Being a CPSO Registrant

Do PAs need to carry professional liability insurance?

Yes. All regulated health care professionals, including PAs, must have professional liability protection. PAs are required to hold at least $10 million in professional liability insurance issued by a company licensed to carry on business in the province. Please note that standard HIROC policy may not include coverage for regulatory matters such as CPSO complaints. PAs will need to ensure that their professional liability insurance includes this coverage, as well as coverage for civil proceedings, and should contact their insurance provider to confirm.

For PAs seeking insurance coverage, members of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) have access to a group insurance policy offered by BMS Canada Risk Service Ltd. For more information, please contact CAPA or BMS.

Do PAs need to fulfil any Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements?

Yes. The regulations require that PAs participate in a program of CPD and that PAs shall, each year, provide to CPSO proof of their participation that is satisfactory to CPSO.

PAs are required to complete the CPD requirements set by their certifying body, which is either the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC) or National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

For more information, please refer to the CPD section of CAPA’s website or the Maintain Certification page on NCCPA’s website.

Are PAs expected to comply with CPSO’s professional obligations for physicians?

Yes. As a regulated profession, PAs are required to meet their legal obligations under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, and the Medicine Act, 1991, as well as the professional obligations set out by CPSO. CPSO has also developed professional obligations for PAs highlighting the key expectations PAs need to comply with.

Do physicians and PAs practising within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) health system need to comply with CPSO’s professional obligations?

Physicians and PAs practising within the CAF health system and providing care in CAF clinics or other military settings in Ontario fall under federal jurisdiction and are expected to comply with the CAF’s applicable regulatory framework and standards, rather than CPSO requirements.

However, if a physician or PA provides care outside the CAF context—such as treating civilian patients in Ontario (e.g., in hospitals, community clinics, or other provincially funded settings)—they are considered to be practising in Ontario. In those circumstances, they must be registered with CPSO and comply with its professional obligations, including Professional Obligations: Delegation of Controlled Acts.

More Information

If you have additional questions, please contact [email protected].