Welcome to PACE: Your Pathway to Practice in Nova Scotia, Canada
Nova Scotia's PACE Program, offers experienced, internationally trained physicians (ITP) a structured, workplace‑based assessment pathway to licensure in Canada.
Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence
PACE (Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence) is Nova Scotia’s new practice ready assessment program for Internationally Trained Physicians (ITP). This pathway program is for family physicians and internal medicine specialists with hospitalist experience. PACE evaluates your readiness to practice through a workplace-based assessment in real healthcare settings.
PACE provides an innovative, centralized model that consolidates all assessment activities under one roof, setting it apart from other practice ready assessment programs across Canada. This unique approach underscores PACE’s commitment to streamlined, comprehensive evaluations for Internationally Trained Physicians.
PACE Advantage:
- Competency-based, supervised clinical assessment
- Collaborative program built with Medical Council of Canada and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS)
- Centralized assessment with a dedicated clinic
- Trained Assessors working collaboratively
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How to get started with PACE
The process outlines each stage of the journey, from confirming your eligibility and completing your clinical assessment to pursuing licensure and beginning practice. You’ll find a table of contents to help you navigate detailed information, requirements, and helpful resources along the way.
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Two Assessment Pathways
There are two separate assessment programs, one in office-based primary care and one in hospitalist medicine. Applicants must only apply for the program for which they are eligible. There are separate application forms for each program. It is possible to apply for both programs.
After the Assessment: Next Steps
After successfully completing the PACE Assessment Program, candidates apply to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS) for licensure to practice in their assessed setting (primary care or hospitalist). PACE recommends practice readiness, but CPSNS independently evaluates applications based on the Medical Act and regulations, potentially issuing a Defined, Restricted, or Clinical Assistant Licensure.
Licensure is not guaranteed. Nova Scotia Health supports placement in the assessed setting with a three-year return of service agreement. Guidance is provided throughout.
Return of Service Agreement (ROS)
Nova Scotia invests in your success. In return, you'll practice in a priority community for 3 years.
The timeline, from completion of the assessment to practice start, is laid out in the ROS agreement as follows:
- NSH must provide the physician with a letter of offer for signature within 45 days after CPSNS has communicated a licensure decision to the physician (failure to do so releases the physician from the ROS obligation)
- Within 60 days after CPSNS has communicated a licensure decision to the physician the physician shall deliver to the Dept. of Health and Wellness an executed letter of offer (effectively the physician has 2 weeks to decide on and finalize the offer letter)
- The physician shall commence the ROS within 30 days after DHW has approved the letter of offer
Return of Service (ROS) communities are identified and assigned through a structured and transparent process to ensure alignment between community needs and candidate preferences.
Nova Scotia at a glance
Life in Nova Scotia is shaped by the sea, with over 8,000 miles (13,000 km) of coastline waiting to be explored.
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68-77°F (20-25°C) average summer temperature
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20 mins average commute time
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42 miles (67km) max. distance from ocean at all times
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$471,075 average home price in 2025 | |
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Direct flights to locations like Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Florida, and Europe |
Explore Nova Scotia
While your PACE assessment will take place in the Central Zone (Halifax Regional Municipality), your Return of Service community will most often be located in the Western, Northern, or Eastern Zones of Nova Scotia.
We encourage you to explore communities across the province. From coastal villages to rural towns and small urban centres, each region offers its own unique lifestyle, culture, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact. No matter where you go, you’ll find that every corner of Nova Scotia is a beautiful place to live, work, and build your career.