Certificates of Professional Conduct – Requirements for Licensure in Nova Scotia

Preamble

In accordance with the Medical Act, the purpose and duties of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (the College) are to serve and protect the public interest in the practice of medicine, and to preserve the integrity and maintain public confidence of the medical profession in the ability of the College to regulate the practice of medicine.

In doing so, the College relies on information provided in a Certificate of Professional Conduct (CPC) to ensure public safety. CPCs help guide the College in making decisions with respect to registration, licensing and professional conduct.

Purpose

This policy describes the College’s requirements and indications for a Certificate of Professional Conduct.

Scope

This policy applies to all new applicants and all currently licensed registrants applying to renew their licensure in Nova Scotia.

Policy

All applicants applying for licensure in Nova Scotia must request a CPC to the College from each jurisdiction where they have been licensed and practised in the last 10 years.

Additionally, at the time of annual licence renewal, all registrants are required to disclose any practice that has taken place outside of Nova Scotia since the last licensing application, or renewal, and are required to provide a CPC from all jurisdictions in which they have practised during that period.

Validity of a Certificate of Professional Conduct

The College will only accept original CPCs received directly from the issuing authority. For initial applications, all CPCs received by the College are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.

Where a registrant has previously provided a CPC for a jurisdiction to which they have not returned since the certificate was produced, the College may waive the requirement to provide an updated CPC.