On June 15, 2017, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) announced that applications for the Career Start Program to employ Ontario’s 2017 PA graduates. Here is an overview of the timeline and some of the requirements for the Ontario 2017 Career Start Program.
Career Start Grant Key Points
Time-limited grant from MOHLTC for employers wishing to hire new Ontario PA grads who are due to graduate in fall (these are sample dates from previous years)
Financial support for physicians who participate of up to $46,000 per year, per PA
Financial support for 1-2 years dependent on geographic location. 2 years for PA positions that are in rural communities with a Rural Index score of 40+, or Northern Urban Referral Centre; 1 year for all other PA positions.
$10,000 bonus as offered for incentive for PAs who complete 1 year of employment with employers who qualify for two years of funding.
Grant was announced June 15, and the deadline completion and submission of employer applications July 24 (5 week period).
Employer must submit plan for integrating PA into their organization.
Employer must also submit plan for how they plan to sustain the PA position after Career Start funding ends in 1-2 years
PAs must be hired full time by November 17 with work to begin no later than Dec 1
Timeline of Ontario Career Start Grant Release
Employer Q&A For Career Start Grant
Be sure to review the 2017 Career Start Guidelines and Frequently Asked Question from HFO first.
A. As outlined in the PA Career Start Guidelines, being approved the Career Start grant and receiving financial support requires a strong application:
- Demonstrated need for assistance of a PA
- Clinical role to be played by aPA
- The site’s readiness to employ a PA
- Plan for sustaining PA role beyond the grant funding period.
This requires good understanding of the PA role, a plan for PA integration into clinic, and sustaining the PA role once funding runs out in 1-2 years.
A. Employers who wish to apply for the Career Start grant have a total of 5 weeks to complete this physician application grant to submit by the deadline. These may vary from year to year. The package on the website includes:
- Program Guidelines (PDF)*
- Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)*
- Application Form (.DOCX)*
- Resources (Website Link)*
*Note – These PDFs are often time sensitive and may be “broken” beyond 2017.
Here is a checklist of what is to be submitted to Health Force Ontario:
A. HFO has a list of helpful resources and a contact:
Otherwise you can contact:
- Canadian Association of Physician Assistants – admin@capa-acam.ca
- Ontario Chapter President – ontariochapterpresident@capa-acam.ca
- McMaster PA Program – email: paprogram@mcmaster.ca, fax: 905-527-0131, phone: 905-525-9140 ext 22872 , Website
- PA Consortium (University of Toronto Program, NOSM, Michener) – email: physician.assistant@utoronto.ca, phone: 416-946-7173, Website
- Myself (Anne) – anne@canadianpa.ca
We can connect you with a PA working in your particular field of medicine / specialty, or with someone who has had experience with the Career Start Grant Process.
Have any questions regarding the PA Career Start Process? If you couldn’t find answers above or in links provided, let me know in the comments below!
Disclaimer: Information provided here is meant to be an overview of the Career Start Grant Process. The most accurate up to date information regarding the Career Start Program process is available on the Health Force Ontario website.