Licensure Pathways for Physicians

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador (CPSNL) regulates the practice of medicine in the public interest. To obtain a license to practice medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador it begins with a formal application to CPSNL.

Newfoundland and Labrador has been diligently working to reduce barriers and to allow doctors with comparable credentials to work in our province more quickly, and align the province’s goal of improving access to health care.

In fall 2022, amendments were made to the Medical Act, 2011 to add two new categories of registration:

Clinical Assistants

• Eligibility Flowchart - PDF
• Clinical Assistance License Policy - PDF
• Required Examinations - PDF
• Currency of Practice Policy - PDF

Clinical Associates

• Additional information to be forthcoming.

These pathways are for medical practitioners who cannot obtain provisional registration and license because they are not eligible to receive certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

The Medical Regulations, 2023, operationalize the two new registration categories as pathways towards licensure in Newfoundland and Labrador as a practicing physician. These registrants will need to have a sponsor, complete a clinical assessment and possibly training or an approved program to remediate a deficiency.

The Medical Regulations, 2023 also create a pathway through provisional registration to full for internationally trained practitioners, without the requirement of having to be eligible for CFPC or RCPSC certification, as outlined below:

• New Approved Licensure Jurisdiction Pathways
  • Family Medicine - includes practitioners from Ireland, U.K., United States of America (USA), and Australia, as well as others approved by the CPSNL. Individuals must be trained and certified from these countries.
  • Specialists - includes Ireland, U.K., USA, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland as well as others approved by the CPSNL. Individuals must be trained and certified from these countries.
• Acceptable Alternatives to Certification Eligibility Policy
• Approved Jurisdiction Provisional to Full License Policy
• Currency of Practice