OCP answers common questions about PACE for tech applicants

The Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP) has now fully transitioned from the Structured Practical Training (SPT) program to the Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) model for pharmacy technician applicants. Those who are not already licensed in another Canadian province/territory are required to successfully complete PACE.To help applicants understand PACE, OCP’s “Pharmacy Connection” shares responses to commonly asked questions [ed. note: responses edited for brevity; visit Common Questions About PACE for Pharmacy Technician Applicants Answered - Pharmacy Connection for complete answers].Is PACE a training program like SPT?No, PACE is a practical assessment by a College-appointed assessor. The assessment occurs in a pharmacy site and determines if a candidate is ready to safely and independently practice the authorized acts of the profession. PACE assessors do not provide training; rather, they supervise and observe a candidate to determine if they can practice in a safe, effective and independent manner.Read: USask CPE launches Learning Committee for techsCan candidates complete PACE at their workplace?No. Completing PACE at a site where the candidate is not known decreases the likelihood of bias and conflict of interest that may affect the assessment. Candidates may complete PACE at a site under the same organization as their workplace (i.e., another hospital within the same network, or community pharmacy within the same banner/chain) provided they have not previously worked at this site and do not know the assessor/staff.Must PACE candidates be employed by their PACE site/organization?No, candidates are generally not employed by their PACE site, except for those who complete PACE at another site within the same organization as their current workplace. Candidates are at the PACE site solely to be assessed as part of their registration pathway.Since most PACE candidates are not employees of the organization, they are advised to purchase student accident insurance (AD&D insurance), as they would not be covered under WSIB. All PACE candidates are registered with the College as intern technicians, hold personal professional liability insurance, and have completed a police background check.In other PACE-related news, OCP is seeking qualified frontline pharmacy professionals to be assessors for pharmacy technician applicants, especially in the following areas: Barrie and Collingwood; Niagara and St. Catharines; Ottawa, Nepean, Cornwall and Orleans; Thunder Bay; and Windsor. For more info, visit Practice Assessment of Competence at Entry (PACE) - OCPInfo.com. This article appeared in the April/May 2025 issue of Tech Talk. Find it and other Tech Talk issues here.

OCP answers common questions about PACE for tech applicants

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