Pharmacy Professionals > Quality Assurance Program > Knowledge Assessment

Knowledge Assessment

The Knowledge Assessment is one component of the College’s Quality Assurance Program. All components of the Quality Assurance Program work together to support the delivery of safe, quality care.

Part A pharmacists are required to complete the Knowledge Assessment when selected. A Knowledge Assessment for pharmacy technicians will be developed in the future.

If you have been selected for a Knowledge Assessment, ensure you review the information on preparing for the Knowledge Assessment. 

About the Knowledge Assessment

  • Assesses pharmacists’ ability to apply clinical knowledge as well as current legislation, ethics and scope of practice to patient care scenarios
  • Promotes life-long learning and helps maintain competency throughout a pharmacist’s career
  • Helps pharmacists either validate their knowledge or identify learning needs
  • Based on the Knowledge Assessment blueprint and assesses key topics and competencies

Knowledge Assessment Format

  • Online, computer-based assessment consisting of multiple-choice questions
  • Open-book format. Registrants can access resources and references of their choice. Accessing appropriate resources reflects real practice where pharmacists are expected to use reliable, evidence-based and current references to support patient care.
  • Can be taken remotely from a home or workplace
  • Must be completed in one sitting. Candidates have up to three hours to complete the 45 question assessment. 

Selection Criteria

Part A pharmacists are required to complete the Knowledge Assessment when selected. These individuals will take the assessment unproctored (no direct supervision).

Part A pharmacists who have been unsuccessful at a practice reassessment or a knowledge reassessment, and Part B pharmacists requesting to move to Part A of the Register, will need to undergo the Knowledge Assessment online with a remote proctor.

Results and Scoring

Your result will be available immediately after the completion of your assessment. Knowledge Assessment results are not shared with employers or colleagues.

To successfully complete the assessment, a pharmacist’s performance must meet or exceed the final pass score that is set using a criterion-referenced pass/fail standard. While similar, the pass score varies with each knowledge assessment based on the questions that are selected and reflects the overall level of difficulty of a particular Knowledge Assessment. This process helps standardize different assessments.

If you are unsuccessful in the unproctored Knowledge Assessment

If you are unsuccessful on the Knowledge Assessment, you will receive a performance profile that will help you identify your areas for improvement. You should review appropriate materials to address your knowledge gaps.

If you are unsuccessful on your first attempt of an unprotored Knowledge Assessment, you will be given a second opportunity during the same month to successfully complete the Knowledge Assessment. This reassessment attempt will also be unproctored. If you are unsuccessful on your second unproctored attempt, you will be required to complete a period of remediation and undergo a proctored Knowledge Assessment within six months.

If you are unsuccessful in the proctored Knowledge Assessment

If you are unsuccessful in the proctored Knowledge Assessment, your results will be reviewed by a panel of the Quality Assurance Committee to provide recommendations for remediation. There is no cost for the first two proctored assessments in the same assessment cycle period. A cost recovery fee will be applied to any subsequent proctored assessments.

FEATURED RESOURCES

FAQs

  • Requests for testing accommodation(s) will be considered for the exam due to a disability or impairment (temporary or permanent) that substantially limits life activities or has a direct impact on testing processes. Supporting documentation must be submitted to the College by emailing [email protected] no later than 45 days prior to the exam date (or as soon as possible). For more information, please review the College’s Guidelines for Testing Accommodations.

  • Meazure Learning is the administrator of the knowledge assessment. The College is working alongside Meazure Learning to deliver the knowledge assessment on the Meazure exam platform.

    Leading up to the knowledge assessment, you will receive important communication from Meazure Learning with login details for the Meazure exam platform and information on next steps.

    All Meazure Learning emails related to your knowledge assessment will be sent from Testing Support ([email protected]). Please add [email protected] to your Safe Senders list to ensure you receive these important messages.

  • For troubleshooting support for the Knowledge Assessment testing platform, contact Meazure Learning directly. Support is available 24/7.

    Real-Time Chat
    Phone: 1-855-772-8678, Option 1

    If you take the Knowledge Assessment outside of College hours, OCP staff will not be available to immediately assist. Any calls or emails will be addressed on the next business day. The hours of operation for the College are Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • As the Knowledge Assessment focuses on assessing an individual’s ability to apply clinical knowledge as well as current legislation, ethics and scope of practice to patient care scenarios, the assessment must be completed independently. Additionally, all candidates are required to review and agree to a statement of understanding which includes maintaining the confidentiality of the Knowledge Assessment exam questions.

  • Because unproctored Knowledge Assessments are completed in an unsupervised environment, you may begin the online assessment anytime within the one-month window.

    Once you start, you will have up to three hours to complete the assessment in one sitting and can reference resources of your choice. The assessment consists of 45 questions.

    Your result will be available immediately after completing the assessment. Knowledge Assessment results are not shared with employers or colleagues.

  • At least fifteen minutes before your scheduled appointment time, log into the testing platform to ensure your technology is operational. At your appointment time, complete the check in process with the proctor. You will have up to three hours to complete the assessment which consists of 45 questions. The CPS will be accessible through a link within the assessment. Other electronic resources are permitted through a monitored browser.

    If requested in advance, the proctored knowledge assessment can also be taken in person, with locations varying based on your geographical area.

    Your result will be available immediately after the completion of your assessment. Knowledge assessment results are not shared with employers or colleagues.

  • Pharmacists are required to complete a proctored Knowledge Assessment in any of the below situations:

    • Is a Part A pharmacist and has been unsuccessful at a knowledge reassessment (i.e., has not successfully completed the Knowledge Assessment on two attempts)
    • Is a Part A pharmacist and has been unsuccessful on a practice reassessment
    • Is a Part B pharmacist requesting to move to Part A of the Register

  • Participation in the Quality Assurance Program is a requirement under the Regulated Health Professions Act. Failure to participate in the knowledge assessment when selected will result in a referral to the Quality Assurance Committee. The Committee has the authority to direct actions that can significantly impact your ability to practice, including transferring your certificate of registration from Part A to Part B of the Register.

  • The Knowledge Assessment is administered by an external vendor and is only available once per year during the month of May. It cannot be completed outside of this period. You may request a one-time deferral to the following session (i.e., the following May), which may be granted on a case-by-case basis for the following reasons:

    • Medical circumstances, with supporting documentation
    • Parental leave (maternity, paternity, or parental), with an expected return date
    • Pre-booked travel, with supporting documentation and return date
    • Conflicts with academic or professional exams/courses, with supporting documentation
    • Other major, unexpected, or extenuating circumstances, considered on a case-by-case basis

    Any second or subsequent deferral requests must include supporting documentation and will be referred to the Quality Assurance Committee for review and decision.

    To request a deferral, please email [email protected].

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