Issue 3: October 2023

The College’s Council is the governing board of the College. The Council includes physician members elected by physicians and public members appointed by the College through a nominations process.

In May the Council approved the 2023–2024 strategic plan. The focus of which is to improve access to equitable, competent care for Nova Scotians by:

• Expanding the recognition of acceptable international training and practice to license more physicians.
• Growing physician extender programs, to increase the number of Associate Physicians and Physician Assistants.
• Facilitating multi-jurisdictional licensing agreements, such as the Atlantic Registry, to promote mobility of physicians and postgraduate trainees.
• Supporting physicians trained outside of Canada through the Welcome Collaborative orientation program, to advance long-term success and retention.

The Council met on October 13 and approved the following policies to support the College’s strategic focus:

• Defined Licence: Requirements and Conditions for Supervised Practice as the Most Responsible Physician
• Pathway to Long-Term Licensure via a Defined Licence
• Pathway to Restricted Licensure for Defined Licence Physicians on Sponsor-Only Oversight – NEW POLICY
• Sponsor-Only Oversight of a Defined Licence Physician
• Pathway to Restricted Licensure for Academic Licence Physicians – NEW POLICY
• Academic Licensure
• Approval of Supervisors for College-Directed Supervision
• Comprehensive Clinical Assessment of Practice: Criteria and Outcomes
• Acceptable Alternatives to the LMCC
• Examinations Required for a Postgraduate Training Licence
• Criminal Record Screening
• Voluntary Relinquishment of Licence – NEW POLICY

Council also approved an increase in licensing fees for 2024.