NAC stakeholders

The National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) comprises a number of Canadian organizations including:

Health Canada
The Medical Council of Canada
Provincial and territorial governments
Regional IMG assessment programs
Provincial and territorial medical regulatory authorities
The Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada
The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
The College of Family Physicians of Canada
The Canadian Medical Association

The National Assessment Central Coordinating Committee (NAC³)

The National Assessment Central Coordinating Committee (NAC³) is responsible for the oversight and function of a nationally coordinated examination for the assessment of international medical graduate (IMG) competencies prior to entry into postgraduate education programs in Canada. It also has the mandate to develop tools for the assessment of IMGs prior to entry into practice.

The NAC³:

Approves the membership of the NAC Test Committee
Is responsible for the oversight of all aspects and quality of the NAC examinations; (content remains the responsibility of the NAC Test Committee)
Establishes policy and provides strategic direction for the examination, including issues of eligibility
Approves the locations and dates for the administration of the examination, as well as the fee for the examination
Ratifies results and standings for all candidates as proposed by the NAC Test Committee

NAC Test Committee
Much of the work performed by the NAC involves the development, review and testing of examination content. The NAC Test Committee is responsible for the creation and maintenance of NAC examination content as well as its performance. The Test Committee's mandate is to ensure that all content adheres to the NAC blueprint and it also oversees the overall format of the examination.

The NAC Test Committee’s purpose is to prepare a balanced examination that includes test items and clinical problems that are pertinent to:

Assessment of the candidate's knowledge, understanding, clinical skills and ability to make use of current medical knowledge in a subject.
Frequency of disease and injury in Canada.
Prevention of health hazards and rehabilitation.
Maintenance of psychological, physical and social well-being and good health.
Understanding of the health-care system based on available local and national resources, cost-effectiveness and containment.
Essential interpersonal skills with patients, family and other members of the health-care system and the community.
Knowledge of gender, moral, ethical and legislative issues relevant to the needs of society.