Advancing medical regulation on behalf of
the public through collaboration, common
standards and best practices.
View the following document in PDF format.
Download the PDF document | Télécharger le document en PDF
This Framework proposes recommendations and minimum regulatory standards to the members of the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC). It is intended to help inform the development of the medical regulatory authorities’ approach to fast-tracked licensure and promote pan-Canadian consistency. It is incumbent on each medical regulatory authority to develop policy and approaches to ensure effective regulation. In addition, the implementation and timing will be determined by each medical regulatory authority.
PURPOSE
To provide a faster, simpler process for physicians who meet the eligibility criteria to apply for licensure to practise medicine in a Canadian jurisdiction.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Physicians seeking to hold a regular license or certificate of practice in another province or territory, whether or not they eventually set up practice there, and who meet the eligibility criteria described below.
Exclusions
Physicians who are not eligible for the fast-tracked licensure application process may be eligible for the regular route to licensure.
DEFINITIONS OF JURISDICTIONS
1. Home jurisdiction
The Canadian province or territory from which the physician is applying, i.e.:
a) where the physician holds his/her primary address and pays taxes; and
b) where the physician has practised continuously for a period of time defined by the receiving jurisdiction.
2. Receiving jurisdiction
The Canadian province or territory to which the physician wishes to apply for a fast-tracked
license or certificate of practice.
MODEL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FAST-TRACKED LICENSURE
Physicians who meet the following requirements may apply for a fast-tracked license or certificate of practice:
1. The physician must hold a full, unrestricted license or certificate of practice for independent practice in a Canadian jurisdiction (the Canadian Standard i).
2. The physician must have practised in the home jurisdiction for the past three years or for a period of time defined by the receiving jurisdiction.
3. The physician must have a Certificate of Professional Conduct from the home jurisdiction.
4. There must be no disciplinary actions, pending or concluded, undertaken by the medical regulatory authority or other recognized authority (e.g., a healthcare institution) against the physician in the home jurisdiction (and possibly other prior jurisdictions of licensure)
4.1 Those with a disciplinary history in any jurisdiction, pending or concluded, should go through the usual registration process.
5. The physician must not be undergoing monitoring for health reasons in the home jurisdiction.
6. The physician must be compliant with continuous professional development (CPD) requirements in the home jurisdiction.
7. The physician must fulfill all other requirements that are not within the control of the medical regulatory authority in the receiving jurisdiction.
7.1 The physician must understand that some mandatory aspects of practice are beyond the responsibility of the medical regulatory authority, including, but not limited to, criminal record checks, institutional privileging and billing.
MODEL APPLICATION – SEE APPENDIX
1 The Canadian Standard is the set of academic qualifications that makes an applicant eligible for full licensure in every Canadian province and territory. Physicians applying for the first time to become licensed to practise medicine in a Canadian jurisdiction may achieve full licensure only if they:
a) have a medical degree [from a medical school that, at the time the candidate completed the program, was listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDMS)], or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from a school in the United States accredited by the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, and the medical school listing must include the Canada sponsor note2 ; and
b) are a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (some jurisdictions may accept alternatives such as USMLE); and
c) have satisfactorily completed a discipline-appropriate postgraduate training program in allopathic medicine and an evaluation by a recognized authority; and
d) have achieved certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the Collège des médecins du Québec.
APPENDIX
Fast-tracked Licensure
Application Questions
N.B.:
This document sets out proposed fast-tracked application for licensure questions and the rationale for asking each question.
Question 1a: Please describe your scope of professional practice over the past three years.
Question 1b: Please describe your intended scope of professional practice, including if any aspect of it differs from your current scope of practice.
Rationale Medical regulatory authorities have different requirements for currency in practice and scope of practice. The answer to this question will enable the recipient medical regulatory authority to apply its requirements to the applicant.
Question 2: Have you ever been charged with and/or been found guilty of a criminal offense or similar in any jurisdiction, including any for which you have received a pardon or record suspension? If so, please describe the circumstances?
Rationale Historically, not all medical regulatory authorities have asked this question and medical regulatory authorities have different requirements and processes when an applicant notes that they have been charged with or convicted of a criminal or similar offence. The answer to this question will enable the recipient medical regulatory authority to apply its requirements to the applicant.
Question 3a: Are you currently subject to a review of any of the following (whether arising from a complaint or otherwise, with any organization including a previous or current employer, hospital, regional health authority, medical regulatory authority):
Rationale: The applicant may not be required to provide this information to the medical regulatory authority from which they are applying for fast-tracked licensure (“originating medical regulatory authority”). Additionally, a review may have commenced since the applicant last completed their annual licensure renewal in the originating medical regulatory authority. An affirmative answer to this question will enable the recipient medical regulatory authority to apply its requirements to the applicant.
Question 3b: In connection with any review relating to your professional conduct, competence, capacity, fitness to practice or to any other aspect of your medical practice, has any of the following occurred:
Rationale: The applicant may not be required to provide this information to the medical regulatory authority from the originating medical regulatory. Additionally, the noted events may have commenced since the applicant last completed their annual licensure renewal in the originating medical regulatory authority. An affirmative answer to this question will enable the recipient medical regulatory authority to apply its requirements to the applicant.
Question 4: Are you currently suffering from any condition that impairs your judgement or that would otherwise adversely affect your ability to practise medicine in a competent, ethical and professional manner?
Rationale: The applicant may have a condition that has arisen since the applicant last completed their annual licensure renewal in the originating medical regulatory authority. An affirmative answer to this question will enable the recipient medical regulatory authority to apply its requirements to the applicant.
An additional question only for those recipient medical regulatory authorities that have accredited private facilities:
Question 5: (an additional question only for those recipient medical regulatory authorities that have accredited private facilities)
Do your intended practice locations include an accredited private facility?
Rationale: Medical regulatory authorities require information about whether the location is a public or private location. The answer to this question will enable the recipient medical regulatory authority to apply its requirements to the applicant.