Issue 3: October 2023
New Policy to Directly Licence Physicians from More Countries
The College has approved a policy identifying physicians on the Specialist or General Practice Register in the UK, the Specialist Register in Australia, and the Vocational Scope in New Zealand with active licences or practising certificates as eligible for a Defined licence, with a pathway for long-term licensure.
Under this policy, physicians will not require an assessment by either the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for exam eligibility or the College of Family Physicians of Canada for certification without challenging the exam. They will also not have to undergo a Practice Ready Assessment (PRA).
This pathway will significantly reduce timelines for licensure, while reducing costs and administrative burden. Physicians qualified through this pathway will have access to the streamlined immigration process.
These physicians will attend the Welcome Collaborative an orientation to the healthcare system in Canada and in the Nova Scotian context.
They will enter practice with six months of concentrated supervision. The supervision provides for reassurance that physicians are competent within the Canadian healthcare system and provides good support to them as they integrate into our healthcare environment.