Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) Assessor Criteria

First Approved: February 2016 
Last Revised: August 2025 

Purpose

This policy defines who may be appointed to be a PACE assessor. 

Scope

This policy applies to Part A pharmacists who will assess pharmacist applicants or pharmacy technician applicants, and Part A pharmacy technicians who will assess pharmacy technician applicants only. 

Definitions

Co-Assessor: Two practitioners practising at the same practice site who wish to share the responsibility and time commitment for assessing a PACE candidate. Both practitioners must apply and be approved to be PACE assessors. Their request to be co-assessors must be approved by College staff and confirmed each time they are selected by a PACE candidate. This policy will apply to both co-assessors. 

Policy

A Part A pharmacist or Part A pharmacy technician who meets the Decision Criteria below, successfully completes the College’s initial assessor training process, and commits to abide by the College’s Code of Conduct for Assessors, Coaches, Mentors, Preceptors and Members of Working Groups and Confidentiality Requirement for PACE Assessors will be eligible to become a College-appointed assessor for the Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE). 

PACE assessors must continue to meet the Decision Criteria and:  

• Continue to abide by the College’s Code of Conduct for Assessors, Coaches, Mentors, Preceptors and Members of Working Groups, and Confidentiality Requirement for PACE Assessors;
• Engage and maintain competence in using the relevant assessment tool;
• Respect the commitments and timelines of the PACE model; and 
• Successfully complete any further training as required by the College.  

Decision Criteria 

An assessor applicant will be considered eligible to be a PACE assessor if: 

1. They are a Part A pharmacist or Part A pharmacy technician who
   1. Has been registered as a pharmacist and practicing in that scope of practice in a Canadian jurisdiction for at least two years providing patient care (if applying to assess pharmacist or pharmacy technician applicant candidates) OR has been registered as a pharmacy technician and practising in that scope of practice in a Canadian jurisdiction for at least two years providing patient care (if applying to assess pharmacy technician applicant candidates);
   2. Provides care for patients for a minimum of 24 hours per week (or has applied with a co-assessor with whom they can share responsibility for observing a candidate for the required 24 hours of patient care per week);  
   3. Is competently engaged in the full scope of the practice of pharmacy; 
   4. Actively pursues continuing professional development to support and advance their practice; and  
   5. There is no evidence to suggest the registrant is not meeting the standards of practice; and  
2. They are a registrant in good standing with the College: 
   1. Who has no terms, conditions or limitations on their certificate of registration other than those applicable to all pharmacy professionals in Part A of the Register;  
   2. Who has no open cases (reports, complaints) under investigation or review by the College;  
   3. Who has no concerns listed on the Public Register that involve criminal conduct, ethical conduct, governability, sexual abuse, fitness to practice, delivery of quality healthcare or financial responsibility; and 
   4. For whom is no other evidence to suggest the registrant will reflect negatively on the PACE model; and 
3. They can provide an objective assessment of a candidate* as demonstrated by their 
   1. Understanding of the College’s public protection mandate and the PACE assessor’s role; and
   2. Agreement to declare any actual or perceived bias or conflict of interest with a candidate with whom they may be matched; and 

* Experience assessing applicants during their pharmacy education or registration process or pharmacy staff performance in the workplace is considered an asset. 

4. Their primary practice site (and any other practice site approved for PACE) is conducive to the assessment of competence because the site: 
   1. Is an accredited community (including long-term care) or hospital pharmacy in Ontario;  
   2. Has a positive accreditation history with the College; 
   3. Provides sufficient practice opportunities for the candidate to engage in the scope of practice of the profession and demonstrate the relevant entry-to-practice competencies; and 
   4. Has an organizational structure that permits an appropriate degree of side-by-side interaction between the candidate and the assessor (i.e., sufficient staffing and resources). 

Legislative References

• General Regulation under the Pharmacy Act, 1991 

Additional References

• Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE)