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.
Registration Requirement
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.
- Pharmacy technician applicants who successfully completed SPT before the end of March 2025 will be considered to have met the practice-based registration requirement for two years from the end date of their SPT. Applicants who have not fully registered as a pharmacy technician within two years after meeting the practice-based registration requirement through SPT will be required to successfully complete PACE.
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.
Process
Pharmacist Applicant
Before applying for PACE, pharmacist candidates:
- Must register as an intern to have the legal authority to perform the authorized acts of the profession.
- Should gain experience practicing in the scope of the profession.
- Should get student accident insurance (sometimes called accidental death and dismemberment or AD&D insurance) if you are not employed by the organization where you are completing PACE.
Preparing for PACE
- Review the Candidate Toolkit for PACE.
- Review the PACE Assessment Criteria and PACE Assessment Tool (OPPCAT).
- Review the PACE Model (see below).
- Gain experience practicing in the scope of the profession, including how to use pharmacy software systems.
- Review the College’s Practice Topics and e-Learning Modules.
- Complete the Candidate Readiness for PACE (Pharmacist Applicants) Self-Assessment Tool.
Apply for PACE
- Access and complete the online application through the OCP portal. As part of the application, you will select the city where an appointed assessor is available and you would like to complete PACE. You will also select a proposed start date.
- Do not reach out to a potential assessor directly. Doing so could lead to a bias and could make you ineligible to complete PACE at that location. Only apply for PACE through your OCP profile.
- Your application will be processed by College staff within 10 business days.
PACE Results
- At the end of the PACE assessment, and after you have submitted your practice journal, the assessor rates your performance using the Ontario Pharmacy Patient Care Assessment Tool (OPPCAT).
- Assessors are trained on how to use the OPPCAT in a standardized manner and are required to re-standardize their use of the ratings every year.
- Once the assessor has submitted the OPPCAT to the College, the outcome of your assessment will be determined by a standardized scoring rubric. A College registration advisor will review the OPPCAT and your outcome before the result is released to you.
- You will receive your PACE results within 10 business days after the assessor submits the OPPCAT.
- If you have demonstrated entry-to-practice competency through PACE, you will have met the practice-based registration requirement.
- If you have not demonstrated entry-to-practice competency through PACE, you will be required to engage in development before you may re-attempt PACE.
Pharmacy Technician Applicant
Before applying for PACE, pharmacy technician candidates:
- Must register as an intern technician to have the legal authority to perform the authorized acts of the profession.
- Should gain experience practicing in the scope of the profession.
- Should get student accident insurance (sometimes called accidental death and dismemberment or AD&D insurance) if you are not employed by the organization where you are completing PACE.
Preparing for PACE
- Review the Candidate Toolkit for PACE (Pharmacy Technician Applicants)
- Review the PACE Assessment Criteria and PACE Assessment Tool (TAPT).
- Review the PACE Model (see below).
- Gain experience practicing in the Pharmacy Technician Scope of Practice, including how to use pharmacy software systems.
- Review the College’s Practice Topics and e-Learning Modules.
- Complete the Candidate Readiness for PACE for Pharmacy Technician Applicants Self-Assessment Tool.
Apply for PACE
- Access and complete the online application through the OCP portal. As part of the application, you will select the city where an appointed assessor is available and you would like to complete PACE. You will also select a proposed start date
- Do not reach out to a potential assessor directly. Doing so could lead to a bias and could make you ineligible to complete PACE at that location. Only apply for PACE through the OCP portal.
- Your application will be processed by College staff within 10 business days.
PACE Results
- At the end of the PACE assessment and once you have submitted your practice journal, the assessor will rate your performance using the Tool for Assessment of Pharmacy Technician Applicants (TAPT).
- Assessors are trained on how to use the TAPT in a standardized manner and are required to re-standardize their use of the ratings every year.
- Once the assessor has submitted the TAPT to the College, the outcome of your assessment is determined by a standardized scoring rubric. A College registration advisor will review the TAPT and your outcome before the result is released to you.
- You will receive your PACE results within 10 business days after the assessor submits the TAPT.
- If you have demonstrated entry-to-practice competency through PACE, you will have met the practice-based registration requirement.
- If you have not demonstrated entry-to-practice competency through PACE, you will be required to engage in development before you may re-attempt PACE.
PACE Model
This diagram shows the PACE process. The phases of the PACE process are explained below.

Orientation Phase – 35-hour Orientation to the PACE Practice Site
During the PACE orientation, the candidate:
- Gets familiar with the pharmacy workflow and software by observing the assessor and the other pharmacy staff;
- Works through the Pharmacist Applicant PACE Orientation Checklist or the Pharmacy Technician Applicant PACE Orientation Checklist with the assessor’s support;
- Asks site-specific questions; and
- May assist with the dispensing/drug distribution process but does not provide any direct patient care and does not perform the authorized acts of the profession.
During the PACE orientation, the assessor:
- May delegate the orientation to other pharmacy staff members;
- Supports the completion of the Pharmacist Applicant PACE Orientation Checklist or the Pharmacy Technician Applicant PACE Orientation Checklist;
- Answers site-specific questions; and
- Does not provide training on how to be a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
Note: the 35-hour orientation phase cannot be extended or shortened.
Every PACE candidate must undergo the orientation and assessment phases consecutively with no pre-planned breaks (e.g., vacation) permitted during or between the phases.
Assessment Phase – 70-hour Assessment by a PACE Assessor Completed Over Two or Three Weeks
During the PACE assessment, the candidate:
- Practices in the full scope of practice under the direct supervision of their assessor at the assessor’s primary practice site;
- Demonstrates their readiness to practise as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician in a safe, effective and independent manner;
- Can only practise while their assessor is present; and
- Maintains a practice journal with a minimum number of entries describing the care they provided and other situations they managed. These practice journal entries allow the assessor to assess the knowledge and judgment the candidate applied in their practice.
During the PACE assessment, the assessor:
- Provides the candidate opportunities to demonstrate all the competency domains and elements of the relevant PACE Assessment Criteria (see Assessment Criteria for pharmacist applicants and Assessment Criteria pharmacy technician applicants);
- Must be physically present and observe their candidate’s practice at all times;
- Assesses the candidate’s knowledge, skills and ability according to the PACE Assessment Criteria;
- Does not provide the candidate with practice training; and
- Does not provide the candidate with feedback about their performance.
Note: the 70-hour assessment period cannot be extended or shortened.
Every PACE candidate must undergo the orientation and assessment phases consecutively with no pre-planned breaks (e.g., vacation) permitted during or between the phases.
Development Phase (If Required) – Self-Directed Period of Learning and Practice to Prepare for the Next PACE Attempt
If a candidate is unsuccessful in PACE, they:
- Will receive a performance profile in their PACE portal that identifies the relative strengths and gaps in their performance according to the domains and elements of the PACE Assessment Criteria;
- Are strongly encouraged to book an appointment to speak with a College registration advisor after reviewing their performance profile.
- The registration advisor will recommend resources and offer support as the candidate prepares a learning action plan based on the performance gaps identified in their PACE assessment.
- Are required to implement their learning action plan with a coach at the coach’s practice site.
- The candidate and their coach will decide when the candidate has met the goals of their learning action plan and is ready to re-attempt PACE with a different PACE assessor at another practice site.
Help Candidates Prepare for PACE
Candidates Preparing for PACE
Pharmacy managers, owners and employers are needed to provide opportunities for candidates preparing for PACE to become comfortable practicing in the scope of practice as an intern or intern technician, and to be familiar with the pharmacy software systems.
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can train candidates and provide feedback to help them improve their competency. Candidates are ready for PACE when they and their supervising pharmacy professional(s) believe they can practice safely and independently.
Unsuccessful PACE Candidates
Candidates who are unsuccessful in their PACE are required to undergo development and will be given a profile listing the practice performance gaps identified during their PACE assessment. The candidate is expected to prepare a learning action plan to address their performance gaps and to find a pharmacy professional coach who will guide their self-directed, individualized training and help them prepare for their next PACE attempt. The training could include identifying and discussing with the candidate relevant study materials (e.g., learning modules, practice tools) that will improve their knowledge, and defining or identifying suitable practice opportunities to help the candidate apply their knowledge to improve their skills and abilities.
Before agreeing to be someone’s pharmacy professional coach, the coach should discuss with the candidate if they and their practice site meet the characteristics candidates are advised to look for in the FAQs for PACE Applicants section below.
The Coaching Pharmacist Toolkit for PACE (Pharmacist Applicants) and the Pharmacy Professional Coach for PACE Toolkit (Pharmacy Technician Applicants) provide coaches with information and resources to support a PACE development candidate, depending on the type of applicant the coach is supporting. The Supervision of Pharmacy Personnel Policy provides further details on the level of supervision required for interns and intern technicians.