Timeline of the development of physician assistants (PAs) in Canada
| YEAR | EVENT |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Canadian Forces expands the capability of the medical assistant, paving the way for the development of the PA model |
| 1990 | The idea of the PA was further promoted in a time of limited resources within the military structure |
| 1992 | Canadian Forces adopts the term physician assistant for senior medical technologist |
| 1998 | Strategic planning in the Department of National Defence Project Rx2000 recognizes that the role of the military PA needs to be standardized for integration into the civilian health care environment |
| 1999 | Manitoba Medical Act designates clinical assistants, including PAs, as certified clinical assistants |
| 1999 | Canadian Academy of Physician Assistants is chartered |
| 2003 | Canadian Medical Association recognizes the PA as a health care professional |
| 2003 | First formally recognized civilian PA begins work in Manitoba |
| 2004 | Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre is granted accreditation of its PA program by the Canadian Medical Association Conjoint Accreditation Process |
| 2005 | Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre begins training its first class of 16 as an accredited education institution |
| 2007 | HealthForceOntario project is implemented. Among its many goals is the staffing of emergency departments and clinics with PAs, as well as international medical graduates working as PAs |
| 2008 | University of Manitoba in Winnipeg begins training its first class of 12 PA students |
| 2008 | McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont begins training its first class of 23 PA students |
| 2009 | Canadian Association of Physician Assistants becomes incorporated by Industry Canada |
| 2010 | Consortium for PA education (the University of Toronto in Ontario, the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences in Toronto, and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in Sudbury, Ont) begins training its first class of 22 students |
| 2010 | Alberta becomes the fourth province to recognize PAs |