Recognized Training and Certification From Outside Canada
Physicians who obtained certification in family medicine in a jurisdiction acceptable to the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) through a practice-eligible route are not eligible to apply for Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) without examination.
Any loss of licensure/registration to practise medicine for disciplinary reasons since the start of the family medicine/general practice training program, regardless of the length of the loss, automatically disqualifies a candidate from Canadian certification in family medicine via this route. This includes voluntarily surrendering one’s licence/registration to practice as part of an undertaking with a regulatory authority.
Effective March 3, 2025, the CFPC’s Board of Directors approved the increase of the non-refundable application fee to $520 and the certification fee to $3,432.
- 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 active practice in family medicine in the same jurisdiction where they completed their family medicine training program and were certified. The licence/registration must be active at the time of application and continuously throughout their entire career:
- This requirement is waived for applicants who are currently licensed/registered by a provincial or territorial medical regulatory authority 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.
- Demonstrate evidence of maintaining ongoing active certification in family medicine in that jurisdiction.
- Applicants granted a provisional/restricted licence/registration to practice in Canada more than one year preceding their application to the CFPC’s certification without examination program are expected to meet the annual CPD requirements for each full year between being awarded a provisional/restricted licence to practice 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 practice 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 that have been accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and meet the standards of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) who also 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) who also 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 that have been accredited by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) who also 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) who meet the standards of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) who also hold Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) -
United States of America
Graduates of family medicine residency training programs that have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) who hold the Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine (DABFM) designation
Application process for recognition of training and certification from approved jurisdictions
- Complete the online self-assessment questionnaire.
- If you are eligible to apply, become a member of the CFPC.
- Complete the online application and pay the $520 non-refundable fee.
- Register credentials with the Medical Council of Canada’s Physician Credentials Repository (physiciansapply.ca) and ensure 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 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 in the United Kingdom) 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.
- Australia: Document/certificate issued by the Regional Training Provider (RTP) that confirms the following:
- Successful completion of all aspects of Australian general practice training, as provided by (insert name of RTP)
- Start and completion date of the training with the RTP, including the Registrar Profile Report
- 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 Training (CSCT) issued by the ICGP–accredited training program confirming completion of training
- 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
- United States: Postgraduate training certificate issued by the ACGME–accredited family medicine training program confirming completion of training
- If currently not licensed to practise in Canada:
- Contact the MRA in the province where they 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 the applicant’s eligibility for certification without examination route
- If registered and practising in a province or territory of 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.
All applications are subject to review by the Board of Examinations and Certification of the CFPC, which will make final rulings on all questions of eligibility for certification.
For questions or further information, please contact [email protected]
