First Approved: April 2018
Last Revised: August 2025
Purpose
This policy defines the eligibility, application process and other associated processes associated with the Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) approved by the Board as the practice assessment of competence. [References: Paragraphs 10.(1)4, 10.(2)1, 14.(1)4, and 14.(2)1 of O. Reg. 256/24 General Regulations under Pharmacy Act, 1991]
Scope
This policy applies to pharmacist applicants and pharmacy technician applicants.
Policy
The Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) is an assessment of a candidate’s readiness to safely and independently practice as a pharmacist or as a pharmacy technician performing the authorized acts of the profession.
Candidates for PACE must:
- Have met the education registration requirement to register as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, and
- Be registered with the College as an intern or intern technician to be able to perform the authorized acts of the profession.
Pharmacist candidates will be assessed by a Part A pharmacist PACE assessor using the Ontario Pharmacy Patient Care Assessment Tool (OPPCAT) that is based on these assessment criteria.
Pharmacy technician candidates will be assessed by a Part A pharmacy technician or Part A pharmacist PACE assessor using the Tool for Assessment of Pharmacy Technicians (TAPT) that is based on these assessment criteria.
PACE Process
All PACE candidates must complete the Orientation and Assessment phases. The outcome of the initial assessment will determine if they must continue in the PACE process.
Orientation
The orientation is for 35 hours (in one week) for all candidates. During this phase, the candidate has an orientation to PACE and the practice site, and time to observe the workflow and processes to familiarize themselves with these before engaging in a practice assessment.
No pharmacy practice training is provided. The 35-hour orientation may not be shortened or extended to ensure that all candidates have the same exposure to their PACE practice site.
Assessment
The assessment is for 70 hours on either a two-week full-time or three-week part-time basis. During this period, the candidate engages in practice in the scope of the profession to demonstrate their competence. The candidate must document practice opportunities that demonstrate all competency elements on the assessment tool. The assessor must observe the candidate whenever they are engaged in practice and review their PACE documentation. At the end of the assessment period, the assessor completes the assessment tool and submits it to the College via a secure online portal.
No pharmacy practice training and no performance-related feedback is provided to the candidate. The 70-hour assessment may not be shortened or extended to ensure that all candidates have the same period to demonstrate their competency to their assessor.
A candidate may file an appeal based on procedural issues that were not satisfactorily resolved during the assessment period according to the PACE Administration Appeals Policy. The appeal must be submitted before the outcome is released to the candidate.
Outcome
After the assessor submits the assessment tool to the College, a standardized scoring rubric will be applied to the ratings to determine if the candidate has either passed or failed PACE.
A candidate who has successfully completed PACE will have met the College’s practice-based registration requirement and be allowed to move forward in their registration process. Registration as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician must be completed within two years of a successful PACE outcome.
A candidate who has not successfully completed PACE will be provided with a performance profile and must complete a period of development before re-attempting PACE with another assessor.
Development
To be eligible for reassessment, the unsuccessful PACE candidate must prepare a self-directed learning action plan and implement it with a pharmacy professional coach.
Application Process
Candidates must submit the application provided by the College. The candidate selects a practice site where an OCP-appointed PACE assessor is available. To ensure an impartial assessment, every candidate and assessor must declare and provide details about any actual or perceived bias or conflict of interest during the PACE application process.
Candidates with a documented disability who require assessment accommodations must notify the College of their request when initiating their online PACE application no less than six weeks before their preferred PACE start date. The candidate will be required to submit supporting documentation as outlined in the Guidelines for Testing Accommodations. College staff will review the request and may require additional information or supporting documentation before deciding if reasonable assessment accommodations can be provided. If assessment accommodations are to be provided, College staff will work with the candidate to identify a PACE assessor who agrees to provide the approved assessment accommodations at their practice site; the College will endeavor to find a site and assessor within the timeframe and area requested by the candidate. If assessment accommodations are to be provided, the candidate must submit, at least three weeks prior to their preferred PACE start date, written acceptance of the specific assessment accommodations. The PACE application process will then continue for the candidate.
Failed Reassessment
A candidate who has failed any PACE reassessment (i.e., a second attempt) will be referred to a panel of the Registration Committee to consider what further education, examinations and/or training may be required.
The candidate must successfully complete the additional education, examinations and/or training ordered by the panel before attempting another PACE reassessment.
A PACE Reassessment Fee is charged for the third and all subsequent attempts.
Legislative References
- General Regulations under Pharmacy Act, 1991
- Board Resolution #6 – Practice Assessment of Competence
- College’s By-Laws No. 7, Article 18.5.3 – Other Fees