CPSO does not rely on third parties to assess qualifications/credentials and does not use the application through Physiciansapply.ca. Applications are submitted directly to CPSO through our Portal. We conduct assessment of all credentials in-house. This allows us to eliminate additional fees for applicants, provide a much quicker turnaround for document verification, and maintains our expertise as leaders in credential evaluation across Canada and worldwide.
Medical Students Transitioning to Residency
Before you can register with CPSO for an Ontario residency, you need to be matched to a residency program via one of the province’s six medical schools. The Canadian Resident Matching Services (CaRMS) facilitates the matching process.
Once you're matched and accepted to a postgraduate training program, CPSO is notified in early Spring. We will send a message to the email address you registered with CaRMS, outlining instructions on how to apply through CPSO’s online Member Portal, and important information about postgraduate registration processes and timelines.
You must complete four steps to get a postgraduate education license for residency in Ontario:
- Have a medical degree from an accredited Canadian or U.S. medical school, or an acceptable international medical school, and meet other pertinent registration requirements;
- Apply to CaRMS to be matched to a postgraduate training program;
- Apply to CPSO for postgraduate education:
- Await application instructions from CPSO.
- Log into CPSO’s Member Portal.
- Submit your online application and associated fee.
- A Credentialing Assessor will complete your application’s initial assessment and update the Schedule of Requirements.
- Monitor the application’s Schedule of Requirements and action required documents as required.
- Complete New Member Orientation
- Credentialing Assessor completes final verification of the application prior to the postgraduate training appointment start-date.
- Get your Postgraduate Education license.
Please visit the CaRMS website for further information and to initiate the match process for a Canadian residency program.
Maintaining a Postgraduate Education License
The academic year for postgraduate trainees in Ontario runs from July 1 through June 30. Trainees continuing subsequent postgraduate training in Ontario are required to renew their certificate of registration between April and June. The Ontario medical school will notify CPSO directly of each subsequent postgraduate training appointment through a formal Letter of Appointment (LOA). Upon receipt of the LOA, an email will be sent with instructions on how to renew through the online Member Portal. To engage in subsequent postgraduate training, the following renewal process must be completed by June 30:
- Complete the online annual renewal form to CPSO’s satisfaction; and
- Submit payment of the annual membership fee.
Final-Year Residents Applying for Independent Practice
An Independent Practice certificate of registration permits a physician to practice in the areas in which they are trained and experienced.
Residents are permitted to apply for Independent Practice three to four months before their postgraduate training is complete. However, the certificate of registration will only be issued once all eligibility requirements for Independent Practice are met, including successful completion of postgraduate training in the core speciality and successful completion of the required examinations. Note: physicians are permitted to engage in further postgraduate training while holding an Independent Practice certificate of registration.
Below are the eligibility requirements to apply for Independent Practice in Ontario:
- Medical Degree from an accredited or acceptable medical school.
- Part 1 of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) and Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC).
- Certification by examination either from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).
- Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.
- Completion of one year of postgraduate training at a Canadian medical school or one year of active medical practice in Canada.
If physicians do not meet the regulatory requirements outlined above, we recommend reviewing CPSO’s alternate registration policies.
Contact Us
If you have questions regarding the registration process for physicians in Ontario, please contact the Inquiries Team by phone at 416-967-2617 or 1-800-268-7096 Ext. 617, or email [email protected].