I am Canadian Trained

If you are a physician with training from a Canadian medical school and you meet the requirements for all licence applications you may be eligible to apply for the following licence types:

a Full licence to practise in Nova Scotia;
a Temporary licence;
a Defined licence;
an Academic licence;
a Restricted licence; or
a Clinical Assessment licence.

Full Licence

The Full licence is issued to physicians who meet the necessary requirements to practise medicine independently. If you have passed all Canadian licensing and certification examinations, you may qualify.

Eligibility & How to Apply

You must meet the requirements for all licence applications to practise medicine in Nova Scotia.
You must be enrolled in the Canadian Medical Register as a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) or hold an acceptable alternative to the LMCC;
For specialists, you must have documentation that you are certified with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) OR have passed the RCSPC certifying exam for applicants who went through the Practice Eligibility Route OR have Subspecialist Affiliate status (SEAP) with the RCPSC OR have current certification with a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialists OR you have successfully completed a Comprehensive Clinical Assessment of Practice (CCAP).
For family medicine specialists, you must have documentation that you are certified with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) OR that you completed a one-year rotating internship in Canada before 1993 OR have current certification with the American Board of Family Medicine OR you have successfully completed a Comprehensive Clinical Assessment of Practice (CCAP).

How to Apply: Applicants with Verified Credentials

If you have a regular, general, or full licence to practise in Canada with documentation already verified by your current licensing College, you can submit your application through a simplified process. You must have a Certificate of Professional Conduct (CPC) with:

no interim or permanent restrictions or conditions;
no current undertakings with other Colleges; and
no disciplinary sanctions on your record.

Download and Complete the Form for Applicants with Verified Credentials (PDF)

How to Apply: Applicants without a Full, General or Regular Licence in another Canadian jurisdiction
Read about how to submit your credentials to be verified.

Temporary Licence (Locum)

The Temporary licence is issued to physicians or surgeons who want to practise for a short-term in Nova Scotia, up to a maximum of 6 consecutive months. Note: If you previously practiced with a Restricted – Special Case licence, you will apply for the Temporary licence going forward.

Eligibility & How to Apply

To apply for the Temporary licence you must have:

a full licence to practise in a Canadian province or territory; OR
the qualifications and credentials to obtain a Full licence in Nova Scotia (see above).

How to Apply: Applicants with Verified Credentials

no interim or permanent restrictions or conditions;
no current undertakings with other Colleges; and
no disciplinary sanctions on your record.

The Temporary licence fee for applicants with verified documentation is $354 per 30 days. This licence is valid for up to 6 consecutive months.

Download and Complete the Form for Applicants with Verified Credentials (PDF)

How to Apply: Applicants without a Full, General, or Regular Licence in another Canadian jurisdiction
Read about how to submit your credentials to be verified.

If you decide to practice longer than 6 months, you must contact us at registration@cpsns.ns.ca and apply for a Full licence.

Defined Licence

A Defined licence is issued to physicians who do not yet meet the Canadian standards for a full licence. Physicians must practise under the sponsorship and supervision of another physician as they work towards Canadian licensing (or alternative) and certification examinations.

Eligibility & How to Apply

You must meet the requirements for all licence applications to practise medicine in Nova Scotia.
You must meet the certification and licensing qualifications required to obtain a Defined licence .
You must be enrolled in the Canadian Medical Register as a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) or hold an acceptable alternative to the LMCC, OR if you do not hold the LMCC and you are not eligible for the acceptable alternative to the LMCC, you are required to successfully complete the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE I).
For specialists, you must have documentation that you have exam eligibility with the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada.
For family medicine specialists, you must have documentation that you have exam eligibility, or eligibility for the alternate route to certification through recognized training and certification outside Canada, from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).

How to Apply
Read about how to submit your credentials to be verified.

Academic Licence

The Academic licence is issued to physicians who have been hired by the Dean of Medicine at Dalhousie University to teach, do research, or take on clinical duties.

For more information, refer to our registration policy on Academic licensure.

Eligibility & How to Apply

To qualify for this licence, you must have a letter from the Dean of Medicine at Dalhousie University confirming your academic licence.

Restricted Licence

The Restricted licence is typically issued to physicians who meet the criteria for a Full licence and have conditions and restrictions on their practice imposed by the College. This may happen during an investigation process, review by the Registration Committee, or at the discretion of the Registrar.

Eligibility & How to Apply

There are additional restricted licence types available to those with the appropriate qualification:

Restricted Licence – Emergency – This is available for physicians who hold a licence for independent medical practice elsewhere in Canada who have been requested to provide medical services in Nova Scotia for an urgent or emergent need identified in the province.
How to Apply
- The physician or company requesting your services must submit a letter to the College outlining the urgent or emergent need they have requested you to fill.
- Download and complete the form for a Restricted licence (Emergency)

Clinical Assessment Licence

A Clinical Assessment licence is issued if the College determines there is a need for supervision or assessment.

Eligibility

Common reasons for the College to issue a Clinical Assessment licence include:

An extended absence from clinical practice (please review the College’s Currency of Practice policy for information on the requirement to maintain currency of practice).
A change in your clinical scope of practice

The requirements for this licence are different for everyone depending on their circumstances. We will give you the information you need based on your need for supervision and assessment.

We are here to help.
Please contact us if you have any questions at: registration@cpsns.ns.ca
Phone: 902-482-5825 or Toll-Free: 1-877-282-7767

Applications sent to the Registrar or Registration Committee

When a physician does not meet the requirements set out in the Medical Act and Medical Practitioners Regulations, your application is referred to the Registrar.

The Registrar may:

approve your application and grant a licence, with or without conditions;
deny your application and give you information about how to appeal this decision;
order a competency assessment; and/or
refer your application to the Registration Committee.