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Renew your Licence

Prepare to Renew Your Licence: Your Renewal Checklist

Each year physicians must renew their medical licence.

Annual renewal of your medical licence and corporation permit opens online Monday, November 2, 2020. To help you prepare, please review your renewal checklist below.

To renew your licence you will need:

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1. Your email on file with the College to log in

  • Your username (This is your email on file with the College.)
  • Your password (If you have forgotten your password, you will be prompted to reset it.)

2.  Certificate of Professional Conduct (CPC)

If you have practised outside the province in 2020 you must obtain a Certificate of Professional Conduct for each of the jurisdictions in which you practised. If this applies to you, these CPCs are required before your licence will be renewed. As it may take several weeks for other jurisdictions to provide a CPC, please make the request as soon as possible.

3. Your liability insurance number

You will be asked to provide your liability insurance number. In most cases this is your Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) membership number.

4. A record of your Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Generally, physicians must have met the minimum annual requirements for Continuing Professional Development prior to renewal of licensure. Because of the pandemic, there is a one-year extension on meeting your minimum CPD requirements. However, you must still be enrolled with and meet the standards of the:

5. A valid credit card for payment

Please ensure you have your credit card available as online payment of your licence will be required. The fee for your 2021 medical licence is $1,950.00. 

Avoid Paying Late Fees

The Medical Act and Regulations direct that your medical licence and corporation permits are to be renewed annually.

  • Licence renewals received after November 30th are subject to a late fee.
  • Physicians may only practise within a corporation when holding a valid corporation permit.
    A late fee will be charged if your permit application is not completed by November 30th.

Discontinuing Your Nova Scotia Medical Licence

If you plan to discontinue your licence with the College on or before January 1st, 2021, you must notify us. Please email the College at: registration@cpsns.ns.ca before January 1st, 2021.

We are here to help. 
Please contact us if you have any questions at: renewalsupport@cpsns.ns.ca
Call: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Phone: 902-482-5825 or Toll-Free: 1-877-282-7767

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I complete my renewal after December 1?

Yes, however you will have to pay late fees. Renewing your licence late may also affect your ability to practise the following January. Pay attention to these important dates:

  • December 1 – We charge late fees beginning on this date.
  • December 10 – We cannot guarantee that your renewal application will be processed on time. This means you may not be able to practise medicine on January 1.
  • December 31 – the final date on which renewals MUST be completed.

If your licence is NOT renewed by December 31, it will expire. You cannot practise medicine with an expired licence. As a result, the following may happen:

  • You will NOT be allowed to practise medicine in Nova Scotia.
  • You may lose your hospital privileges.
  • You may NOT be paid through MSI or other insurers.

 Contact us if you have missed your renewal.

We recommend that you renew your licence on a Windows laptop or desktop computer as the renewal page was developed for Windows Internet Explorer. It may not work as well with other internet browsers.

We do NOT recommend renewing on a mobile device or tablet.

What information do I need to renew my licence?

You need the email address that we have on file for you to do these things:

  • log in to Member Services
  • receive confirmation of your online payment
  • receive confirmation that we have received your application for renewal
  • receive confirmation of your licence

You need to include Certificates of Professional Conduct from all jurisdictions where you have practised within the last 12 months. 

  • We will send you a reminder in October.
  • Make sure you request the certificate by November 1 as processing times vary.
  • Each jurisdiction charges a fee for this certificate.
  • Your licence will NOT be renewed until our registration department reviews all applicable certificates.

You need proof of professional liability insurance:

  • If you are insured by the Canadian Medical Protective Association, you need your policy number.
  • If you are insured by another company, you need the name and address of that company and your policy number.

If you participate in the Maintenance of Proficiency program (Mainpro+), you will need these things:

  • your ID number as issued by the College of Family Physicians of Canada

          AND

  • your Mainpro+ start/stop cycle dates

If you participate in the Maintenance of Certification program (MOC), you will need these things:

  • your ID number as issued by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

         AND

  • your MOC start/stop cycle dates

 

How much does it cost?

Annual renewal fee: $1,950.00

Late fee: $487.50

Reinstatement fee: $500.00

  • November 1 through November 30, pay $1,950.
  • December 1 through December 31, pay $2,437.50 (annual renewal fee + the late fee).
  • After December 31, pay $2,937.50 (annual renewal fee + the late fee + the reinstatement fee).

How do I renew my licence?

Follow these steps to renew your licence:

  1. On our website, go to Member Services.
  2. Enter your email address in the space provided.
  3. Enter your password. Note, passwords are case-sensitive.
  4. Go to Renew Your Licence and follow the instructions. You can save your progress at any time and return to the form using the Save and Pay Later button. Your progress will be saved until the renewal deadline of December 31.
  5. Pay the fee using the same online renewal form. You must pay using Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit, or online banking from one of these banks:
  • Scotiabank
  • BMO
  • RBC
  • TD

Note: We do NOT accept payment by mail or in person at our offices. If your payment does NOT go through, contact your bank or credit card company.

What if I have problems with the online renewal?

If you do not have access to a computer to submit your renewal, we will provide you with a secure computer and help with the renewal process at our offices. We offer this service from November 1 to the third Thursday in December, Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4 pm.

Call toll free 1-877-282-7767 or 902-482-5825 Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4 pm.

We offer after hours assistance from 5 pm to 7 pm from November 1 to December 1.

Call 902-482-5825.

Email renewalsupport@cpsns.ns.ca

What happens next?

Once we have approved and renewed your licence and received payment, we will email you a confirmation of licensure and a receipt.

Note: Keep this confirmation of licensure for privileging and tax purposes. 

I don’t want to renew my licence, what do I do?

Email us at registration@cpsns.ns.ca BEFORE December 10 to let us know that you will not be renewing your licence. Your licence may only be surrendered and your membership ended after you notify the registrar in writing and you obtain the registrar’s consent.

Note: If you are planning on not renewing we strongly recommend that you send this request well in advance of the renewal deadline.

Should someone file a complaint about you after you have discontinued your licence, you will still be subject to our complaints procedure.

© 2020 College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia