Internationally Trained Physicians (ITPs)

We are committed to licensing qualified physicians to practise in Ontario, regardless of where they went to medical school

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.

Internationally trained physicians may be eligible for licensure in Ontario through several routes (pathways).

While our registration requirements page outlines the routes and requirements defined by provincial regulation, physicians with training or credentials outside of those specified in the regulation may also qualify for licensure under one of our registration policies.

Please note that information specifically for U.S.-trained physicians is available on a dedicated page of our website.

Explore these helpful infographics for more details:

Family Doctors and Specialists
	Academic Appointment at an Ontario Medical School as a Professor Pathway for Exam Eligible Candidates
Family Doctors
	Pathways for Family Doctors Without CFPC Examination
Specialists
	Pathway for RCPSC Subspecialty Examination Affiliate Program (SEAP) Candidates Pathway for RCPSC Practice Eligibility Route (PER) Candidates

Working in Canada

CPSO does not require that you hold Canadian citizenship or Permanent Resident status to issue a certificate of registration; however, the Canadian government will require you to hold a valid work permit in order to work in Canada. Information on how to apply for a Canadian work permit can be found here.

Please note that meeting visa/immigration requirements, as outlined by the Canadian government, is not part of the CPSO application process. Please ensure you fulfill these requirements separately.

Ontario Health's Access centre provides licensing guidance and career advice for Internationally Trained Health professionals. For immigration and career support, please contact [email protected].

How to Get Started:

Review the requirements - See the pathways above.
Submit your application - Apply online through CPSO's streamlined portal.
Receive your licence - CPSO ensures a timely review so you can start practicing as soon as possible.

Need more information? Our Inquiries Advisors can help via email or telephone at 416-967-2617 or toll free at 1-800-268-7096, ext. 617