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To obtain an unrestricted postgraduate medical education certificate of registration (educational license) from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), international medical graduates (IMGs) must successfully complete the Pre-Entry Assessment Program (PEAP).
The PEAP includes an assessment of communication skills but Program Directors have the option of requiring applicants to provide additional evidence of language proficiency, such as the TOEFL iBT test.
The PEAP is an assessment process that evaluates IMGs to determine whether they can function at the appointed level of training. It is normally between four to twelve weeks in duration (two weeks for elective appointments). The assessment is to take place in a supervised clinical, multidisciplinary environment where there is patient input on an ongoing basis. Assessors are to ensure that the candidate is: mentally competent to practice medicine; able to practice with decency, integrity and honesty in accordance with the law; have sufficient knowledge, skill and judgment to engage in postgraduate medical training as authorized by the educational license; can communicate effectively and to display an appropriate professional attitude.
The Residency PEAP must provide assessment of the candidate’s clinical skills, knowledge and judgment in the discipline in which the candidate is seeking postgraduate education as well as the candidate’s basic skills in internal medicine, obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry and general surgery, appropriate for practice in the chosen discipline.
Successful completion of the Residency PEAP determines eligibility to enter residency training and therefore is not recorded as part of the residency training program.
International Medical Graduates who are currently enrolled in residency training outside of Canada or the US who wish to come to Ontario to complete an elective rotation must undergo PEAP training.
The criteria for out-of-country resident electives are:
The PEAP assessment of out-of-country residents seeking electives in Ontario must:
The Fellowship PEAP must provide assessment of the candidate’s general knowledge and competency in the specialty in which she/he is certified, and appropriate for practice in the discipline in which the candidate is entering fellowship training.
Unless the Program Director indicates otherwise, the PEAP period for Clinical Fellows will not add to the original fellowship appointment. In other words, the PEAP candidate is able to count educational activity during the PEAP towards the fulfillment of the educational goals and objectives of the clinical fellowship.
The candidate has not successfully completed the PEAP if the Final Assessment Form does not contain a “yes” response to all yes/no questions that follow the cumulative summary observed assessments on page 2 of the form. If the candidate fails to meet expectations in any of the five areas of observed assessment (i.e. clinical skills, technical skills, knowledge and judgment, communication skills, and professional attitudes) it is still possible for the candidate to pass the PEAP if the Final Assessment Form contains appropriate explanatory comments.
According to the CPSO’s regulations, if the PEAP is not completed successfully then enrolment in a subsequent PEAP in Ontario in the same discipline is not permitted.
Last updated: February 11, 2016