Defined Licence for Clinical Fellowship: Requirements & Conditions for Licensure

Preamble

A Defined licence for Clinical Fellowship is a time-limited licence that is issued to physicians entering a Clinical Fellowship program who do not meet the qualifications for a Full licence.

Purpose

This policy describes the minimum requirements to obtain a Defined licence for a Clinical Fellowship program, together with the practice conditions that may be imposed on Defined licensees.

Scope

This policy focuses specifically on the Defined licence for physicians who are entering a Clinical Fellowship program. For information on Defined licence for independent practice while pursuing a Full or Restricted licence, see the College policy on Defined Licence: Requirements and Conditions for Supervised Practice as the Most Responsible Physician¹.

Policy

Physicians who do not qualify for a Postgraduate Training licence or a Full licence who are enrolled in a Clinical Fellowship program must be eligible for a Defined licence for Clinical Fellowship. The licence is issued only for the duration of the Fellowship and permits the licence holder to practise only within the confines of the Clinical Fellowship program.

Physicians on a Defined licence who are enrolled in a Clinical Fellowship program require sponsorship and supervision by a physician who has an academic appointment affiliated with Dalhousie University but are exempt from some of the requirements of physicians who are practising under a Defined licence, specifically:

1. while enrolled in the Clinical Fellowship, the physician does not have to be eligible for Canadian certification or obtain Canadian certification.
2. while enrolled in the Clinical Fellowship, the physician does not require the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)² or an acceptable alternative to the LMCC³.

Requirements for the Clinical Fellowship

The Clinical Fellowship Program must:

1. Be based in an Academic Department that is affiliated with the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine; and
2. Have a designated Fellowship Director; and
3. Have one or more clinical faculty, including the Fellowship Director, who are jointly responsible for the instruction and supervision of the physician in the Fellowship according to their needs and demonstrated competencies.

Eligibility Criteria

All applicants for a Defined licence for a Clinical Fellowship program must:

1. Meet the criteria set out in Sections 39-45 of the Medical Practitioners Regulations^4; and
2. Provide written confirmation of acceptance into a Clinical Fellowship program; and
3. Successful completion of a medical degree from a school in the World Directory of Medical Schools⁵; and
4. Certification as a specialist, or eligibility to obtain certification as a specialist, outside of Canada.

Conditions on a Defined licence for Clinical Fellowship

1. Certification

Defined licensees in a Clinical Fellowship Program do not require eligibility for Canadian certification and they are not required to obtain Canadian Certification.

2. Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)

Defined licensees who are in a Clinical Fellowship Program are not required to become a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) or satisfy the College’s policy on Acceptable Alternatives to the LMCC.

3. Scope of Practice & Location of Practice

All medical practice must fall within the Clinical Fellowship program. The practice location is determined by the Clinical Fellowship program.

4. Sponsorship

A physician on a Defined licence in a Clinical Fellowship program must have a Sponsor.

Withdrawal of sponsorship will result in immediate loss of licensure.

5. Supervision

A physician on a Defined licence in a Clinical Fellowship program must be supervised within the Fellowship program.

Lack of a Supervisor will result in loss of licensure.

6. Length of Licence Term

The duration of the licence will not extend beyond 24 months unless otherwise approved by the Registrar. Because physicians on a Defined licence enrolled in a Clinical Fellowship program are not on a pathway to Full or Restricted licensure, they may not be eligible for licensure beyond their Clinical Fellowship.

Resources

1. Defined Licence: Requirements and Conditions for Supervised Practice as the Most Responsible Physician
2. Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada
3. Acceptable Alternatives to the LMCC
4. Medical Practitioners Regulations
5. World Directory of Medical Schools