Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence (PACE)
The College is launching the Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence (PACE) to help more internationally trained physicians become medically licensed in the province.
PACE is a partnership between the provincial government, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, and the Medical Council of Canada, and is a unique model in Canada.
PACE has a hybrid mission: it will assess internationally trained physicians for independent licensure while delivering excellent primary care in a busy clinic.
Candidate physicians will work in the on-site medical clinic, providing patient care while being directly observed, overseen and evaluated by fully licensed physicians, trained and accredited in the science of physician assessment. In partnership with the Medical Council of Canada, PACE will employ cutting edge tools and science to fairly and objectively assess the competencies necessary for independent licensure.
PACE is a partnership between the provincial government, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, and the Medical Council of Canada, and is a unique model in Canada.
The assessments will be competency-based, meaning that the time a candidate spends at PACE will vary entirely on performance. Once enough data has been gathered, a recommendation regarding licensure will be made.
PACE will eventually expand to include five physician-led teams, each with up to three international medical graduates, increasing the clinic’s capacity to about 6,400 patients.
Practice Eligibility Route
In 2024, the College issued provisional licensure to 53 physicians in Royal College disciplines with significant experience in independent practice elsewhere in the world. Those who had not previously trained or practised in Canada were oriented through the Welcome Collaborative.
To comply with the provisions of the Medical Act, these physicians required sponsorship and supervision. We are grateful to the practicing physicians who conducted the supervision and the physician leaders who provided sponsorship.
The Practice Eligibility Route is helping our province. Of the 53 physicians issued provisional licensure under this pathway in 2024, 48 remain in practice here.
New Licensing Pathways for Internationally Trained Physicians
Historically, international physicians have been assessed for licensure based on the jurisdiction of their training.
The College is expanding its rigorous review of faculties and post-graduate training programs of excellence around the world in jurisdictions not generally recognized. We are the first College in Canada to pursue this opportunity.
More Physicians Licensed by Developing New Pathways to Licensure
Results of College’s new pathways to licensure since January 1, 2023
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Exam Eligibility
Accepted physicians from more international jurisdictions
physicians
American Board of Medical Specialties Equivalent Certification
Provided a Full licence to American Board Certified specialists
physicians
General Medical Council UK Comparable Licensure
Provided licensure to physicians licensed in UK
physicians
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Pass-standing through Practice Eligibility Route
Accepted physicians from more jurisdictions
physicians
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Comparable licensure
Provided licensure to physicians licensed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
physicians
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Subspecialist Examination Affiliate Program
Licensed physicians who have completed post-graduate training and undertaking additional training now can be licensed to deliver care
physicians
Physicians Licensed 116
Family Physicians from Lebanon
After a comprehensive review of the training programs of the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University, last year the College participated in a physician recruitment visit. It is already paying significant dividends. Two family physicians have arrived in practice on Defined licences in the central zone. They have enjoyed terrific wrap around support (housing, places of worship, mentorship) from the local Lebanese community. Five more candidates, all graduates of the same programs, have initiated applications.
South African Physicians
The College is leading an initiative with Nova Scotia Health and a recruitment specialist from South Africa to identify suitable candidates for two pilot initiatives to be launched by late Spring of 2025. South African physicians with formal family medicine residency will be offered Defined licensure for a minimum of six months, with a long-term renewable licensure decision coming after supervision is complete. If successful, this pilot could lead to the designation of South African family medicine residency as equivalent to Canadian, joining the UK, Australia and New Zealand as jurisdictions already recognized as equivalent.
The second pilot includes South African physicians with a two-year internship and a minimum of two years current experience in emergency medicine will have a similar pathway to practise in an emergency department setting. Starting on a Defined licence, a decision on long-term renewable licensure will follow a minimum of six months supervised practise that starts with a period of high-level supervision.