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Practice Ready Assessment Program

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Touchstone Institute

Touchstone Institute is the administrator of the Practice Ready Assessment Program (Practice Ready Ontario — PRO). For information on PRO, including eligibility and applying, please visit the Touchstone Institute website.

The National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) has created a pan-Canadian model with a set of common standards, tools, and materials for practice ready assessment (PRA) programs.

Practice Ready Ontario (PRO) is a PRA program available to internationally trained family physicians with the aim of obtaining an independent practice certificate in Ontario. This program aligns with the NAC standards.

The PRA program provides successful candidates with the opportunity to work under supervision and be assessed for clinical competence over a period of 12 weeks. Candidates who successfully complete the assessment will be required to complete a three-year Return of Service (ROS) agreement with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to practise in a community in Ontario as identified by the MOH.

Eligibility and Applicant Screening

Touchstone Institute is responsible for the candidate screening and selection process for PRO. Along with meeting the eligibility criteria, applicants must achieve a passing grade on the Therapeutics Decision-Making (TDM) exam and be assessed through an interview in order to be selected for the program.

Clinical Field Assessment (CFA)

If you have been accepted into the PRA program by Touchstone, you may be issued a restricted certificate during the 12-week assessment period, subject to terms, conditions and limitations, including the following:

  1. You may practise only in the PRA program and to the extent required to complete PRA program;
  2. You must practise under supervision by a member of the College designated by the director of PRA program at a level of supervision determined by the director;
  3. You may not be the Most Responsible Physician (MRP); and
  4. You may not charge a fee for medical services.

Your restricted certificate will expire the earlier of either:

  1. 12 weeks from the date it is issued; or
  2. When you are no longer enrolled in the program.

Supervised Practice

If you have successfully completed the CFA and meet the non-exemptible requirements set out in Section 2(1) of Ontario Regulation 865/93, you may be issued a restricted certificate limited to your scope of practice, to fulfil your ROS commitment, subject to terms, conditions and limitations, including the following:

  1. You may practise family medicine only in accordance with your ROS agreement;
  2. You will work under supervision in the community specified in your ROS agreement.

Your restricted certificate will automatically expire three years from the date it is issued.

Independent Practice

If you successfully obtain College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) certification during the supervised practice period, you may apply to the College to remove the requirement to work under supervision while completing your ROS commitment.

Upon the completion of your ROS commitment and successfully obtaining CFPC certification, if you are otherwise qualified for an independent practice certificate of registration and satisfy the non-exemptible requirements set out in Section 2(1) of Ontario Regulation 865/93, you may apply for an independent practice certificate of registration.