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.

Provisional licence

The provisional licence permits a physician or surgeon to practise medicine with the limits and conditions granted by CPSBC.

Eligibility

Provisional – family

To be eligible for the provisional – family 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
  • meet one of the following requirements:
    • have completed a family medicine program in Canada after July 1, 2010, and have obtained the LMCC
      • Applicants must provide a recommendation from their program director and chairperson of the department of family medicine, attesting to competence and successful completion of all program requirements, acceptable to the Licence Committee
    • have undergone an assessment of competency acceptable to the Licence Committee in a Canadian province or territory
  • meet CPSBC'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 the provisional – specialty 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
  • meet one of the following requirements:
    • have completed a postgraduate training program in an RCPSC specialty program in Canada and have obtained the LMCC
      • Applicants must provide a recommendation from their program director and chairperson of the department, attesting to competence and successful completion of all program requirements, acceptable to the Licence 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, acceptable to the Licence Committee
    • have completed postgraduate training which training meets the criteria for a ruling to access the RCPSC subspecialty examinations through the Subspecialist Examination Affiliate Program Route, and successfully completed the subspecialty examination of the RCPSC, acceptable to the Licence Committee
    • have undergone a practice ready assessment acceptable to the Licence Committee in a Canadian province or territory
  • meet CPSBC'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 the provisional licence, an applicant must have the following prerequisites:

  • successfully obtain a preliminary assessment from CPSBC of their eligibility for licensure
  • fulfill the subjects listed in the preliminary assessment of eligibility for licensure
  • have the health authority or BC medical school provide a sponsorship letter satisfactory to the Licence Committee that:
    • identifies the applicant’s sponsor
    • describes how the applicant will engage in the practice of medicine
    • identifies a supervisor satisfactory to CPSBC

See related licensing policies:

How to apply - internationally trained

For applicants who completed their eligible postgraduate training internationally.

This includes applicants who are:

  • have passed the RCPSC examination via the PER route and will be eligible to apply for RCPSC certification after two years of practice in Canada as an independent specialist
  • are subspecialists who hold RCPSC Subspecialty Examination Affiliate Program (SEAP) eligibility and:
    • can provide evidence of subspecialty certification in their jurisdiction of training, acceptable to CPSBC, or
    • have passed the RCPSC subspecialty exam
  • have undergone a practice ready assessment acceptable to the Licence Committee in a Canadian province or territory

Applicants who are eligible to sit the RCPSC examination through the RCPSC Approved Jurisdiction Route (AJR), please see the information on the full – specialty class.

Applicants who are eligible for CCFP via reciprocity, please see the information on the full – family class.

Pre-screening with Health Match BC

CPSBC recommends prospective applicants to complete the pre-screening assessment through Health Match BC.

Contact Health Match BC

Alternative options to Health Match BC

Applicants who do not wish to work with Health Match BC have the following options:

  1. Contact a third-party recruiter to complete the pre-screening assessment.
  2. Contact CPSBC directly to complete the pre-screening assessment independently.

Contact CPSBC

Requesting through Health Match BC or third-party recruiter

Health Match BC or third-party recruiter will forward the application documentation to CPSBC.

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.

CPSBC will require both an online application and application documentation to begin the preliminary assessment review.

 

Contacting CPSBC directly

If the applicant chooses not to go through Health Match BC or a third-party recruiter, CPSBC will contact the applicant by email to request for the application documentation.

Upon receiving the documentation application, CPSBC will direct the applicant to apply via physiciansapply.ca. Applicants should only complete an online application when instructed.

CPSBC will require both an online application and preliminary assessment documentation to begin the preliminary assessment review.

A preliminary assessment of eligibility will begin once CPSBC receives both the online application (via physiciansapply.ca) and the preliminary assessment documentation from Health Match BC, a third-party recruiter, or the applicant. Preliminary assessment request files are reviewed by CPSBC to determine eligibility for the provisional – family licence or provisional – specialty licence.

CPSBC will complete the preliminary assessment within four to five weeks and issue a preliminary assessment of eligibility letter that outlines pre-licensure requirements.

The applicant must fulfill pre-licensure requirements outlined in the letter, including a letter from a sponsoring health authority confirming the applicant’s supervisor.

Once the pre-licensure requirements are met, the applicant will be assigned a file manager and given instruction for the secondary application. 

The file manager will email the secondary application package to the applicant.

The applicant submits to a completed secondary application along with required documentation to CPSBC.

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.

Once the file is approved, the applicant will be asked to review provisional licence terms, which may require a phone interview. Following the review of licence terms and payment of licence fees, a licence will be issued within three business days.

How to apply - Canadian trained

For applicants who have completed a postgraduate training program in Canada, have LMCC and have yet to obtain either RCPSC certification or CCFP certification.

CPSBC recommends prospective applicants to complete an Application for Medical Registration (AMR) through physiciansapply.ca no more than three months prior to their intended start date.

CPSBC will contact the applicant by email to confirm receipt of the application and request the preliminary assessment documentation. CPSBC will require both an online application and preliminary assessment documentation to begin the preliminary assessment review.

The applicant must fulfill pre-licensure requirements outlined in the letter, including a letter from a sponsoring health authority confirming the applicant’s supervisor.

Once the pre-licensure requirements are met, the applicant will be assigned a file manager and given instruction for the secondary application. 

The file manager will email the secondary application package to the applicant.

The applicant submits to CPSBC a completed secondary application along with required documentation. This includes a recommendation from the applicant’s program director and chairperson of the department, attesting to competence and successful completion of all program requirements, acceptable to the Licence Committee.

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.

Once the file is approved, the applicant will be asked to review provisional licensure terms and pay annual licensure fees. Following review of licensure terms and payment of fees, a licence will be issued within three business days.

Maintaining the licence

Ongoing 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 B of the CPSBC Bylaws,
  • payment of any other outstanding fine, fee, penalty fee, debt, levy or costs owed to the CPSBC,
  • ongoing compliance with continuing competency requirements,
  • ongoing professional liability coverage or protection, and
  • provision of certificates of professional conduct, where applicable.

Cancellation of the licence

The provisional licence is cancelled if

  • the licensee ceases to engage in the practice of medicine in accordance with the terms outlined in the sponsorship letter,
  • the health authority or BC medical school withdraws sponsorship,
  • the licensee’s supervision is withdrawn because of competency concerns,
  • the licensee’s supervision is withdrawn for reasons other than competency concerns and an alternative supervisor is not identified within seven days, or
  • the Licence Committee determines that the licensee has failed to meet their licence requirements, in which case the licensee will not be permitted to reapply for the provisional licence.

For more information about the licence requirements, refer to:

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