Postgraduate Trainee News
This newsletter provides important information for physicians undergoing postgraduate medical education at Dalhousie University.
IN THIS ISSUE:
If you have any questions, please contact registration@cpsns.ns.ca.
Keep Your Contact Info Current
Update Your Email Address
Keep us informed of any changes in your email address. All correspondence from the College, including notification that it’s time to renew your Postgraduate Training licence, will be sent to you by email. Please send any changes to registration@cpsns.ns.ca.
Request for Cell Phone Numbers
The College has implemented text messaging to notify physicians when licence renewal opens. Please provide your cell number to the College by April 14, 2023, to opt-in to receive the text message.
Renew Your Postgraduate Training Licence
for the 2023-2024 Academic Year
Online postgraduate trainee licence renewal opens on May 1, 2023. Completion of your licence renewal form and receipt of payment is required to continue your postgraduate training program at Dalhousie University for the 2023-2024 academic year. The renewal fee is $200.
- If you have not renewed your postgraduate training licence by May 22, you will be subject to a $50 late fee.
- If you have not renewed your licence by May 31 your licence will be suspended effective July 1, 2023.
Request a Certificate of Professional Conduct
If you are applying for a licence outside of Nova Scotia, you will need a Certificate of Professional Conduct (CPC). The College generally issues CPCs within five (5) business days. CPCs are sent directly to the licensing authority requesting the document.
- Download the consent form (PDF – 2 pages – 206 KB)
- Send us your completed form by mail, email, or fax:
- 400 – 175 Western Parkway, Bedford, Nova Scotia, B4B 0V1
- Email: registration@cpsns.ns.ca
- Fax: 902-422-5035
We are here to help. Contact us at: registration@cpsns.ns.ca.
Postgraduate Practising Licences
Internal & External Moonlighting
If you hold a Postgraduate Practising licence for the 2022-2023 academic year, it expires on June 30, 2023. If you plan to provide locum coverage (moonlighting) during the 2023-2024 academic year, you must submit a completed application for a Postgraduate Practising licence.
Please:
- Allow for processing time; we are unable to guarantee the issuance of a licence by a particular date.
- Do not complete an application with physiciansapply.ca. Those applications are not intended for postgraduate trainees and cost additional fees that are non-refundable.
You cannot begin moonlighting until you have received confirmation from the College that you have been granted a Postgraduate Practising licence, doing so would be considered practising without a licence.
Completion of Training & Applying for Licensure
If you are nearing the end of your training program and want to practise medicine in Nova Scotia, you will need to apply for a new licence.
If you are considering licensure outside of Nova Scotia, you must contact the appropriate provincial College of Physicians & Surgeons or licensing authorities in other jurisdictions.
To obtain a Full Licence to practise in Nova Scotia you must:
- be a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) or hold an Acceptable Alternative to the LMCC;
- complete your postgraduate training program (this includes completion of any projects); and
- be certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada.
If you have not passed the CFPC or Royal College certification exam, or you will not be sitting your certification exam until the fall or following spring, you may be eligible for a Defined licence.
How to Apply
Step 1: You set up your account and submit your credentials
- Complete the application for medical registration in Nova Scotia and submit your credentials through physiciansapply.ca. If you need help with your physiciansapply.ca account contact service@mcc.ca.
- Go to Applications for Medical Registration found in the Overview
- Select College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia from the province section menu
- Complete all required information in the application
- You will need to know the date(s) of your certification examination with the College of Family Physicians of Canada or the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada
- You must provide ALL training, licensing, and practice history (if applicable) in the application. This includes your training and licensing in Nova Scotia, any electives that you did outside of Nova Scotia, moonlighting, etc. Failure to provide all required information could result in an application being rejected, denied or having to be resubmitted
- Pay the $500 fee. Fees are non-refundable.
Be sure to “share” your documents with the College through physiciansapply.ca. Your application, once submitted through phyisicansapply.ca, is sent to us.
If you have questions about licensing, please contact College staff:
1-877-282-7767 or 902-422-5823
registration@cpsns.ns.ca
Step 2: We review your application
- If you qualify, we will email you to request documents.
- If you do NOT qualify, we will explain why.
It is recommended that you begin the application process as soon as possible. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for you to collect and send all the documents needed. We recommend that you submit all of your documentation at least 4 weeks prior to your start date.
The College provides a tracking service that will enable you to view the status of your application for licensure with the College. You will be provided with a username and password to access that service.
Step 3: We notify you about your registration
Once all required documentation is received, your application will be reviewed and a decision provided within days. Please note: we are unable to guarantee that an applicant will be issued a licence by a particular date.
- If you qualify, we will send you instructions and information.
- If you do NOT qualify, we will explain why.
Step 4: You receive your licence to practise
If you are approved for a Postgraduate Training licence, we issue your licence to practise medicine in Nova Scotia.
You cannot practise or bill for services until you have received official notification of licensure from the College.
Registration & Licensing Fees
The following fees are required for a Full or Defined Licence and are non-refundable:
- Review of qualifications
- Documentation fee
- Registration fee
- Annual licence fee (renewable yearly)
Please refer to the College’s Fee Schedule for a list of the current fees.