Resources

Licensing and practise

Medical licence to practise

Physicians practising medicine in Nova Scotia must apply for a licence to practise medicine from the College. Physicians must apply to the College annually to renew their licence to practise. You can renew and pay for your medical licence online during the month of November. Review the College’s renewal information.

Medical Corporate Permit

If you practise medicine under a corporation, a corporate permit is legally required and obtained from the College. To set up a medical practice corporation, you must contact the Registry of Joint Stock Companies and then apply for a permit with the College. If you are listed as the Medical Director of such a corporation you are responsible for renewing the corporate permit annually with us.

Service provider billing number

Physicians practicing medicine in Nova Scotia generally require a service provider billing number. For information on billing numbers please contact MSI directly by email msiproviders@medavie.ca or phone 902-496-7011; toll free 1-866-553-0585.

Medical identification number

The Medical Identification Number for Canada (MINC) is a nationally recognized, unique lifetime identification number assigned to those entering Canadian medical education or medical practice. Physicians registered with the College or applying for registration require a MINC number. The College is the authorized organization through which physicians in Nova Scotia can obtain their MINC number.

Medical liability insurance

All physicians must obtain medical liability insurance and provide documented evidence of liability protection in order to receive and renew a medical licence. The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) provides medico-legal protection to physicians licensed to practise medicine in Canada.

Medical Council of Canada

The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) grants a qualification in medicine known as the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC). To obtain a full and unrestricted licence to practice medicine in Nova Scotia, you must be a licentiate of MCC or hold an acceptable alternative to the LMCC. The LMCC is a part of the Canadian Standard, the set of requirements for awarding a full licence; it is not a licence to practise medicine. Upon receiving their LMCC or alternative, candidates are also enrolled in the Canadian Medical Register.

Continuing Professional Development

The College recognizes that continuing professional development (CPD) plays a key role in ongoing practice improvement for physicians. The Nova Scotia Medical Act mandates that all licensed physicians participate in a program of continuing professional development through the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s (CFPC) MAINPRO Program or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s (RSPSC) Maintenance of Competence (MOC) Program. The College monitors mandatory physician enrollment and compliance in the MAINPRO and MOC CPD programs.

Associations

Doctors Nova Scotia membership

Physicians licensed to practise medicine in Nova Scotia are required to be a member of Doctors Nova Scotia in accordance with the provincial Doctors Nova Scotia Act. Please review membership information at www.doctorsns.com

Maritime Resident Doctors Association

For postgraduate trainees, Maritime Resident Doctors Association consists of resident physicians registered at Dalhousie University and training in hospitals and healthcare centres throughout Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Not all residents must register with the association, there are some exceptions.

Standards and guidelines

College standards and guidelines

The College has developed a comprehensive catalogue of professional standards and guidelines intended to act as a resource for physicians when facing ethical or professional situations. The catalogue sets out the standards by which the conduct of physicians will be measured.

Prescribing controlled substances

Approved prescription pads are necessary for all physicians when prescribing controlled substances. To obtain these pads a physician must register with the Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program (NSPMP). The Prescription Monitoring Act and Regulations established the NSPMP to promote the appropriate use of monitored drugs in Nova Scotia and to reduce the abuse or misuse of monitored drugs in the province. Review the College’s professional standard and guideline regarding prescribing.

Statutory reporting requirements

The practice of medicine is governed by the Medical Act and its regulations. Physicians must also be aware of provincial statutes which affect the practice of medicine. Some of these statutes contain mandatory reporting requirements or protection from action based on your reporting. Physicians are aware of the duty of confidentiality to patients. However, many are uncertain as to when the duty of confidentiality can be overridden by a statutory duty to report information in the public interest. Some laws require physicians to report medical information to public officials that would otherwise be considered confidential. For example, there are a number of notifiable diseases and conditions that physicians are required to report. Review information at: Nova Scotia Department of Health & Wellness Communicable Disease Prevention and Control – Information for Professionals

Canadian Medical Association Code of Ethics

This Code has been prepared by the Canadian Medical Association as an ethical guide for Canadian physicians, including residents, and medical students. Its focus is the core activities of medicine and is based on the fundamental principles and values of medical ethics, especially compassion, beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for persons, justice, and accountability. The Canadian Medical Association Code of Ethics provides a common ethical framework for Canadian physicians.

Support

Professional Support Program

Doctors Nova Scotia’s Professional Support Program (PSP) offers confidential help to physicians experiencing a personal or professional problem (for example, financial, psychological, psychiatric or addiction). The PSP supports and assists members in effectively coping with stress-related issues like anxiety and depression so they can achieve greater personal satisfaction, higher productivity, and improved patient outcomes. All inquires to the PSP are confidential and will be responded to within 2 business days.

Health and practice program

If you are a physician with a physical, cognitive, mental, and/or emotional condition that could impact patient safety, the College’s Health and Practice Program is here to help.

The College acknowledges that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship. We also acknowledge that people of African descent have been in Nova Scotia for over 400 years, and we honour and offer gratitude to those ancestors.