Academic
Academic
The academic licence may be granted to physicians appointed to an academic position at a BC medical school, acceptable to the Licence Committee.
The eligible academic positions are:
- assistant professor
- associate professor
- full professor (tenure or partner stream)
- clinical assistant professor
- clinical associate professor
- clinical professor
Scope and conditions
The academic licence may be granted for one of the following:
- a research position where the clinical practice component is not greater than 40%
- a partner institution appointment as defined and approved by the dean of the medical school, where the clinical practice component is not greater than 40%
- a position where the clinical practice component allows adequate academic output, as determined by the Licence Committee
The academic licence is limited to the practice of medicine in the medical school, department or hospital that the academic appointment relates to and expires when the academic appointment ends.
Requirements
To be granted the academic licence, an applicant must
- have a medical degree, from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools which includes a Canadian sponsor note
- either
- have certification that is recognized by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) unless otherwise waived by the registration committee in exceptional circumstances, and
- meet at least one of the following requirements:
- if a specialist, have completed either, postgraduate training which has led to certification as a specialist by an international accrediting body acceptable to the RCPSC and the Licence Committee, or certification as a specialist in the jurisdiction where the applicant practised immediately prior to applying for licensure, acceptable to the Licence Committee
- if a family practitioner, have satisfactory postgraduate training in family medicine and certification consistent with the applicant’s defined responsibilities and acceptable to the Licence Committee
- submit a request for licensure from the dean of the BC medical school and the relevant department head
- meet CPSBC’s English language proficiency requirements
- have Canadian citizenship, be a permanent resident or be legally able to live and work in BC
- meet CPSBC’s currency in practice requirements, as defined by section 6-13 of the CPSBC Bylaws
How to apply
Application timelines
Licensure is a multi-step process that typically takes up to nine weeks for applications that do not require review by the Licence Committee. For applications that require review by the Licence Committee, the Committee meets approximately every six weeks.
CPSBC needs to receive a letter from the dean of the BC medical school and the relevant department head confirming:
- your position as an assistant, associate, clinical, or full professor, and
- detailing the composition of your intended role with regards to academic and clinical component (if any).
This letter should also list
- any clinical practice locations outside the faculty of medicine and
- any Canadian certification exemption requests
Family practice
Contact the CFPC to obtain academic certification prior to being granted academic licensure in BC, unless this requirement is waived by the Licence Committee in exceptional circumstances.
Specialty practice
Contact the RCPSC to obtain academic certification prior to being granted academic licensure in BC, unless this requirement is waived by the Licence Committee in exceptional circumstances.
By obtaining academic certification with the CFPC or the RCPSC, you will not be required to write the traditional examinations to gain CFPC or RCPSC certification. Furthermore, you may remain in the academic class until your academic position ends.
Applicants who meet the requirements for the academic licence must complete an Application for Medical Registration (AMR) through physiciansapply.ca.
Application timing is based on the applicant’s residency or work status:
Residency or work status | When to apply |
|---|---|
Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, valid work permit | Apply no more than three months before intended start date |
No work permit, residency or citizenship | Apply no more than six months before intended start date |
AMR and eligibility review
The AMR (mentioned in step 3) is downloaded directly to CPSBC’s database on the next business day. CPSBC emails the applicant to acknowledge receipt of their application and may request a CV.
CPSBC reviews the AMR to confirm that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements.
Secondary application package
If the applicant meets the eligibility requirements, CPSBC assigns the applicant a file manager no more than three months in advance to the applicant's start date.
The file manager will email the secondary application package to the applicant.
The applicant must submit to CPSBC the completed secondary application along with required documentation.
This step can take up to six weeks. The file manager will review the completed application to ensure that no additional follow-up is required. Processing time is dependent on the submission of required documentation to CPSBC.
Common causes of delay in this step are:
- receipt of work permit – CPSBC cannot issue a licence before the applicant provides proof of legal ability to work in British Columbia
- certificates of professional conduct
- an identified fit to practice or ethical practice issue
If no additional follow-up is required, the file manager will submit the applicant file for a final review and approval. The review process can take up to one week.
Once the application is reviewed and approved, the applicant will be directed to pay licence fees. Following the payment of fees, a licence will be issued within three business days.
Maintaining the licence
Ongoing licensure in the academic class is maintained by
- satisfactory completion of the annual licence renewal form,
- online payment of the annual licence renewal fee as detailed in schedule B of CPSBC Bylaws,
- payment of any other outstanding fine, fee, penalty fee, debt, levy or costs owed to CPSBC,
- ongoing compliance with continuing competency requirements,
- ongoing professional liability coverage or protection, and
- provision of certificates of professional conduct, where applicable.
Renew the licence by March 1 each year
If a licensee does not renew their CPSBC licence, they incur escalating late penalties starting March 1 and their licence is suspended on April 1, after which they are no longer permitted to practise, prescribe, or bill for medical services until all fees, penalties, and required renewal forms are completed.
Penalty fees for late renewal are outlined in schedule B of CPSBC Bylaws.
The annual licence renewal process is accessed by logging in to the CPSBC website. Licensees are notified by email of the licence renewal process in late December or early January each year.
How to answer the Annual Renewal Licence Form (ALRF)
Renewal fees and penalties
ALRF FAQs
For more information about the licence requirements, refer to:
- part 3 of the Health Professions and Occupations Act
- part 6 of the CPSBC Bylaws
- CPSBC licensing policies