Home Pharmacists Pharmacist Qualifying Examination Preparing for the Examination Part II (OSCE) Examination Format and OSCE Sample Stations

Examination Format and OSCE Sample Stations

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Format of Examination Stations - Part II (OSCE)

The Qualifying Examination – Part II consists of both interactive and non-interactive stations.

Each station will require that you complete one or more short tasks such as:

counselling or responding to questions from a Simulated Participant
interacting with a Simulated Participant or Simulated Health Professional to resolve a drug therapy problem or ethical dilemma
responding in writing to a message or request for information/advice
screening / evaluating new prescriptions
checking dispensed prescriptions for accuracy prior to their release

You may be required to select and justify the most appropriate therapeutic option. For example, when assisting a patient choose a nonprescription remedy, a limited selection of appropriate and inappropriate options will be displayed. You must select the most appropriate option(s) among those available, even if you believe a better option exists outside of the provided selection.

In every situation, you are expected to use appropriate professional and ethical judgment, and act in the best interests of the patient, to provide safe and effective care. In most instances, you are required to provide assistance while the Simulated Participant is present in the station, rather than solely referring the individual to another health professional or indicating that you will call them back later with your response (although you may either refer or offer to call back in addition to providing appropriate assistance).

Five sample stations are provided below, representing the formats for three interactive and two non-interactive stations. Note: These samples are for illustrative purposes only; actual station content and layouts may differ.

References in Stations - Part II (OSCE)

References are provided in some OSCE stations, but not all. Documents or excerpts thereof may be provided from the following list (printed or downloaded onto an electronic tablet / hand-held device):

CPS (The Canadian Pharmacists Association)
RxVigilance (Vigilance Santé)
RxFiles (RxFiles Academic Detailing, University of Saskatchewan)
UpToDate (Wolters Kluwer)
TRC Healthcare
Merck Manual
Health Canada publications
Canadian clinical organizations
Other professional references, where appropriate.

Reminder:

Candidates may only use the references provided in the stations. References are provided only when they are deemed essential in allowing candidates to meet the objectives of the station (i.e. solving the problem), but not necessarily when the station is based on knowledge and skills that candidates are expected to possess at entry to practice.

OSCE Sample Stations

Sample Station #1

Interactive Station (with a Standardized Patient) – involving a prescription medication

DOWNLOAD Sample Station # 1 – Cancer Pain Control

Sample Station #2

Interactive Station (with a Standardized Patient) – involving a nonprescription medication

Pharmacist Qualifying Examination