Issue 3: October 2023
Council Update

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.