Prospective Standardized Patients

A Standardized Patient (SP) also referred to as a Standardized Client (SC) is a trained individual who authentically portrays the personal history, physical symptoms, emotional characteristics, and everyday concerns of a real patient.

Standardized Patients play a vital role in a variety of educational and clinical settings, including:

• Interactive teaching environments
• Group demonstrations
• Clinical examinations
• Educational videos
• Customized portrayals tailored to specific learning objectives

In addition to their performance, SPs are trained to deliver constructive feedback to learners across all levels of training. This feedback is offered from the unique perspective of the patient, helping learners refine their communication, clinical reasoning, and interpersonal skills in a safe and supportive environment.

The Standardized Patient Program (SPP) plays a vital role in supporting the University of Toronto’s MD Program, faculties, academic departments, and community-based initiatives by recruiting and coordinating trained Standardized Patients (SPs). These individuals contribute to the delivery of exceptional simulation-based education and assessment services.

SPs are engaged across both the St. George Campus and the Mississauga Academy of Medicine (MAM), supporting learners at thirteen affiliated teaching hospitals in Toronto and two in Mississauga. Each campus maintains a dedicated and diverse pool of SPs, reflecting the vibrant communities we serve.

Training Locations

• St. George Campus: In-person training is held at the SPP office, located at 263 McCaul Street, Toronto.
• Mississauga Academy of Medicine: Training sessions take place at 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga.

Program Delivery

The SPP offers a flexible and dynamic mix of in-person and online services, including teaching, training, simulation, and assessment. This hybrid approach ensures accessibility, consistency, and excellence in medical education across campuses.

Join the Standardized Patient Program 

Are you passionate about education, communication, and contributing to meaningful change in healthcare and professional training?

Become a Standardized Patient (SP) or Simulated Client with the University of Toronto’s Standardized Patient Program and help shape the future of medical and professional education. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds—your unique life experiences and perspectives are essential to creating inclusive, realistic, and impactful learning environments.

Who We’re Looking For

The SPP is actively recruiting individuals to join our program at both the St. George and Mississauga Academy of Medicine (MAM) campuses. Ideal candidates should:

• Be between 20 and 80 years of age
• Demonstrate strong memory and information retention
• Be reliable, punctual, and professional
• Exhibit excellent listening and communication skills
• Work collaboratively and respectfully with others
• Be open to giving and receiving constructive feedback
• Follow detailed instructions and consistently reproduce simulation scenarios
• Knowledge of a second language is considered an asset

Standardized Patient Application Form

We encourage you to apply online and become part of a dynamic and rewarding educational experience.

Application & Interview Process

Interviews are conducted two or three times per year, based on current program needs, demographic representation, and session requirements.

Standardized Patients (SPs) are casual employees of the University of Toronto and members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1998 Casual Bargaining Unit.

• Compensation: SPs are paid an hourly rate based on the specific project or simulation scenario, with a minimum two-hour payment per session. Payments are issued on a bi-weekly basis.
• Work Schedule: SP assignments are irregular and vary depending on project timelines, academic scheduling, and institutional needs. As such, the SPP cannot guarantee a minimum or maximum number of hours of work.
• Equity & Inclusion: The Standardized Patient Program is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive SP pool, and to ensuring equitable access to work opportunities for all participants. For more on the University’s commitment to equity, diversity, and excellence, please refer to the  University of Toronto - Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Excellence
• To learn more about the role and expectations of SPs, please consult the Standardized Patient User Guide. 

1. Who can be a Standardized Patient (SP) or Simulated Client (SC)?

Individuals aged 16 and older are eligible to be SPs. Due to conflict of interest, we cannot accept any pre-med or medical, pharmacy, or physiotherapy students.

2. What is the time commitment of being an SP/SC?

Most projects take place on weekdays during business hours; however, some projects occur during the evening or occasional weekends. Training generally takes place between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. We do not offer training on weekends or on statutory holidays. Most cases requiring teenagers or Health Professionals train in the evening.

3. Do I need to be an actor to work as an SP/SC?

No. SPs come from all walks of life. A background in acting can be an asset.

4. How is SP/SC work different from acting?

SP work is based in methodologies that support educational learning objectives of varying projects. Affects and emotional content of simulations are carefully constructed to support the learning goals of students. This is where simulation and acting differ in scope. This will be thoroughly discussed during your training sessions.

If it is intrinsic to the case, it may be required for an SP to appear anxious, irritable, confused, etc. The Trainer will let SPs know during training what level of emotional affect is required, and it is important that all SPs illustrate the same level of affect in order for the role to be standardized. You do not have to be an actor to simulate these cases.

5. Do learners know we are standardized patients?

Yes. Students are aware that you are SPs, and they are told to proceed just as they would with patients they may see in clinic or clinical settings. Working with SPs is regular practice for medical, pharmacy and healthcare students, among other fields.

6. What happens should an abnormal finding be found during a simulation?

When simulating a physical role, should an abnormal finding be found, SPs can expect to be informed and advised to seek medical evaluation and treatment from the SP’s personal physician/healthcare provider.

7. How often can I expect to be called for work?

Our needs vary based on the demographics required for each project. You may be recruited as seldom as once or twice per year or dozens of times per year. We cannot guarantee any frequency of work, and we appreciate your understanding.

8. Being an SP/SC sounds like easy money. Can anyone do it?

Being an SP is hard work and may involve long days. It requires detail-oriented training, preparation and focus during simulations. These aspects make SP work challenging and it may not suit everyone.

9. I have a friend in the Mississauga area who wants to be an SP/SC.  Is there work out there?

Yes. The SPP administers MD Program teaching, simulation and OSCEs at the U of T Mississauga Academy of Medicine (MAM).  If you know anyone in the Mississauga/Oakville/Burlington/Brampton area who you believe would be interested and appropriate for this kind of work, please ask them to fill out an SP application form, available on the SPP website.

10. What if I am booked for a project as an SP/SC and I have to cancel?

As an SP, once you have committed yourself to a specific event, we expect you will honor that commitment unless you have extenuating circumstances for cancelling. SPs should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of cancellation. Last-minute cancellations or ‘no shows’ for a simulation without a valid reason could impact future bookings with the SPP.  Reliability is an essential component of our SP programming.

11. Can I bring my cellphone and personal belongings to a project?

SPs are requested not to use electronics such as cell phones during in-person events.  If electronic devices are used during in-person simulations, there is a risk that the learner may be distracted and miss the opportunity to receive valuable instruction and feedback. Some programs will explicitly ask that no cell phones or electronics be brought to the project site.

For certain exams, SPP staff organize ‘bagging and tagging’ on site. SPs are required to keep their personal belongings stored in a secure room during these events. The SPP does not accept liability for any lost or damaged personal items.