International medical graduates
International medical graduates (IMGs) can apply for a licence in the provisional class, clinical observer class, assessment class or associate physician class.
These licence classes are for physicians or surgeons who obtained their medical degree outside of Canada that is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. A Canadian sponsor note is required.
Assessment licence
The assessment licence permits qualified and selected internationally trained family physicians to participate in the Practice Ready Assessment – British Columbia (PRA-BC) program prior to being considered eligible for the provisional licence.
The assessment licence is for international medical graduates whose postgraduate training was not obtained in a jurisdiction acceptable to the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
There is no direct pathway to the assessment licence through CPSBC. All requests for the assessment licence must be referred from PRA-BC.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the assessment 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
- have, to the satisfaction of the Licence Committee, successfully completed a minimum of two years of postgraduate training in a foreign jurisdiction that includes training in the following:
- medicine
- surgery
- obstetrics/gynecology
- pediatrics
- psychiatry
- emergency medicine, and
- family practice, leading to registration or recognition as a family physician in that jurisdiction
- meet CPSBC's English language proficiency requirements
- have Canadian citizenship, be a permanent resident, or be legally able to live and work in BC.
Meeting the criteria to participate in the PRA-BC program does not guarantee selection.
For PRA-BC selected applicants—Request to grant assessment licensure
If an applicant is selected to participate in the PRA-BC program, the health authority or BC medical school must make a request to CPSBC to grant assessment licensure.
The request must
- identify the applicant’s sponsor or its designate,
- describe how the applicant will engage in the practice of medicine, and
- be satisfactory to the Licence Committee.
Requirements
An applicant for the assessment licence must:
- have successfully completed a preliminary assessment of their eligibility for assessment licensure from CPSBC
- have fulfilled the subjects listed in the preliminary assessment of their eligibility for assessment
- have been selected by PRA-BC to participate in the PRA-BC program
An assessment licensee must limit their practice of medicine to the provision of services in connection with undergoing the practice ready assessment specified by CPSBC.
How to apply
PRA-BC does the initial screening and selects potentially eligible applicants. Applicants must complete the pre-screening assessment through the PRA-BC program.
Do not apply directly to CPSBC for the assessment licence. All requests must be referred by PRA-BC.
PRA-BC forwards the preliminary assessment documentation of eligible applicants to CPSBC. Selected eligible applicants will be directed to submit an online application via physiciansapply.ca.
CPSBC requires both an online application and all preliminary assessment documentation from PRA-BC to begin the preliminary assessment of eligibility.
A preliminary assessment of eligibility begins once CPSBC receives both the online application (via physiciansapply.ca) and the preliminary assessment documentation from PRA-BC.
CPSBC completes the preliminary assessment within four to five weeks and issues a preliminary assessment of eligibility letter that outlines pre-licensure requirements.
The applicant must fulfill pre-licensure requirements outlined in the letter.
This includes selection by the PRA-BC program and a letter from a sponsoring health authority confirming the applicant’s supervisor.
PRA-BC selects candidates to participate in the annual spring and fall assessment intakes. Only applicants who are selected by PRA-BC may participate in the assessment.
PRA-BC forwards the candidates to CPSBC, and a file manager will be assigned to the candidates. The file manager will email the secondary application package to the candidate.
Candidates submit to CPSBC a completed secondary application along with required documentation.
The file manager will review the completed application to ensure that no additional follow-up is required.
If no additional follow-up is required, the file manager will submit the candidate file for a final review and approval. The review process can take up to one week once the application is complete and all documentation is submitted.
An interview to review the licence terms is scheduled no more than two weeks prior to the start of the assessment.
Once the interview is complete, a licence will be issued.
Maintaining the licence
Transfer to provisional licence
Upon successful completion of the assessment of competency, licensees in the assessment – family class may be transferred to the provisional – family class of licensure.
Cancellation of the licence
Assessment licence is cancelled if
- the assessment period specified for the licensee by the Licence Committee has ended,
- the health authority or UBC Faculty of Medicine withdraws the request to grant assessment licensure, or
- the licensee’s assessment is terminated because of competency concerns.
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