Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction 02/17 – Military Physician Assistant Training Plan

1. Identification

Date of Issue: 2017-12-18

Date of Modification: 2025-01-31

Application: This Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction (CAFMPI) applies to officers and non-commissioned members (NCMs) of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP)

Enquiries: Administrative Response Centre (ARC)

2. Definitions

Physician Assistant (adjoint au médecin)

Person who provides health care services customarily performed by a physician under responsible supervision of that qualified licensed physician, and who has successfully completed an accredited education program for physicians’ assistants and/or who has been certified, licensed, or registered by a recognized agency or commission. (Defence Terminology Bank record number 20015) 

3. Policy Direction

Context

3.1 The CAF has a need for specialist military officers in Health Services occupations. Furthermore, the CAF is committed to providing rewarding career opportunities for its members that allow for progression along flexible career paths. The purpose of the Military Physician Assistant Training Plan (MPATP) is to enable the CAF to maintain the optimal trained effective strength and production levels of officers in specialist military occupations by providing full-time subsidized education to selected applicants who have displayed personal qualities indicative of potential for service as officers.

Operating Principles

3.2 The MPATP provides specialist officer training to prepare applicants for employment in the 00374 Physician Assistant (PA) officer occupation.

3.3 Applicants will be selected from serving members who possess the required military and educational background and who apply for entry into the MPATP. Successful applicants will be subsidized for a maximum of two years of education under the MPATP leading to a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree and certification through the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC).

4. Eligibility

Component Transfer

4.1 Eligible serving Primary Reserve (P Res) members, including those from all sub-components of the P Res, may apply to transfer from the P Res to the Regular Force (Reg F) into the 00374 PA occupation in accordance with DAOD 5002-3, Component and Sub-Component Transfer, prior to commencing education or training for the PA occupation. On transfer from the P Res to the Reg F, selected applicants will have their rank converted to the appropriate Reg F rank, in accordance with CAFMPI 03/08, Canadian Forces Component Transfer and Component Transfer Career Programs, prior to determining their rank in the 00374 PA occupation. Further guidance for P Res applicants to this program can be found at CANFORGEN 048/22, Physician Assistant Training Plan (PATP) – Entry Pathway for Reservists.

Eligibility Criteria

4.2 The following table identifies the standards and requirements that applicants must meet to be eligible for the MPATP:

Academic Requirements

4.3 To be eligible for the MPATP, an applicant must have completed at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) academic study from an accredited Canadian university.

Selection Process 

Note 1 – On the effective date of transfer to the new military occupation, an officer who holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander/Major (LCdr/Maj) or higher must relinquish their rank and revert to the rank of Lieutenant (Navy)/Captain (Lt(N)/Capt). 

Note 2 – Applicants not selected in competition can reapply for future competitions. A new application is required in each year that an applicant wishes to be considered for the MPATP.

5. Conditions of Service

Seniority, Promotion, Transfer

5.1 Applicants who have accepted a MPATP offer are not eligible for further promotion in their current military occupation.

5.2 A selected NCM applicant is appointed to the substantive rank of officer cadet/naval cadet and transferred to the new officer military occupation prior to the start of any academic or military training for the new officer military occupation, and prior to being posted if a posting is required to attend the educational institution. 

5.3 The rank of officer cadet/naval cadet is held until the date that the BMOQ is attained, or an equivalency is granted, and the baccalaureate degree is attained, at which time the MPATP officer will be promoted to the substantive rank of Lt/SLt.

5.4 If a selected applicant has completed the equivalent of the BMOQ, a request for a prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) must be submitted to the Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) by the applicant’s unit for the applicant to receive the qualification. 

5.5 Eligibility for promotion to higher ranks occurs in accordance with officer military occupation specifications and CFAO 11-6, Commissioning and Promotion Policy - Officers, Regular Force.

Voluntary Withdrawal from the Plan

5.6 Normally, PA officers are not permitted to voluntarily withdraw from training except under extenuating circumstances. A PA officer who wishes to voluntarily withdraw from the MPATP will require prior approval from NDHQ/Director Health Services Personnel (D H Svcs Pers), who may specify conditions regarding such discontinuance or change. 

5.7 A PA officer who wishes to voluntarily withdraw from training and requests an occupation transfer, release, or component transfer prior to the completion of obligatory service is subject to the restrictions set out in QR&O 15.07, Voluntary Release after Subsidized Education or Training and DAOD 5049-1.

Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada Certification Exam

5.8 When proceeding to an examination centre located in a place other than their place of duty, PA officers must proceed on temporary duty to the examination centre. Approving authority for this temporary duty will be CDA/subsidized education management (SEM) Manager (subsidized education management). The cost of the examination fees for the first attempt at the certification are payable at public expense. Examination fees for subsequent attempts are publicly funded only under exceptional circumstances and are considered on a case-by-case basis.

5.9 PA officers who fail to obtain initial certification after the first attempt will be subject to a Training Review Board in accordance with CF H Svcs Gp Instruction 3110-02, Examination Failures - CF H Svcs Gp Regulated Health Professionals and Certified Practitioners. PA officers who fail to obtain initial certification after a third attempt will be subject to a Career Review Board. 

Unsuitable for Further Training

5.10 PA officers who fail a repeat year of training or whose academic or military training records considered by CDA/SEM to be unsuitable for continued subsidized training, must be returned to employment in their previous military occupational structure identification (MOSID) under the Compulsory Occupation Transfer (COT) program, and as the needs of the CAF permit. If no vacancy exists at their previous NCM rank level, they may be offered a position at a lower NCM rank.

5.11 Should a member be deemed unsuitable for further training, a former NCM will:

1. voluntarily relinquish their officer rank in accordance with QR&O 11.12 for subsequent service as a NCM in their previous occupation, or a new one according to the provisions of the COT program, and if the exigencies of the CAF permit;
2. reclassify to another officer occupation for which they meet the entry standards and if the exigencies of the CAF permit;
3. complete a component transfer as a NCM; or
4. be recommended for release with the D H Svcs Pers Basic Training List (BTL) manager submitting the file to NDHQ/Director General Military Career (DGMC) for administrative review in accordance with DAOD 5019-2, Administrative Review.

5.12 A PA officer who was formerly in another officer occupation may:

1. return to their former occupation; 
2. request a voluntary occupation transfer to another officer occupation for which they meet the entry standards and if the exigencies of the CAF permit; or
3. be recommended for release with the D H Svcs Pers BTL manager submitting the file to NDHQ/DGMC for administrative review in accordance with DAOD 5019-2. 

6. Financial Entitlements

Pay and Allowances

6.1 Pay and allowances for PA officers are made in accordance with CBI Chapters 204, Pay of Officers & Non-Commissioned Members and 205, Allowances for officers and non-commissioned members.

Professional Examination and Registration Fees

6.2 The fees for examination and initial registration in a recognized professional society are paid in accordance with CBI chapter 210, Miscellaneous Entitlements and Grants.

Financial Assistance

6.3 A PA officer is entitled to benefits in respect of university tuition, books, and other mandatory fees or expenses authorized under CBI 210.80. Claims for benefits under CBI 201.80 must be processed in accordance with CFAO 210-13, Subsidized University Education -Tuition, Fees, Textbooks And Instruments.

Non-Military Remuneration

6.4 A PA officer must not accept, in addition to pay and allowances, either directly or indirectly, any salary, bonus, gratuity, or other payment in respect of the performance of military duties. In this context, attendance and authorized employment required as part of phase two clinical rotations of the MPATP is deemed to be performance of military duties. If a PA officer accepts such remuneration, the member’s University Liaison Officer (ULO) must investigate the matter fully and report the findings to the Canadian Forces Health Services Group (CF H Svcs Gp) Commander, who must refer the matter to D H Svcs Pers for a decision. D H Svcs Pers must consult the Military Personnel Generation Training Group (MPGTG)/J3 BTL Mgt before taking administrative action.

Supply for Military Physician Assistant Training Plan Students

6.5 In addition to the basic scales of issue, MPATP students are entitled to obtain additional items that are specific to their occupation. Liaison with the local medical supply unit is required to obtain the medical bag and contents. The NATO Stock Number (NSN) for the Medical Kit is 6545-20-002-2641 and it includes the following items: scissors, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, sphygmomanometer, hammer, tuning forks, stethoscope, and accessory pouch. Flashlight (medical) should be obtained through your support unit pharmacy. MPATP students will be required to sign an issue voucher for their medical kit, which will be documented on the member’s clothing documents.

7. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Associated DAOD

• QR&O 11.12, Relinquishment of Rank
• QR&O 15.01, Release of Officers and Non-Commissioned Members
• QR&O 15.07, Voluntary Release after Subsidized Education or Training
• CBI Chapter 204, Pay of Officers & Non-Commissioned Members
• CBI Chapter 205, Allowances for Officers and Non-Commissioned Members
• CBI Chapter 210, Miscellaneous Entitlements and Grants
• DAOD 5002-3, Component and Sub-Component Transfer
• DAOD 5019-2, Administrative Review
• DAOD 5019-4, Remedial Measures
• DAOD 5023-1, Minimum Operational Standards Related to Universality of Service
• DAOD 5023-2, Common Military Tasks Fitness Evaluation
• DAOD 5049-1, Obligatory Service

Other References

• CFAO 11-6, Commissioning and Promotion Policy - Officers, Regular Force (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• CFAO 210-13, Subsidized University Education -Tuition, Fees, Textbooks And Instruments (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• CAFMPI 03/08, Canadian Forces Component Transfer and Component Transfer Career Programs
• CAFMPI 05/05, Terms of Service
• CF Health Services Instruction 4000-21, Periodic and Other Health Assessments – Periods of Validity (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• A-MD-154-000/FP-000 Canadian Armed Forces Medical Standards (CFP 154) Annex E, Minimum Medical Standards for Officers and Non-Commissioned Members
• CF Health Services Instruction 3110-02, Examination Failures CF H Svcs Gp Regulated Health Professionals and Certified Practitioners (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• CF Health Services Instruction 3110-04, Training Review Board Process (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• CANFORGEN 048/22, Physician Assistant Training Plan (PATP) – Entry Pathway for Reservists (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• Defence Intranet Site (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)