Practice Ready Assessment

What is PRA?

To ensure that internationally educated physicians possess the appropriate clinical skills and knowledge to provide quality patient care in Canada, each participating province offers a practical assessment program where candidates work under supervision and are evaluated over 12 weeks with the aim of obtaining an independent licence to practise in Canada. Before this can happen, candidates need to submit an application and complete an interview.

The focus is on meeting the needs of both underserved rural and remote communities as well as urban areas in Canada with the return of service commitments ensuring employment for successful PRA candidates.

What is NAC PRA?

While each province may have distinct requirements within their jurisdictional program, the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC), a group of national and provincial healthcare organizations, has created a pan-Canadian model with a set of common standards, tools and materials for PRA programs in eight provinces. If you are interested in becoming an applicant, we encourage you to contact us for more information about this excellent program.

PRA stands for “Practice-Ready Assessment.” It is a program designed to assess the clinical skills and knowledge of internationally educated physicians to ensure they meet the standards required to provide quality patient care in Canada.

If you are an established physician in Canada interested in becoming a PRA assessor, learn more in the “Information for assessors” section below.

Participating in the NAC PRA framework:

• Practice-Ready Assessment – Physicians for BC (PRA-BC)
• Practice Readiness Assessment Alberta (PRA-AB)
• Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA)
• University of Manitoba International Medical Graduate Program (PRA MB – Family Practice & PRA MB – Specialty Practice)
• Practice Ready Ontario (PRO)
• Collège des médecins du Québec
• Practice Ready Assessment – Newfoundland and Labrador (PRA-NL)
• Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program (NSPRAP)

Please note that Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories do not offer practice assessments within the NAC’s pan-Canadian framework at this time. Contact the relevant medical regulatory authority if you are interested in practising in one of these regions.

Practice Ready Ontario (PRO)

Practice Ready Ontario offers a route to practice in the province for internationally trained family physicians with demonstrated competence and in-depth practice experience outside Canada. Applications will take place in two phases. In the third phase candidates complete a clinical field assessment.

• Phase 1: Eligibility of applicants is assessed. This includes a review of medical qualifications, postgraduate training and rotations, and hours of independent practice. Applicants will then be deemed eligible or ineligible.
• Phase 2: eligible applicants who are also chosen to proceed to submit evidence of certain requirements, write the Therapeutics Decision-Making Examination, interview and apply for a restricted license through the CPSO. Even if you reach phase 2 it is not guaranteed you will advance to phase 3.
• Phase 3: selected candidates complete a program orientation followed by the 12-week clinical field assessment. All candidates must sign a return of service agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Health before they start their clinical field assessment.
• Return of Service: candidates who successfully complete this clinical field assessment will be required to enter into a three-year agreement with the Ministry of Health, and complete any other applicable licensure requirements.

This is a highly competitive program and you must succeed at each opportunity.

Therapeutics Decision-Making Exam

This examination is a three-hour short-answer test with approximately 40 cases or patient-based scenarios. The cases and scenarios represent common or important presentations from across four dimensions of care:

• Health promotion and illness prevention
• Acute illness
• Chronic illness
• Safety and adverse effects

Eligible applicants for the Practice Ready Ontario will be able to write the TDM Examination in an exceptionally scheduled session in September.

Practice Ready Ontario (PRO) Interview

The PRO Interview is typically a station-based MMI that assesses the candidate’s core competencies, CANMEDS roles, familiarity with Canadian healthcare, morals and ethics.

Tee station-based MMI can be a great opportunity to showcase your skills and attributes. At MedApplications, our team of experienced Canadian physicians are ready to help you succeed in the Phase 2 interview!

Practice Ready Assessment Interview Preparation

Ensure Your Success with our MMI Packages!