Practice Ready Assessment for International Medical Graduates

Family Medicine Specialists

For internationally trained family medicine specialists, the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program (NSPRAP) ensures that international medical graduates (IMGs) who wish to practice family medicine in Nova Scotia possess the appropriate clinical skills and knowledge to provide quality patient care.

The Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program (NSPRAP) is for family medicine specialists who:

have completed postgraduate training in family medicine outside Canada;
do not yet meet Nova Scotia’s licensing requirements.

Please note that to participate in the NSPRAP, you must:

Meet the NSPRAP prescreening requirements and be referred to the College;
Meet the eligibility requirements for a Clinical Assessment Licence (see below); and
Be selected by the NSPRAP for participation.

Eligibility

You must meet the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment’s prescreening eligibility requirements: Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program (nsprap.com)
You must meet the requirements for all licence applications to practise medicine in Nova Scotia.
You must have at least 2 years of postgraduate training towards recognition as a general practitioner or family medicine specialist.
You must have completed at least 8 weeks of training in all of the following fields:
• family medicine or general practice;
• internal medicine;
• surgery;
• paediatrics;
• psychiatry; and
• obstetrics and gynaecology.

Please note: The registrar may accept 8–16 weeks of extra training in family medicine instead of training in psychiatry, obstetrics, and gynaecology.
The College will consider Emergency Medicine rotations as part of the 24 months of postgraduate training.
You must have practiced independently for at least 2 years in a family or general practice.
You must have fewer than two prior failed attempts in Canadian practice ready assessment programs.

How to Apply

Step 1: Your application is pre-screened by the NSPRAP

Your application is pre-screened by the NSPRAP and referred to the College if you meet the pre-screen eligibility requirements.

You can find more information about screening and selection on the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program (NSPRAP) website.

Step 2: You submit your credentials to be verified

Complete the application for medical registration and submit your credentials through physiciansapply.ca. If you need help with your physiciansapply.ca account contact service@mcc.ca.
Pay the fees. Fees are non-refundable.

Your application, once submitted through phyisicansapply.ca, is sent to us.

If you have questions about licensing, please contact College staff:
1-877-282-7767 or 902-422-5823
registration@cpsns.ns.ca

Step 3: We review your application

If you qualify, we will email you to request documents.
If you do NOT qualify, we will explain why.

Step 4: Selection with the NSPRAP

If you are selected to participate in the program, you are given online access to complete a Clinical Assessment licence application. You will be requested to submit documentation including certificates of professional conduct, criminal record checks, and reference forms.

Step 5: You submit an application for a Clinical Assessment Licence

This process may take 4 to 8 weeks. The College is not responsible for delays due to incomplete applicant information or third parties.

Step 6: You undergo a clinical field assessment

The Clinical Assessment Licence remains valid until the completion of the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program’s 12-week clinical field assessment. The College can terminate the participant’s registration and licensure if:

supervision is withdrawn from a NSPRAP participant; and/or
significant participant competency concerns are identified.

For more information, please contact the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program.

Other Specialists

You may be eligible for a Practice Ready Assessment for Specialists (PRA Specialists) if you meet the criteria and have been endorsed by Nova Scotia Health.

The PRA Specialists is for specialists who:

have specialty training and certification from a jurisdiction other than the 29 accepted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) (for more information, see the RCPSC Specialty Training Requirements to compare your postgraduate training to the Canadian standard); and
meet the screening criteria for Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA) for Specialists.

Please note: A PRA is not conducted in subspecialty disciplines.

Eligibility

You must meet the requirements for all licence applications to practise medicine in Nova Scotia.
You must be a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) or Qualify for an Acceptable Alternative to the LMCC
You must provide a record of postgraduate training that is substantially equivalent to Canadian training and has been satisfactorily completed. Refer to the RCPSC Specialty Training Requirements.
You must have specialty certification from an international jurisdiction, equivalent to a primary specialty as defined by the RCPSC.
You must have a minimum of 3 years of independent practice in the discipline.
You must demonstrate evidence of currency of practice in the primary specialty, defined as at least 450 hours within the last 3 years
You must have fewer than two prior failed attempts in Canadian practice ready assessment programs.

How to Apply

Step 1: You are endorsed by Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health Centre

Nova Scotia Health or the IWK Health Centre, and Dalhousie University may recommend you for the program to the College. They must send a letter of support confirming their offer of employment in an area of defined need. They must also include a description of the proposed assessment.

Contact the Nova Scotia Health or IWK for more information about your eligibility for endorsement.

For more information about eligibility, see our policy on Screening Criteria for PRA Specialists.

Step 2: You submit your credentials to be verified

When we receive your letter of endorsement, we will ask you to submit your credentials.

Complete the application for medical registration and submit your credentials through physiciansapply.ca. If you need help with your physiciansapply.ca account contact service@mcc.ca.
Pay the fees. Fees are non-refundable.

Your application, once submitted through phyisicansapply.ca, is sent to us.

If you have questions about licensing, please contact College staff:
1-877-282-7767 or 902-422-5823
registration@cpsns.ns.ca

Step 3: We review your application

If you qualify, we will email you to request documents.
If you do NOT qualify, we will explain why.

Step 4: You submit an application for Clinical Assessment licence

This process may take 4 to 8 weeks. The College is not responsible for delays due to incomplete applicant information or third parties.

Step 5: You undergo a clinical field assessment

supervision is withdrawn from a NSPRAP participant; and/or
significant participant competency concerns are identified.

For more information, please contact the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program.

Step 6: You receive your licence to practise

The Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program assessment committee reviews the results of your assessment and sends them to the College to be assessed by the Registration Committee. On approval by the committee, you are issued a Defined licence to practise in Nova Scotia.