We’ve designed our assessments to engage physicians in an educational experience that provides feedback and supports lifelong learning. We share the responsibility of ensuring you provide quality care by continually improving your skills, and responding to concerns about your practice and/or behaviour.

If selected for an assessment, we encourage you to review our information about the process. It can be beneficial to proactively prepare for your assessment by reviewing your records using the assessment protocols for your practice. If you identify any issues or deficiencies, you can take action before the assessment and share what you have done with the assessor.

Your annual dues cover the costs of your first assessment and reassessment. However, any subsequent reassessments are subject to a fee.

The Selection Process

Who is selected for a peer and practice assessment?

The Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) may require you to participate in a peer and practice assessment at any time. Note: undergoing an assessment in another College area does not necessarily exempt you from participating in a QA peer and practice assessment.

The most common criteria when selecting physicians for assessment are:

Age-related selection: We assess all practising physicians not assessed in the last five years at age 70 and then every five years as long as they are in active practice.

Physicians changing their scope of practice or re-entering practice: The Registration Committee may direct the QA department to conduct a practice assessment on their behalf for those physicians who are in the  process of changing scope or re-entering practice.

Physicians who wish to become assessors: Members who want to become a peer assessor must first successfully complete a peer and practice assessment.

The CPSO also reserves the right to select members for assessment in support of approved research or identification of other factors for which an assessment would be beneficial.

If you are selected for an assessment

When we select a physician to undergo a peer and practice assessment:

• We advise you why we selected you.
• You must complete a detailed Physician Questionnaire and, in some cases, a Facility Questionnaire. This helps program staff determine if you are eligible for assessment and identify the most appropriate assessor for your practice.
  • If you have multiple scopes of practice, the information you provide in your completed questionnaire will help us determine which scope will be assessed.
  • Documentation confirming the details of your  assessment will clearly identify the area of practice being assessed and its specific assessment protocol(s), which are made available to you online.
• The Assessment Coordinator assigned to manage your assessment will send you a package containing the name of the assessor visiting your practice. 
  • If you identify any conflicts with your assigned assessor, please inform the coordinator as soon as possible.
• The assessor will contact you to arrange a mutually convenient date for the assessment and discuss the record selection process. 
  • If your office or hospital-based practice uses an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, you must make arrangements ahead of time to ensure the assessor has temporary, read-only access to the system.

There may be instances where we exempt or postpone an assessment, such as, but not limited to, maternity/sabbatical leave, current illness, or conversion to EMR. The Assessment Coordinator will follow up with you upon receipt of your completed Physician Questionnaire to discuss your situation.