Get oriented with Nova Scotia health-care system
Welcome to practising in Nova Scotia: a quick start for physicians
Register and get licensed
All physicians must be registered and licensed with the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia (the College) before practising.
- Licensing information for physicians – licence types and requirements
- What you need to know to practise in Nova Scotia – a practical checklist to help you get set up
- Apply for licensure – step-by-step guidance including a self-assessment tool
Note: If you already hold a Full, unrestricted licence in an Atlantic province, consider the Atlantic Registry to enable practice across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador.
Orientation and supports
- Welcome Collaborative (orientation) – a program to help internationally trained physicians understand how care is delivered in Nova Scotia
- Physician health resources – connects physicians to confidential wellness supports
Know the rules you’ll practise by
The College sets professional standards and guidelines—the minimum professional and ethical requirements for safe, competent practice. These are mandatory and are the primary lens through which conduct is assessed.
High‑value standards for day one
- Patient consent to treatment – obtain valid consent; patients may withdraw consent at any time
- Virtual care – meet in‑person standards of care when delivering care virtually and ensure informed consent for virtual visits
- Prescribing – mandatory administrative/clinical requirements for safe prescribing
- Obligations for services for patients – respect patient autonomy, avoid discrimination, and meet access‑to‑care duties (including reasonable accommodations)
- Management of medical records – custody, retention, transfer, and access to medical records
- Duty to report health professionals – what to do if you have reasonable grounds to believe a colleague poses risks to patients or the profession
- Sexual misconduct by physicians – clear definitions, zero tolerance, and sanctions
- Closing a medical practice – obligations for continuity of care and medical record custodianship
After you’re licensed: Essentials to set up care safely
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – participation in the College of Family Physicians of Canada MAINPRO or Royal College MOC is required to obtain/renew a licence
- Standards refresher – bookmark the professional standards and guidelines index and check for updates regularly
- Fees – review current College fees (licence, renewal, Atlantic Registry, etc.)
If you provide virtual or team‑based care:
- Follow the College's virtual care expectations (consent, continuity, documentation)
- See collaborative care expectations for responsibilities in team settings
Privacy and records in Nova Scotia
- Manage charts according to the management of medical records standard, including secure retention, transfer, and patient access
- Nova Scotia’s Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) governs collection, use, disclosure, and access to personal health information
Patient communication, boundaries, and safe exams
- Obtain informed consent for examinations and treatment; explain the purpose, what’s involved, and options—including the right to stop
- Maintain professional boundaries and never engage in sexualized conduct
If concerns or complaints arise
- The College's professional conduct process is set out under the Medical Act and Regulations; the College investigates all complaints. See filing a complaint to understand the process and supports.
- Public Support Advisor (confidential): 902‑406‑8401 (for sexual misconduct reports) and Public Inquiries: 902‑421‑2201 or publicinquiries@cpsns.ns.ca (for questions about complaints). These contacts are listed on the College’s site for public and physician use.