Conditions for Defined License in Family Medicine
The following conditions are to be applied in relation
to a defined license in family medicine. These are
to be read in conjunction with clauses 14 through
17 of the Regulations for Registration.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1. All candidates must be graduates from a university
or school of medicine found in the latest edition
of the International Medical Education Directory (IMED)
of the Foundation for Advancement of International
Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), and include
those schools of osteopathic medicine in the United
States of America that are listed in that FAIMER Directory.
2. All candidates must pass one of the following
examinations: the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying
Examination (MCCQE) Part I, FLEX, National Board of
Medical Examiners (NBME), or United States Medical
Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps I and II before
consideration for licensure.
3. Candidates may be required to be interviewed by
the Registrar.
4. Training and licensed practice experience must
be acceptable to the College.
5. All candidates for a defined license must have
a sponsor and mentor.
6. All candidates may be required to have a formal
clinical assessment in a recognized Canadian physician
assessment program approved by Council. The program
approved by Council is the Clinician Assessment for
Practice Program (CAPP).
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
1. If you are a Canadian or US trained family
physician you must:
a) have completed two (2) years of postgraduate
training in Family Medicine (or equivalent) in Canada
or in an ACGME accredited program in the United States
acceptable to the College; AND
b) have passed one of the examinations listed in
# 2 of the General requirements;
2. If you have Canadian or US practice experience
you must:
a) have completed postgraduate training acceptable
to the College; AND
b) have at least one (1) year of licensed clinical
practice experience in Canada or the United States;
AND
c) have one of the examinations listed in # 2 of
the General Requirements.
3. If you do not have any Canadian or US
training or practice experience you must:
a) have training and clinical practice experience
acceptable to the College. This consists of:
i) a one (1) year rotating internship (or equivalent)
AND have at least two (2) years of licensed clinical
practice experience; OR
ii) a two (2) year training program equivalent to
family medicine AND have at least one (1) year of
licensed clinical practice experience; AND
b) have passed the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying
Examination (MCCQE) – Part I; AND
c) have a formal clinical assessment in a recognized
Canadian physician assessment program approved by
Council. The program approved by Council is the Clinician
Assessment for Practice Program (CAPP).
LMCC and CCFP Requirements for Full Registration
Full Registration as a Family Physician
in Nova Scotia requires that the candidate holds the
LMCC* and CCFP.
Physicians granted defined licenses for family practice
are required to attain LMCC and CCFP and become fully
licensed within four (4) years of obtaining a defined
license. This means that:
1. Candidates must pass the Medical Council of
Canada Qualifying Examination - Part 2 (LMCC) within
four (4) years from the time of receiving a Defined
License. AND
2. Candidates must pass the certification examination
of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
and become certificants of the CFPC by the practice
eligible route within four (4) years from the time
of receiving a Defined License.
If a candidate does not attain the LMCC and become
a certificant of the CFPC within four (4) years, the
candidate’s Defined License will not be renewed
at the time of the next annual renewal unless the
candidate requests an extension and a)
the candidate can demonstrate that extenuating circumstances
(such as illness or exam cancellations) prevented
him/her from sitting the requisite examines, in which
case the Registrar may exercise his/her discretion
in allowing an extension of this time limit by one
year to allow the candidate to make further attempts
to attain these requirements; or b)
the candidate agrees to undergo a practice assessment
deemed acceptable to the Credentials Committee.
If a candidate has been unable to attain the LMCC
and CCFP within the time limit prescribed by the conditions
of their Defined License, excepting exemptions as
in (a) above, the Credentials Committee will consider
an extension of their Defined License allowing further
annual renewal of licensure only if the candidate
undergoes a practice assessment acceptable
to the Credentials Committee. The Credentials Committee
will only consider this option if the candidate can
demonstrate that they have unsuccessfully attempted
the MCCQE1 or MCCQEII and/or CCFP examinations. If
the results of such assessment are satisfactory, annual
license renewal will be allowed for an additional
three (3) calendar years immediately following the
expiry of the initial time limit granted to maintain
their Defined License.
*LMCC (Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada)
requires successful completion of MCCQEI and MCCQEII.
Once granted the extension, it is recommended that
the candidate register for and prepare for the next
sitting of the MCCQEI or MCCQEII and/or CCFP examination
for which he/she is eligible.
If the 3 year extension period expires without the
candidate attaining the LMCC/CCFP as required, renewal
of the Defined License may be conditional upon further
clinical competency assessment.
Once the candidate holds the LMCC and attains the
CCFP, providing all other requirements for full licensure
have been met, he/she will be eligible for a Full
License.
Practice assessments under this policy will be at
the candidate’s expense.
Amended by Credentials: February 20, 2009
Approved by Council: March 27, 2009
For further infomation, contact:
Registration Department
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia
Email: registration@cpsns.ns.ca
Phone (902) 422-5823
Phone toll-free in Nova Scotia 1-877-282-7767
Fax: (902) 422-5035
