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Clinical Assistant Licence

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Preamble

Associate Physicians on a Clinical Assistant licence are registrants under the Conditional Register with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (College). The application criteria and permitted activities for a Clinical Assistant licence are laid out in sections 49-54 of the Medical Practitioners Regulations1.

Associate Physicians on a Clinical Assistant licence are never the most responsible physician (MRP) but may engage in designated aspects of the practice of medicine in the role of a physician extender within an approved physician extender program2.  

Purpose

This policy describes the eligibility criteria and application process for a Clinical Assistant licence.

Scope

This policy applies to all candidates applying for a Clinical Assistant licence.

Policy

All candidates for Associate Physician positions must have their credentials assessed and approved by the Registration Department of the College prior to accepting a job offer. All Associate Physicians on a Clinical Assistant licence must practise within a College-approved physician extender program.

1. Eligibility

All candidates must:

  1. meet the criteria for a Clinical Assistant licence as set out in Section 49 of the Medical Practitioners Regulations; and
  2. have acquired two years of postgraduate training and one year of licensed, independent, unsupervised practice experience or one year of postgraduate training and two years of licensed, independent, unsupervised practice experience; and
  3. be a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)3 or have an acceptable alternative to the LMCC4; and
  4. must have practised medicine independently and unsupervised, and/or acquired postgraduate training, within the last five years.

2. Practice experience 

To be considered current in clinical practice, a physician must have engaged in independent, unsupervised medical practice for at least 450 hours within the last five years, to the proposed practice start date as an Associate Physician in Nova Scotia.  

Candidates must not have been out of independent practice for more than five years.   

Exceptions 

  • Practice experience as an Associate Physician in another Canadian jurisdiction where such a program exists and is sanctioned by the provincial or territorial medical regulatory authority may be considered in lieu of independent, unsupervised practice for determination of currency at the discretion of the Registrar; or
  • Verifiable postgraduate training may be considered in lieu of independent, unsupervised practice for determination of currency at the discretion of the Registrar.

Resources

  1. Medical Practitioners Regulations
  2. Physician Extender Programs
  3. Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada
  4. Acceptable Alternatives to the LMCC
Applicable Legislation: Section 49-54 of the Medical Practitioners Regulations
Approved by: Registration Policy Committee & Council
Approval Date(s):April 13, 2023 & May 26, 2023
Review Date:April 2026