Programs & Services

To maintain and continue using any special designation, all members (with the exception of Honorary members) must:

• Fulfil the College's continuing professional development (CPD) requirements as determined by the College Board and as defined by the bylaws for the class of membership to which they individually belong
• Hold a medical license in good standing with the applicable licensing body as defined by the class of membership to which they individually belong
• Be in good standing with the CFPC

Members have access to these CPD tools and resources as part of their membership or at a reduced rate:

• Mainpro+ (Maintenance of Proficiency)
• Mainpro+ support staff
• Canadian Family Physician (CFP)
• The Self Learning™ Program
• Pearls™ and ePearls™
• Linking Learning exercises
• An online CPD calendar of certified events
• Library services
• Family Medicine Forum (FMF)
• Chapters' Annual Scientific Assemblies

Teachers

The Section of Teachers (SOT) provides faculty development opportunities, networking events, a newsletter, and resources for family medicine teachers across the education continuum.

Researchers

The Section of Researchers (SOR) promotes and facilitates family medicine research.

Special interests

Programs within the Member Interest Group Section (MIGS) link members with similar practice interests in particular domains of care.

Early career

The First Five Years in Family Practice (FFYFP) Committee supports early-career family physicians by sharing resources on clinical practice, practice management, and work/life balance, as well as tools specific to each province.

Residents

The Section of Residents (SoR) acts as a liaison between the CFPC and family medicine residents across Canada. The first year of resident membership is free.

Medical students

The Section of Medical Students (SOMS) links the College with medical students at each medical school across Canada. Student membership in the CFPC is free.

Advocacy

The CFPC is the voice of family medicine in Canada. The CFPC advocates for members by actively promoting family medicine and primary care to elected officials and other decision makers. The College also collaborates with other health care organizations to advance health care initiatives.

Canadian Family Physician (CFP)

The official journal of the College, CFP is the only peer-reviewed medical journal in Canada devoted to the specialty of family medicine. Content consists of commentaries, clinical reviews, practical articles, and research articles specific to family medicine. CFP informs members on current issues in the discipline of family medicine.

Chapters

CFPC members are also members of the provincial Chapter where they reside. The CFPC supports members through their provincial Chapter offices. The CFPC and the provincial Chapters work with federal and provincial governments, other health care organizations, and family medicine academic and research communities. The Chapters host Annual Scientific Assemblies (ASAs) to provide valuable CPD sessions, programs, and networking opportunities.

Committees and working groups

The CFPC has more than 50 committees and working groups dedicated to supporting family physicians and the discipline of family medicine. Members of the College are welcome to participate on College committees and working groups.

Honours and Awards

CFPC members are awarded more than $500,000 in research grants and awards every year through the Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine (FAFM).

Library services

Through the CFPC's library services, members may request assistance with literature searches and sourcing articles.

Networking

The CFPC provides leadership and networking opportunities throughout the year at provincial Chapters' ASAs and during FMF.

Your member voice

Join the CFPC ePanel to contribute opinions to CFPC policies and priorities.

Special consideration may be available upon request to Active members who are either working part-time (fewer than 20 hours per week, with no other source of professional income) or who will be absent from practice for a period longer than four months during the same billing period.

• Reasons for practice absence include maternity or other parental leave, illness, disability, or absence from the country for work-related activities. Sabbatical leave does not qualify. Members must apply annually during the billing period to receive the reduced fee. The CFPC will not reimburse members after the billing period. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

The College may grant certification in the CCFP to College members who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Successful completion of residency training accredited by the CFPC and a pass on the CFPC Certification Examination in Family Medicine or an approved equivalent
• Meet the College's criteria for practice-eligible candidates as determined by the College Board
• Successful completion of discipline-specific training in family medicine in a jurisdiction other than Canada that has been approved as equivalent to accredited Canadian training in family medicine; must also hold certification in family medicine or the equivalent qualification from a jurisdiction other than Canada and that is judged to be equivalent to certification in the CFPC

Eligible members may add CCFP to the list of credentials that follows their name.

Members who were awarded a Certificate of Special Competence in Emergency Medicine prior to 1987, the date the College first required Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada, may append (EM) after CCFP [e.g., CCFP (EM)].

Members awarded other Certificates of Added Competence, may append those initials after the CCFP [e.g., for Care of the Elderly: CCFP (COE)].

Prospective Fellows

The CFPC accepts Fellowship nominations/applications each year from January to March 31st. Members who currently hold Fellowship in the College of Family Physicians (FCFP) do not need to reapply.

The CFPC awards the FCFP to those who have been awarded CCFP and who distinguish themselves through outstanding contributions to their communities, their colleagues, and the discipline of family medicine. Fellowship is considered a value of membership and will be bestowed for life as long as the member remains in good standing with the College.
 

Criteria for Fellowship nomination

• Must be an active CFPC member in good standing and hold the CCFP designation for a minimum of 10 years prior to the Fellowship nomination
• Must demonstrate a commitment to at least four of the seven CanMEDS-FM roles (Leader, Collaborator, Communicator, Health Advocate, Scholar, Family Medicine Expert, Professional)
• Must demonstrate significant contributions to, or through, family medicine such as dedication to the broad range of competencies demonstrated by outstanding family physicians, and to upholding the Four Principles of Family Medicine , namely:
  • Demonstrating clinical expertise
  • Serving as a community resource
  • Serving as a resource to a defined group of patients
  • Building and nurturing the patient-physician relationship in practice

Learn more about the Fellowship application process, review dates, eligibility criteria, or how to join the Fellowship Council on the CFPC Fellowship website.

Information for current Fellows

The CFPC recognizes that collectively, Fellows are a valuable resource to the College. With this in mind, the Fellowship Council has been established; it is a voluntary advisory body to which all CFPC Fellows are invited to belong. Any CFPC member in good standing, who holds the FCFP designation, is eligible to participate in the Fellowship Council (including those that are retired from active practice, living abroad, etc.).

The Council provides an opportunity to network with other Fellows and Council members can also elect to participate in the process of awarding the FCFP designation to future Fellows by joining one of the nomination assessment committees. There are three committees that have been established to support the Fellowship process: the Nominations Review Committee, the Adjudication Committee, and the Appeals Committee.

Fellows may add FCFP to the list of credentials that follows their name.

The CFPC is the professional home for family physicians who provide comprehensive, continuing care to their patients as well as family physicians who focus some or all of their practices in certain domains of care that help meet the needs of their patients and communities. While maintaining pride as family physicians and trained generalists, the College acknowledges that the delivery of family medicine services is evolving.

Certificates of Added Competence (CACs) provide a means of recognizing those family physicians who have achieved a defined level of competence and a commitment to maintenance of enhanced skills in certain domains of care. Members who hold CACs are a valued resource to other family physicians and to patients.

A CAC credential is conferred by the CFPC and upon receiving this credential, family physicians are authorized to use the CAC designation as long as they maintain their competence through continuing professional development.