International medical graduates
International medical graduates (IMGs) can apply for licensure in the provisional class, clinical observer class, assessment class or associate physician class.
These licensure 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.
Provisional licence
The provisional class of licensure permits a registrant to practise medicine with limits and conditions granted by the Registration Committee.
Eligibility
Registration in the provisional – family or provisional – specialty class permits a registrant to practise medicine within the scope of their education, qualifications, and experience.
Provisional – family
To be eligible for registration and licensure in the provisional – family class, 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
- meet one of the following requirements:
- have completed a family medicine program in Canada after July 1, 2010, but has not obtained certification with the CFPC. Applicants must provide a recommendation from the their program director and chairperson of the department of family medicine, attesting to competence and successful completion of all program requirements, acceptable to the registration committee
- have successfully completed a minimum of two years of accredited postgraduate training in a foreign jurisdiction recognized by the CFPC for the award of certification without examination, or
- have undergone an assessment of competency acceptable to the registration committee in a Canadian province or territory
- meet the College’s English language proficiency requirements
- have Canadian citizenship, be a permanent resident or be legally able to live and work in British Columbia
Provisional – specialty
To be eligible for registration and licensure in the provisional – specialty class, 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
- meet one of the following requirements:
- have completed postgraduate training, obtained certification in their specialty from an RCPSC-accredited body, and hold a current ruling of eligibility to access RCPSC primary specialty certification through examinations, acceptable to the registration committee
- have completed postgraduate training, obtained certification in their specialty from a non-accredited body, and have passed the RCPSC examination in their primary specialty via the RCPSC Practice Eligibility Route
- have undergone an assessment of competency acceptable to the registration committee in a Canadian province or territory
- meet the College’s English language proficiency requirements
- have Canadian citizenship, be a permanent resident or be legally able to live and work in British Columbia
Requirements
To be granted provisional registration, an applicant must have the following prerequisites:
- successfully obtain a preliminary assessment from the College of their eligibility for registration
- obtain an eligibility ruling for registration and licensure from the Registration Committee
- fulfill the subjects listed in the eligibility ruling of the Registration Committee
- be a licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) or have successfully completed licensing examinations in a non-Canadian jurisdiction acceptable to the Registration Committee
- have the health authority or UBC Faculty of Medicine provide a sponsorship letter satisfactory to the Registration Committee that:
- identifies the applicant’s sponsor
- describes how the applicant will engage in the practice of medicine
- identifies a supervisor satisfactory to the Registration Committee
See related registration policies:
How to apply
Pre-screening with Health Match BC
The College recommends prospective applicants to complete the pre-screening assessment through Health Match BC.
Alternative options to Health Match BC
Applicants who do not wish to work with Health Match BC have the following options:
- Contact a third-party recruiter to complete the pre-screening assessment
- Contact the College directly to complete the pre-screening assessment independently
Requesting through Health Match BC or third-party recruiter
Health Match BC or third-party recruiter will forward the application documentation to the College.
Upon instruction by Health Match BC or the third-party recruiter, applicants will be directed to apply via physiciansapply.ca. Applicants should only complete an online application when instructed.
The College will require both an online application and application documentation to begin the preliminary assessment review.
Contacting the College directly
If the applicant chooses not to go through Health Match BC or third-party recruiter, the College will contact the applicant by email to request for the application documentation.
Upon receiving the documentation application, the College will direct the applicant to apply via physiciansapply.ca. Applicants should only complete an online application when instructed.
The College will require both an online application and application documentation to begin the preliminary assessment review.
Applicant files are reviewed by the executive director of the registration department to determine initial eligibility for registration and licensure in the provisional – family or provisional – specialty classes.
Applicants will receive a letter six to eight weeks after the College receives both the online application (via physiciansapply.ca) and the application documentation from Health Match BC, a third-party recruiter, or the applicant.
Applicant files are brought before monthly College Registration Committee meetings for approval.
The applicant will receive a letter from the Registration Committee detailing its decision. Following the committee’s decision, the applicant will be assigned a file manager.
The applicant must fulfill pre-registration requirements outlined in the letter, including a letter from a sponsoring health authority confirming the applicant’s supervisor and a letter from the Ministry of Health, if applicable.
The file manager will email the secondary application package to the applicant.
The applicant submits to the College 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.
A telephone review of terms and restrictions for provisional licensure is scheduled no more than two weeks prior to the practice start date.
A licence will be issued once the interview is complete.
Maintaining the licence
Ongoing registration and licensure in the provisional class is maintained by
- satisfactory completion of the annual licence renewal form,
- online payment of the annual licence renewal fee as detailed in Schedule A of the College Bylaws,
- payment of any other outstanding fine, fee, penalty fee, debt, levy or costs owed to the College,
- ongoing compliance with continuing competency requirements,
- ongoing professional liability coverage or protection, and
- provision of certificates of professional conduct, where applicable.
The annual licence renewal process is accessed through the registrant portal. Registrants will be notified by email of the licence renewal process in late December or early January each year.
Penalties and fines
Registrants must complete the annual licensure process by March 1 to avoid a $500 penalty. The penalty increases by $100 increments each month until the process is completed.
Failure to complete the annual licensure process will also result in the suspension of a registrant’s licence on April 1. The licence will be reinstated when the annual licence renewal form is completed to the satisfaction of the College, and online payment of all outstanding fees and penalties are made.
Renew the licence by March 1 each year
Registrants cannot practise medicine, prescribe or charge for services rendered without being registered with the College.
Cancellation of provisional registration
Provisional registration is cancelled if
- the registrant ceases to engage in the practice of medicine in accordance with the terms outlined in the sponsorship letter,
- the health authority or UBC Faculty of Medicine withdraws sponsorship,
- the registrant’s supervision is withdrawn because of competency concerns,
- the registrant’s supervision is withdrawn for reasons other than competency concerns and an alternative supervisor is not identified within seven days, or
- the Registration Committee determines that the registrant has failed to meet their registration and licensure requirements, in which case the registrant will not be permitted to reapply for provisional registration.