Each year physicians must renew their medical licence. Annual licence renewal takes place in November.
Important Dates
Renewal opens each year in November
Licence renewals received after November 30 are subject to a late fee.
Failure to renew will result in your licence expiring on January 1:
You will not be allowed to practise medicine in Nova Scotia.
You will lose your hospital privileges.
You will not be paid through MSI or other insurers.
Prepare for Renewal
To renew your licence you need:
Your login credentials for Member Services
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.)
Certificate of Professional Conduct (CPC)
If you have practised outside the province in the last year, you must obtain a Certificate of Professional Conduct for each of the jurisdictions in which you practised. If this applies to you, your 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.
If you are newly licensed in Nova Scotia in 2022, Certificates of Professional Conduct will only be required from jurisdictions where you have practiced since obtaining your Nova Scotia licence. If you have not practiced outside of Nova Scotia since obtaining your licence, updated CPCs are not required.
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.
A record of your Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Please ensure you have a card available for online payment of your licence; we accept Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit (all), and Debit (First Nations Bank of Canada, RBC, TD Canada Trust, some Credit Unions). 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.
Should someone file a complaint about you after you have discontinued your licence, you will still be subject to the College’s complaints procedure.
We are here to help. Call 902-482-5825 or toll-free 1-877-282-7767
Frequently Asked Questions
I didn’t receive an email notification to renew my licence, should I contact the College?
Please check the junk and/or spam folders. If you do not find an email from the College, we may have an incorrect email address for you. Contact renewal support at renewalsupport@cpsns.ns.ca or 902-482-5825 to confirm your information.
What if I can’t log in to the website to renew?
If you cannot log in, please do the following:
Check your spelling.
Check your capitalization – your password is case-sensitive.
Reset your password – if you have forgotten your password, or do not have a password, you can:
Click on Re-set your password.
Enter the email address you have on file with the College.
Click on Submit.
Check your email for a link to set a new password – this will come from DO NOT REPLY – CPSNS. Check your spam or junk folders.If you do not receive an email to reset your password, contact us at renewalsupport@cpsns.ns.ca or 902-482-5825, or toll-free 1-877-282-7767.
Try logging in later; the site may busy or undergoing maintenance.
What if I have technical problems with the Member Services portal or renewal form?
Please use a desktop or laptop to renew. If you have trouble, please try the following:
Try a different browser. We recommend Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
Use a secure wifi network. If you are on public wifi at a hospital or clinic, our security may block you. Try logging on to a password secured network.
Delete your browser history, close your browser, and then open it again to start a new session.
Is technical assistance available?
Yes. Technical assistance is available Monday to Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.