Family Physicians
Governing Bodies
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC or the College) – The College is the licensing body and regulator for physicians in BC.
Medical Council of Canada (MCC) – The MCC ensures a standard of safe care for patients across Canada through the assessment of physicians and validation of credentials.
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) – The national organization of physicians that provides CCFP certification in Family Medicine.
Canadian Medical Graduates
– Family Practice
Family Physicians who have obtained their postgraduate training in Family Medicine in Canada, may be eligible for licensure with the CPSBC in the full – family class.
Physicians who qualify for full licensure may submit an Application for Medical Registration (AMR) directly to the College via physiciansapply.ca.
Details of the requirements for licensure in the full – family class, can be found here.
International Medical Graduates (IMG)
– Family Practice
There are a presently two pathways to licensure in BC for Family Practice physicians who completed their medical training internationally:
- Approved Jurisdictions Pathway
- Practice Ready Assessment BC (PRA-BC)
Health Match BC Navigators can help by reviewing your qualifications and offering personalized guidance with the professional licensing process. Please Note: Regardless of the pathway you pursue, you may need to provide evidence of meeting the established requirements as listed below.
Approved Jurisdictions Pathway
IMG Family Practice physicians who completed their Family Medicine postgraduate training in one of the CFPC approved jurisdictions listed below, and meet the requirements of the CPSBC, may be eligible to apply for licensure in the full – family class.
The full – family license permits a physician to practice family medicine within the scope of their education, qualifications and experience. A licensee in the full class is responsible and accountable for their medical practice.
The CFPC recognizes training with certification from the following jurisdictions:
- Australia – FRACGP or FACRRM
- Ireland – MICGP
- United Kingdom – MRCGP
- United States – ABFM
Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) may be granted without examination for physicians trained and certified in CFPC approved jurisdictions.
Physicians who obtained certification in family medicine in a jurisdiction acceptable to the CFPC through a practice-eligible route are not eligible to apply for CCFP without examination. Applicants must have:
-
- a medical degree, and
- completed a minimum of two years of accredited postgraduate training in family medicine/general practice and obtained certification in family medicine outside of Canada from a jurisdiction recognized by the CFPC for the award of certification without examination, acceptable to the Licence Committee, or
- completed accredited postgraduate training in a training program accredited by the American Osteopathic Association and obtained certification with the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians, satisfactory to the Licence Committee.
If the CPSBC cannot determine if an applicant is eligible under the CFPC by reciprocity, the applicant may be required to provide a certification without exam eligibility letter from the CFPC.
Practice Ready Assessment BC (PRA-BC)
- PRA-BC is an assessment program for internationally trained family practice physicians who have completed residencies in family medicine outside of Canada. This program provides qualified family practice physicians with an alternative pathway to licensure in BC. Note: Physicians who have completed training and certification in one of the approved jurisdictions above do not need to apply for the PRA-BC program.
- PRA-BC is a collaborative venture between the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues comprised of representatives from the provincial government and Doctors of BC, the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine’s Division of Continuing Professional Development, BC health authorities, and Health Match BC.
Detailed information about PRA-BC, including eligibility requirements and application processes can be found at prabc.ca or by contacting info@prabc.ca
