Comprehensive Clinical Assessment of Practice

Preamble

The College Registration Committee has the discretion to authorize a Comprehensive Clinical Assessment of Practice (CCAP) for the purpose of ongoing licensure in Nova Scotia. Specifically, a physician holding a Defined Licence may be eligible to undergo a CCAP as a route to a Restricted Licence.

Whereas Defined licences are time limited, Restricted licences may be renewed annually without limit.

Policy

1. Eligibility 

   At the discretion of the Registration Committee, a CCAP may be offered to a physician who:

   1. currently holds a Defined Licence with the College and:
      1. has lost their eligibility from their respective Canadian certifying College* or,
      2. holds eligibility for certification from their respective Canadian certifying College* and demonstrates that their scope of practice is narrower than the full scope of the discipline assessed by the certification examination; and
   2. has practised to a satisfactory standard under sponsorship for at least 24 consecutive months immediately prior to the Registration Committee’s decision in this regard; and
   3. provides a letter from their current Sponsor indicating support for the assessment and planned continued sponsorship if a restricted licence is not achieved; and
   4. provides a letter from their Clinical Department Head indicating departmental support for the assessment and a willingness to maintain the candidate’s position within the department; and
   5. meets all other conditions set by the College for a Restricted Licence.CCAPs will not be offered to candidates in disciplines for which a rigorous and unbiased process is not available or cannot reasonably be established. In order to facilitate the assessment, it is acceptable for the assessor to come from out of province. It will be for the Registration Committee to determine whether a CCAP is feasible and appropriate for any given candidate.

      With no exceptions, candidates will be offered only one attempt at the Comprehensive Clinical Assessment of Practice.

2. Costs 

   The exact nature, duration and cost of the CCAP will be determined by the College in consultation with experts in the discipline.All costs associated with the assessment, including administrative costs of the College, will be borne by the candidate.

3. Outcomes 

   In all cases, the assessments will be conducted to assist the Registration Committee in its efforts to determine whether a candidate should or should not be granted a Restricted Licence.In the event the Registration Committee decides a candidate should be granted a Restricted Licence, it will be for the Registration Committee to decide the conditions and restrictions of the Restricted Licence.

   In the event the Registration Committee decides a candidate should not be granted a Restricted Licence, the candidate will remain on his or her Defined Licence and will be held to all terms of that licence.

*Either the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada