Practice-Ready Assessment for specialists

A Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA) is the required final step of an alternate path to independent practice in Alberta for international medical graduates (IMGs) from outside CPSA’s list of approved jurisdictions, and Canadian graduates who fail a national exam.

Once registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA), the candidate must pass this 2-part assessment of their clinical competence, chart management and professionalism to join CPSA’s temporary Provisional Register.

The PRA is composed of two parts that applicants must pass in succession before receiving an Alberta medical practice permit:

Part A: Preliminary clinical assessment (PCA) – 12 weeks

Part B: Probationary assessment (PA) – 12 weeks

Eligibility requirements

• Medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools

• Successful completion of a Registration Exam: a nationally recognized standardized examination in Canada (MCCQE) or an Approved Jurisdiction as approved by the Registrar, which evaluates the medical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competencies required to practice medicine in Canada. The complete United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is accepted as an equivalent to the MCCQE. A partial USMLE is not accepted.

• At least 1 year of recent practice or postgraduate training in intended specialty (within the last 3 years).

• Completion of all postgraduate training required for your discipline:

• Discipline specific specialty training equivalent to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) standards, with specialist certification.

• A criminal record check or police certificate is required from all locations you have practised and/or trained for more than 90 days in the last five years. Canadian criminal record checks are nation-wide, so only one is required. Although we don’t need it, we will accept a vulnerable sector check if it is a part of your criminal record check. In Canada, criminal record checks must be obtained through the RCMP or local police services. Any third-party or online criminal record checks (or police certificates) will not be accepted.

• Patient Relations education is required under the Health Professions Act (HPA) and mandatory for CPSA registration. Applicants are provided with a link to complete this training at the applicable stage.

Application process

Steps to take before you start your PRA:

1. Submit review of qualifications and receive eligibility letter. CPSA will confirm if you meet eligibility requirements and send an eligibility letter.

Secure sponsorship: Apply for eligible sponsorship jobs via DoctorJobsAlberta.com. Note: Your sponsor must send us a sponsorship form.

Submit all supporting documents. Your CPSA Registration Administrator will contact you after we receive your sponsorship form.

This program helps international medical graduates (IMGs) who have obtained eligibility for board exams to achieve full medical licensure in Canada by securing a fellowship or job. It is for internationally trained physicians who have completed residencies and practised medicine abroad.

Expected duration: minimum three months

Provisional (specialty practice-limited) class 3.16(1)

An applicant for registration as a provisional (specialty practice-limited) member must:

• Establish that they hold:

• A medical degree granted from a nationally approved faculty of medicine,

  OR

• A doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from a school in the United States accredited by the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation;

• Establish that they meet one of the following criteria:

• Holds the qualifications to engage independently in the practice of medicine in a specialty field of practice in a jurisdiction outside Canada in which the applicant has trained

  AND

• Has satisfactorily completed postgraduate clinical training in the specialty that took place in one or more facilities that provide health care and are recognized by a national postgraduate training authority, was accredited by a national postgraduate training authority, and is approved by the registrar

• They hold Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) certification or is confirmed by the Royal College to be eligible for Royal College certification

• They hold member board certification or is confirmed by a member board to be eligible for board certification

• They hold certification in a specialty field from the Collège des médecins du Québec

• Establish that they hold a certificate issued by the minister stating that the applicant is required to provide medical services in a specified geographical area or practice setting

• If applicable, establish that they have engaged in the professional practice that they intend to practise in Manitoba within the approved time period

• If applicable, provide a description of the continuing professional development activities that the applicant was required to complete as a condition of authorization to practise medicine in any jurisdiction in Canada in the three years immediately preceding the application and indicate how they met those requirements

• Establish that they have entered into a satisfactory arrangement with a practice supervisor AND have:

• Satisfactorily completed an approved assessment in their specialty field of practice,

  AND

• Entered into a satisfactory arrangement with a practice mentor

Key requirements

• Medical degree: An MD degree from a program acceptable to the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM)

• Residency completion: Completing a residency program with certifying exams in your home country is generally considered a strong qualification

• Clinical experience: Recent and relevant clinical practice experience is essential

• Enrolment in the program requires an approved sponsor and a job offer in a specialty deemed to be in high need in the province of Manitoba

Application process

1. Ensure all documents are submitted to and source verified by physiciansapply.ca. Document
   sharing must be enabled for College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM), and the documents include:

   1. Medical diploma

   2. Internship document

   3. Specialty postgraduate training document

   4. Specialty certificate (if applicable)

2. Ensure there is an employment/sponsorship opportunity in your specialty through Health Careers Manitoba.

3. Complete an application for medical registration (AMR) through physiciansapply.ca. The AMR fees from the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) and the CPSM documentation fee will be required at that time. Please note that fees are nonrefundable.

   1. CPSM will receive your application directly from the MCC and will review your postgraduate training and practice experience to ensure requirements are met. Once the review has been completed, you will receive an email from CPSM with a list of outstanding documents. Some of the documents include, but are not limited to, the balance of documentation fee, references, evidence of good standing, and satisfactory criminal record and abuse checks.

4. Should CPSM requirements be met, Health Careers Manitoba and the University of Manitoba International Medical Graduate (IMG) Program will be informed of your eligibility for registration.

5. If CPSM receives confirmation from the University of Manitoba IMG Program that the assessment has been scheduled and all documentation is complete, a certificate of practice (licence) and a certificate of registration will be issued.

   1. Documentation includes the required fees, practice undertaking, professional liability insurance, and identification (a passport and one of the following: work permit, permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship).

The restrictive permit is a specific licence that limits practice to authorized health care institutions, prohibiting independent or private practice. It is valid for one year and can be renewed annually. The permit also restricts the professional acts authorized under it. Clinicians holding this permit may convert it to a “regular” permit upon meeting specific requirements. However, the permit can be revoked if the holder resigns from or is removed from the Roll of the Order, loses privileges in their health care institution, or ceases to practise.

Requirements

• Medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools

• Practised competently in the area of medical expertise for which the restrictive permit application is being submitted for 12 months during the three years preceding the application

• A pass result on the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE)
  or the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 CK

• Completed postgraduate training that is generally equivalent to Quebec’s requirements for the intended specialty (4-6 years)

• Hold a specialist’s certificate or equivalent in the relevant discipline

• Successfully completed an assessment period

• Participation in the ALDO-Québec educational activity before permit issuance

Application process

1. Pass one of the examinations from the requirements section above.

2. Obtain sponsorship with a health care institution through Recrutement Santé Québec (RSQ).

3. Submit an application for medical registration and the required documents (documents vary, see details at the reference link below).

4. Review of the complete file by the Committee on Admission to Practice (CAP) that meets every 6-8 weeks. A decision will be available within 15 business days of the committee’s meeting. If an application is successful, it will move to step 5.

5. Provide proof of French language proficiency or have obtained a pass result on the Office québécois de la langue française examination

6. Succeed an assessment period of 12 weeks (preceded by a week of observation).

7. Review of the complete file by the CAP, including result of assessment period. The committee makes the decision to authorize the issuance of the restrictive permit.

The Practice Ready Assessment (PRA) for Specialists program is for specialists who:

• Have specialty training and certification from a jurisdiction other than the 29 accepted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College)

• For more information, see the Royal College Specialty Training Requirements to compare your postgraduate training with the Canadian standard

• Meet the screening criteria for PRA for Specialists

Eligibility and process

• Candidates must be Canadian citizens or legally entitled to live and work in Canada.

• Candidates must not be prohibited or restricted from practising medicine through the decision of any adjudicating body.

• All credentials must be source verified by the Medical Council of Canada’s physiciansapply.ca.

• All candidates must have completed postgraduate training that is substantively equivalent in amount of time as compared with Canadian training programs in the relevant primary specialty.

• Candidates must have completed a minimum of three years of unsupervised, independent practice as the most responsible physician in the primary specialty.

• Candidates must meet the currency of practice requirements in the primary specialty outlined in the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS) policy Currency of Practice Experience in the three years immediately before the date of application to the CPSNS.

• To be considered for a PRA, a candidate must be jointly recommended by the relevant health authority and the relevant department in the faculty of medicine at Dalhousie University.

• The cost of the assessment itself, including the CPSNS’ administration fee, is the responsibility of the relevant health authority and the Department of Health and Wellness. The licence fee for the assessment and ongoing licensure in Nova Scotia is the responsibility of the candidate.

• Once the health authority and the relevant department in the faculty of medicine at Dalhousie University choose the candidate, the health authority will provide a letter of endorsement to the CPSNS representing a commitment to this process and the relevant roles and responsibilities.

• Once candidates have the endorsement of a health authority, they must apply for a Clinical Assessment licence for the duration of the assessment. This licence type is for assessment purposes only and the physician holding this licence is never the most responsible physician. It may take approximately six months to obtain all of the required documentation for a Clinical Assessment licence.

Filipe Nadir Caparica Santos
MD, PhD, MScCH(HPTE), FRCPC

Physician and IMG Consultant to the Medical Council of Canada