACE is a registration requirement for:
- Ontario pharmacist applicants who graduated from a pharmacy degree program outside of Ontario and who are applying for licensure as a pharmacist in Canada for the first time
- Ontario pharmacy technician applicants applying for licensure as a pharmacy technician in Canada for the first time
How PACE works
- In the online application, a candidate selects from a list the city where they want to complete their PACE and a practice site address where a PACE assessor practices. Candidates must choose a practice site which they have not worked or volunteered at, and where they have no prior relationship with the staff.
- After a 1-week (35 hours) orientation period at the PACE practice site, the candidate practices under the direct supervision and observation of the PACE assessor for a 70-hour assessment over a 2–3-week period.
- The PACE assessor evaluates and measures the candidate’s practice-readiness using assessment criteria based on the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authority (NAPRA) Entry-to-Practice Competencies.
Expiry and Validity Dates
- PACE must be successfully completed within two years before applying to register as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
Resolutions and Policies
- The OCP Board of Directors has approved one resolution regarding PACE (resolution number 6).
- The Registration Committee has approved policies related to PACE.