Equivalent Jurisdictional Pathway to Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada

Only physicians who obtained certification in family medicine through an accredited postgraduate training program in a jurisdiction acceptable to the CFPC are eligible to apply through the Equivalent Jurisdictional Pathway to Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) route.

An applicant is deemed ineligible for this route to certification if any of the following apply:
  • Any involuntary loss, suspension, or removal of licensure/registration to practise, most typically due to disciplinary action, either before this application process or during this application process
  • Any previously denied licensure/registration in Canada or abroad
  • Any disciplinary or regulatory action imposed by a medical regulatory authority (MRA) in Canada or abroad, including any limitation, restriction, or condition imposed on the applicant’s licence or registration, any undertaking restricting the applicant’s practice, or any voluntary relinquishment of licensure or registration in connection with a regulatory matter
Any warning, caution, or other non-restrictive regulatory disposition issued by an MRA will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may result in ineligibility, having taking into consideration its nature, seriousness, recency, and relevance to the applicant’s suitability for certification.

Take our self-assessment survey to see if you are eligible.

 


Effective March 1, 2026, the CFPC’s Board of Directors approved the increase of the non-refundable application fee to $533 and the certification fee to $3,518.

The CCFP designation may be granted without examination through the CFPC’s Equivalent Jurisdictional Pathway only to physicians who meet all the following:
  • Graduated from an accredited postgraduate training program in family medicine/general practice in a jurisdiction where the standards for accreditation of postgraduate family medicine training and the criteria for certification are judged comparable and acceptable to the CFPC.
  • Maintained a valid and unrestricted licence/registration and have an active practice in family medicine in an approved jurisdiction. The licence/registration must be active at the time of application and must have remained active throughout the applicant’s entire career:
    • This requirement is waived for applicants who are currently licensed/registered by a provincial or territorial MRA to practise in Canada under a full or provisional/restricted licence.
    • There can be no voluntary gaps in licensure and/or active practice* for longer than two years, either continuously or in total, over the past three years of practice from the date of application.
* Active practice is defined as working as the physician who has the overall responsibility for directing and coordinating the care and management of an individual patient. Physicians who provide virtual care exclusively do not meet this requirement.
 
  • Demonstrate evidence of maintaining ongoing active certification in family medicine in that jurisdiction.
    • Applicants granted a provisional/restricted licence/registration to practise in Canada more than one year preceding their application to the CFPC’s certification without examination program are expected to meet the annual continuing professional development requirements for each full year between being awarded a provisional/restricted licence to practise and the date of their application to the CFPC’s certification without examination program.
  • Maintain a membership in good standing with the CFPC throughout the application process.
  • Meet all other requirements for licensure and have been granted registration to practise in a Canadian province or territory.
    • For Ontario, applicants are required to have been granted the approval under the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s Registration Committee’s policy for Recognition of Certification without Examination, issued by the CFPC.

Approved jurisdictions include:

  • Australia

    Graduates of Australian General Practice Vocational Training programs who have been accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC), meet the standards of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), and who hold Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP).

    OR

    Graduates of the vocational training routes accredited by the AMC and administered through the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and who hold the certification in family medicine leading to Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM).

  • Ireland

    Graduates of general practice vocational training schemes who have been accredited by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and who hold Membership of the Irish College of General Practitioners (MICGP).

  • United Kingdom

    Graduates of general practice vocational training programs that have been accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC) and meet the standards of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), and who also obtained membership in the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP).

    • If a candidate’s training through a formal accredited program and its approved sites cannot be confirmed due to the unavailability of records, the candidate will be deemed ineligible for this route to certification.

  • United States of America

    Graduates of family medicine residency training programs who have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and who hold the Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine (DABFM) designation.

 

Application process for the Equivalent Jurisdictional Pathway:

 
  1. Complete the online self-assessment questionnaire.
  2. Apply to become a member of the CFPC, if eligible.
  3. Complete the online application and pay the $533 non-refundable fee.
  4. Register credentials with the Medical Council of Canada’s Physician Credentials Repository and make sure the profile and documents are shared with the CFPC.
The CFPC requires source verification of the following documents:
  • Medical degree (Doctorate of Osteopathy from the United States is also accepted).
  • Postgraduate family medicine training.*
  • Certification in family medicine (FRACGP or FACRRM, MICGP, MRCGP, DABFM certificate).
  • Certificate or Letter of Good Standing/Professional Status, not older than six months, from the licensing body (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, Irish Medical Board, GMC) to show the physician’s complete registration history, including any gaps, disciplinary actions, and/or restrictions. The CFPC will request a report from the Federation of State Medical Boards in the United States.
  • Letter of Good Standing, not older than six months, from the certifying body (RACGP or ACRRM, ICGP, ABFM).
    • For those from all countries other than the UK, this letter should confirm maintenance of family medicine competence through continuous professional development. For those from the UK, an RCGP Letter of Good Standing is not required, as maintenance of competence is regulated through GMC.
*For postgraduate family medicine training:
  • Australia: Document/certificate issued by the Regional Training Provider (RTP) or the RACGP, that confirms the following:
    • Successful completion of all aspects of Australian general practice training, as provided by (insert RACGP, or the name of provider).
    • The start and completion dates of the training with the RTP, including the Registrar Profile Report.
    • Confirmation that the Australian general practice training meets the standards of the RACGP/ACRRM, which is accredited by the AMC for education and training, leading to FRACGP or FACRRM.
  • Ireland: Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) issued by the ICGP.
  • United Kingdom: Certificate of Prescribed Experience from the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training in General Practice or Certificate of Completion of Training from the GMC.
    • Physicians who have the Certificate of Prescribed/Equivalent or Certificate of Equivalent Experience will be asked to source verify the Confirmation of UK Training Posts issued by the GMC. The application will be accepted only if the document lists approved training posts, dates, and locations.
  • United States: Postgraduate training certificate issued by the ACGME–accredited family medicine training program confirming completion of training.
5. Provide evidence from an MRA in Canada that you meet all the requirements for licensure or registration in a provincie or territory in Canada, pending CCFP, and  you have been granted a provisional/restricted licence to practise in a province or territory in Canada.
  • If currently not licensed to practise in Canada:
    • Contact the MRA in the province/territory where you intend to apply for registration to practise and request an application package for registration.
    • Notify the CFPC if the MRA requires a letter commenting on your eligibility for certification without examination route.
  • If registered and practising in a province or territory in Canada:
    • Request a letter of standing (Certificate of Professional Conduct), not older than six months, to be sent from the MRA directly to the CFPC.
6. Pay the processing fee of $3,518 once all the requirements are met.

All applications are subject to review by the CFPC’s Board of Examinations and Certification, which will make final rulings on all questions of eligibility for certification.

For questions or further information, please contact [email protected].
 

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