Clinical currency and retraining
Licensees must maintain currency in their clinical practice. This is defined in sections 6-13 of the CPSBC Bylaws made under the Health Professions and Occupations Act.
Clinical currency
Clinical practice is defined as direct patient care for the purpose of making a diagnosis and/or providing treatment. This includes diagnostic specialties such as pathology and radiology, and the specialty of public health and preventive medicine.
According to section 6-13 of the CPSBC Bylaws, a licensee must have practised clinically in their field for a minimum of 960 hours over the preceding three-year period (24 weeks full-time) to be considered current.
Research, teaching, administration and medical regulation do not constitute clinical practice.
Retraining process for obtaining or regaining clinical currency
Applicants and licensees looking to obtain or regain currency for independent clinical practice, as defined in sections 6-13, 6-14 and 6-15 of the CPSBC Bylaws, must contact CPSBC and undergo a retraining process, to be deemed current in clinical practice.
The retraining process is available to:
- full (family, specialty, podiatric surgeon) and osteopathic classes
- current or former licensees who held licensure where they practised independently
- applicants for an independent practice class where, absent currency, they are eligible for licensure in the full class
- surgical assistant class
- current or former licensees who held licensure in the surgical assistant class
- surgical assistant applicants where, absent currency, are eligible for licensure in the full class
- associate physician class
- associate physician applicants who have secured a position in an accredited associate physician program within a health authority
The process is outlined in the Change of Scope/Return to Practice licensing policy.
CPSBC will review the applicant or licensee's circumstances, which include:
- past clinical practice
- the length of the absence from clinical practice
- continuing professional development
- the anticipated future scope of practice
The applicant or licensee will develop an individualized retraining plan, satisfactory to and approved by CPSBC. For associate physician licence applicants, the retraining plan will be developed by the applicant and health authority.
Once the retraining plan has been successfully completed and accepted by CPSBC, the applicant or licensee will be considered current in clinical practice and must maintain that currency going forward.
Frequently asked questions
In January of each year, CPSBC requires licensees to self-report the total number of clinical hours they worked in the previous year on their annual licence renewal form.
If a licensee provides a response that indicates they may not be current in clinical practice, CPSBC will send a reminder to the licensee about the requirements of section 6-13 of the CPSBC Bylaws.
CPSBC will advise the licensee that an internal flag may be added on CPSBC’s database. The internal flag indicates the licensee is not current for clinical practice and may not bill MSP, refer and/or prescribe to patients.
CPSBC’s primary function is to ensure licensees are qualified, competent, fit for clinical practice, and meet expected professional standards.
All licensees are required to consistently maintain the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to deliver the best possible care to patients.
This internal flag is to ensure patient safety.
While it is not displayed on the CPSBC directory, the flag immediately disables the licensee's ability to electronically bill MSP, refer and/or prescribe.
The flag also ensures that a licensee's certificate of professional conduct states that they are not current for clinical practice, and this information is shared with other organizations, including medical regulatory authorities and health authorities.