The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Royal College) announced today that it is making changes to address the ongoing health human resource crisis while maintaining quality care for Canadians.

The following changes apply to the Practice Eligibility Route (PER) process, which assesses and certifies internationally trained physicians (ITPs) based on equivalent training:

• Reducing the practice time requirement from five years to two years in Canada for eligible ITPs.
• Recognizing time spent in non-accredited postgraduate clinical training, such as fellowship training, towards the PER practice time requirement.

“Physicians from all over the world seek opportunities in Canada to build a rewarding career and contribute to our health care system," says Glen Bandiera, MD, FRCPC, executive director, Standards and Assessment, at the Royal College. “These changes will help speed up the process to determine eligibility for certification with the Royal College, ensure consistent treatment for all physicians at similar career stages and maintain the high standards of specialty care expected by Canadians.”

Supported by a $1.49 million contribution agreement with Health Canada, the Royal College has embarked on a two-year project to decrease the assessment time for practising specialist ITPs through the PER process.

While provincial and territorial Medical Regulatory Authorities (MRAs) are responsible for granting medical licences that ensure safe practice, the Royal College plays a distinct role by setting the standards for Canadian specialists’ scope of practice across many disciplines and ensuring certificants demonstrate the level of competence that Canadians expect.

“The Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC) recognizes the value of Royal College certification as a marker of competence,” says George Carruthers, MD, president of FMRAC and registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island. “We welcome these improvements to the Practice Eligibility Route, which will contribute to our ongoing efforts to streamline the licensure process, while continuing to ensure that physicians meet standards to deliver safe and quality medical care to Canadians.”

Expediting pathways to certification is just one of the ways the Royal College aims to support ITPs integrating into the health care system more seamlessly so they can begin providing care as quickly as possible.

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About the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is the national professional association that pursues excellence in medical education, professional standards and building physician competence. We protect the health of Canadians by helping physicians build skills, knowledge and expertise through lifelong learning and continuing professional development. We accredit the university programs that train resident physicians for their specialty practices, and we administer the examinations that residents must pass to become certified as specialists. In collaboration with health organizations and government agencies, the Royal College also plays a role in developing sound health policy in Canada. To find out more, please visit royalcollege.ca.

For media enquiries:

Laura Thomas
communications@royalcollege.ca

The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.