How many stations are on the PEBC OSCE?

There are 20 stations total: 11 examination stations and 9 rest stations. The examination stations are 9 interactive and 2 non-interactive. At each examination station you get 2 minutes outside the door to read the prompt, then 7 minutes inside. Interactive stations assess communication, outcome, and overall performance; non-interactive stations assess outcome and overall performance only.

What do I wear to the PEBC OSCE?

A plain lab coat, dispensing jacket, uniform, or scrubs, with any logos or identifiers covered with opaque tape. Do not wear scented products, since scent sensitivities can lead to refused entry.

What happens if I am late to the PEBC OSCE?

If you arrive more than 30 minutes after the scheduled report time, you may not be permitted to enter. Plan to arrive early.

Is the PEBC OSCE the same across Canada on the same day?

The OSCE runs on a single scheduled day each cycle, and all candidates write on that day. Treat the stations as confidential: you must not access or share exam content before or after your sitting.

Should I be worried about the OSCE rest stations?

No. The OSCE has 20 stations total: 11 examination stations and 9 rest stations. The 9 rest stations are built-in breathing room between examination stations. The best thing you can do is genuinely relax and reset rather than replay the station you just finished, since carrying panic into your next examination station only works against you.

PEBC OSCE Format and Exam-Day Rules

Part II of the PEBC Qualifying Examination is the OSCE, an Objective Structured Clinical Examination. Instead of multiple-choice questions, you move through 20 stations total: 11 examination stations and 9 rest stations. The 11 examination stations are 9 interactive and 2 non-interactive. Here is the format and the exam-day rules, which PEBC enforces strictly.

Official-source check

This is an independent study guide. Dates, fees, and exam rules can change, so confirm the current details on the official PEBC pages before you apply or book.

Last reviewed August 2, 2026

PEBC: Part II (OSCE) about the examination

stations total (11 examination, 9 rest)

examination stations

9 + 2

interactive + non-interactive

20 min

mid-session break around halfway

What the OSCE is

The OSCE is a performance-based exam. You rotate through a circuit of stations, each presenting a task or problem to work through. Some are interactive, where you talk with a simulated participant or another health professional, and some are non-interactive written tasks.

There are 20 stations total: 11 examination stations and 9 rest stations. The 11 examination stations are 9 interactive and 2 non-interactive. Interactive stations assess your communication, the outcome you reach, and your overall performance. Non-interactive stations assess the outcome you reach and your overall performance only.

Source: PEBC: Part II (OSCE) about the examination

How a single station works

Each examination station follows the same clock. You first get 2 minutes outside the door to read the prompt posted there. You are not allowed to enter early, even if you finish reading: you wait for the buzzer. Then you have 7 minutes inside for the interaction or task. So each examination station slot is 9 minutes.

In an interactive station, the simulated participant typically enters about 20 seconds after you enter. After you enter, go to the desk and use that short window to inspect the provided paper, materials, references, or products. Begin the interaction when you are ready. In select stations, the simulated participant may already be present, so do not rely on a delay.

Source: PEBC: Part II (OSCE) about the examination

Use the 2 minutes at the door well. Read the prompt carefully and plan your approach before the buzzer, because the 7 minutes inside go fast.

The rotation, the break, and washrooms

You move through all 20 stations in sequence: 11 examination stations and 9 rest stations. Rest stations are your built-in breathing room and the normal time for candidates to use the washroom.

Around halfway through the circuit, the schedule includes a 20-minute Mid-Session Break between the two 90-minute halves. Washrooms during that break are reserved for assessors and simulated participants, except for a candidate emergency. Candidates normally use washrooms during rest stations by asking a PEBC attendant.

Source: PEBC: Part II (OSCE) about the examination

What to bring and wear

A plain lab coat, dispensing jacket, uniform, or scrubs, with any logos or identifiers (school, employer, your name) removed or covered with opaque tape.
Your government-issued photo ID and your PEBC Admission Card.
No scented products at all: no perfume or cologne, and avoid clothing washed in scented detergent, because some candidates and staff have scent sensitivities.

These are not suggestions. Showing up with a visible logo or a strong scent can mean you are refused entry.

Exam-day conduct rules

Arrive on time. If you are more than 30 minutes late, you may not be permitted to enter.
Only candidates and exam personnel may enter. Family and friends cannot come into the exam centre.
You consent to identity checks, a photo, removal of any face covering, and screening with a metal or electronic detector.
Do not access or share exam content before or after your exam.
If you recognize an assessor or have any conflict of interest, declare it. You may be required to leave that station or the exam.

How to prepare for it

The OSCE rewards structured communication and safe, guideline-based decisions under time pressure. Practising case-based reasoning, where you read a scenario, find the key detail, and decide on the safest course of action, builds exactly that skill. Our full cases are written in that format.

Frequently asked questions

How many stations are on the PEBC OSCE?: There are 20 stations total: 11 examination stations and 9 rest stations. The examination stations are 9 interactive and 2 non-interactive. At each examination station you get 2 minutes outside the door to read the prompt, then 7 minutes inside. Interactive stations assess communication, outcome, and overall performance; non-interactive stations assess outcome and overall performance only.
Can I go to the washroom during the PEBC OSCE?: Yes. Candidates normally use washrooms during rest stations by raising their hand for a PEBC attendant. Around halfway through the circuit, the schedule includes a 20-minute Mid-Session Break between the two 90-minute halves, but washrooms then are reserved for assessors and simulated participants, except for a candidate emergency.
What do I wear to the PEBC OSCE?: A plain lab coat, dispensing jacket, uniform, or scrubs, with any logos or identifiers covered with opaque tape. Do not wear scented products, since scent sensitivities can lead to refused entry.
What happens if I am late to the PEBC OSCE?: If you arrive more than 30 minutes after the scheduled report time, you may not be permitted to enter. Plan to arrive early.
Is the PEBC OSCE the same across Canada on the same day?: The OSCE runs on a single scheduled day each cycle, and all candidates write on that day. Treat the stations as confidential: you must not access or share exam content before or after your sitting.
Should I be worried about the OSCE rest stations?: No. The OSCE has 20 stations total: 11 examination stations and 9 rest stations. The 9 rest stations are built-in breathing room between examination stations. The best thing you can do is genuinely relax and reset rather than replay the station you just finished, since carrying panic into your next examination station only works against you.

Official sources

PEBC: Part II (OSCE) about the examination