American-certified physicians: Eligibility requirements for Full licensure

Approved

December 12, 2025

Preamble

A Full licence in Nova Scotia is an annually renewable licence for independent practice without terms, conditions or restrictions.

American-trained physicians holding certification with one of the Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association may qualify for a Full licence.

Purpose

This policy describes the minimum requirements to obtain a Full licence for American-certified physicians who completed their postgraduate training in the United States of America (USA) in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).1

Scope

This policy applies to physicians who currently hold certification in their respective specialty and/or subspecialty with one of the Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties2 or the American Osteopathic Association3.

Policy

Eligibility criteria

  1. Credentials
    Candidates must have all of the following credentials:
CredentialDescription
Medical degreeApplicants must be a graduate of a University or School Approved by Council.4
Postgraduate trainingApplicants must have completed accredited postgraduate training in the USA in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
CertificationApplicants must have current certification with one of the following:
A Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), or
A Member Board of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
Licentiate of the Medical Council of CanadaApplicants must be a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) or an acceptable alternative to the LMCC.5
  1. Requirements of licensure
    1. Letter of offer or confirmation of privileges
      Physicians who meet the above eligibility criteria must provide the College with a letter of offer OR confirmation of privileges with Nova Scotia Health or the IWK Health Centre in Nova Scotia before their licence will be issued.
    2. Continuing Professional Development
      The College will accept annual confirmation of a physician’s certification status with the respective Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties or the American Osteopathic Association as proof of satisfactory participation in a continuing professional development program.​If the physician does not maintain their certification status with the relevant Member Board, the physician is required to adhere to the College policy for Continuing Professional Development: Requirements.6
    3. Scope of practice
      All physicians must practise within the scope for which they have the current knowledge, training, skills and recent practice experience.​The physician must meet the College’s currency of practice experience requirements6 for practice.

Resources

  1. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
  2. American Board of Medical Specialties
  3. American Osteopathic Association
  4. University or School Approved by Council
  5. Acceptable Alternatives to the LMCC
  6. Continuing Professional Development: Requirements
  7. Currency of Practice Experience
Applicable legislation:Section 5 of the Medical Act
Sections 5 and 19(1-3) of the Medical Practitioners Regulations
Approved by:Registration Policy Committee & Council
Approval date(s):November 27, 2025 & December 12, 2025
Reviewed for accuracy:Annually
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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.