Provisional License

Provisional Licensure in BC

A provisional licence permits you to practice medicine with limits and conditions granted by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • All physicians who practice medicine in the province must be registrants of the College.
  • Applicants to provisional licensure should first contact Health Match BC, then apply online via physiciansapply.ca; the whole application process may take several months.
  • The College will complete a preliminary assessment of your eligibility for provisional licensure, then present your file for review at one of the College’s Registration Committee meetings for an official ruling on your eligibility.
  • Once you have met all requirements of the Registration Committee and CPSBC has received confirmation of your sponsorship and supervision arrangements, you will gain access to the remainder of the application package, and can then proceed to Provisional licensure following an in-person College appointment.

MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

  • Provisional registrants require sponsorship by a BC Health Authority or UBC, as well as supervision by an acceptable full registrant – Health Match BC can assist you in arranging sponsorship and supervision, as well as obtaining any necessary Canadian visa/work permit.  Your local Division of Family Practice can also help to connect you with a supervisor in your new community.
  • Provisional registrants are typically limited to a single Health Authority area, and cannot complete locums of less than three months in duration.
  • Applicants should be aware that if they do not hold Certification of the CFPC, they will need to meet the College’s postgraduate training rotation requirements, and may require a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or equivalent document from the jurisdiction of their postgraduate training.