How to Practice Family Medicine in Ontario, Canada – Part 3

Welcome to the third instalment of this guide for General Practitioners looking to practice medicine in Canada. In Part 1, we covered the PhysicianApply account setup and document verification process. In Part 2, we walked through CFPC registration and obtaining certification eligibility. Now, we move on to the next critical stage: registering with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).

Part 3: Registering with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is the regulatory body that grants licenses to practice medicine in Ontario. Once your CFPC Letter of Eligibility has been issued, you can begin the CPSO registration process.

Step 1: Creating a CPSO Account

To start your application:

1. Visit the CPSO registration portal.
2. Create a new member account.
3. Complete your profile with the required personal and professional details.
4. Proceed to the self-screening questionnaire.

During the self-screening questionnaire:

• For type/scope of practice, select B – Medical practice.
• If you have engaged in medical practice or training in the past two years, select Yes.
• If you do not currently hold an independent medical license in Canada, select B
• If you have a degree from an acceptable international medical school, select C.
• For MCCQE (Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam), if you are not planning to take it, select D.

Once you submit your self-screening responses, you can continue with the main application process.

Step 2: Uploading Documents & Paying Fees

After completing your application, you will need to submit the required documents:

1. CFPC Letter of Eligibility – This will be sent directly to CPSO.
2. Source-verified documents from PhysicianApply – Ensure all documents are shared with CPSO.
3. Criminal Background Check – CPSO recommends using Triton Canada (cost: $50 CAD). If you’re not in Canada, a VPN may be needed to access the site. Alternatively, you can complete this after arrival, but it may delay the process.
4. Three professional references – These should be from recent supervisors or colleagues.
5. Letter of Good Standing from GMC – If you have practiced in other countries, you may need a letter from each relevant medical council. RCGP letters are not required.

Application Fee: $1035 CAD (payable upon submission of your CPSO application).

Tip: You can submit your application and pay the fee before uploading all documents to prevent unnecessary delays.

Step 3: Application Review & Final Steps

🔹 CPSO reviews applications in approximately 3-5 weeks, but processing times can vary.
🔹 Once your application is approved, you must pay the CPSO membership fee (approximately $1725 CAD) within 90 days, or your application may be cancelled.
🔹 Upon final approval, CPSO will grant your license to practice medicine in Ontario.

What’s Next?

At this stage, you are almost ready to begin practicing as a family physician in Ontario! The final steps involve CFPC certification and membership fees, which will be covered in the 4^th and final part.

Stay tuned for the next instalment, where we’ll go over final CFPC certification, fees, and starting medical practice in Ontario!