Understanding physician and surgeon credentials

Glossary of typical credentials for physicians and surgeons who are registered and licensed by the ºÚÁÏÉç to practise medicine in British Columbia.

Designation

Licentiate designations are not displayed on registrant profiles.

AcronymDesignationDescription
MCCMedical Council of CanadaThe Medical Council of Canada develops, validates and implements tools and strategies to evaluate physicians’ competence, and maintains a national registry of physicians and their qualifications throughout their professional careers.
LMCCLicentiate of the Medical Council of Canada 

The MCC grants a qualification in medicine known as the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada to medical graduates who meet the following criteria:

  • they have passed the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I and Part II (or an acceptable clinical assessment deemed comparable to the MCCQE Part II)
  • they have satisfactorily completed at least 12 months of acceptable postgraduate training or an acceptable equivalent

The LMCC is not a licence to practise medicine. The authority to issue licensure and registration in Canada is solely that of the provincial colleges of physicians and surgeons. The LMCC is a part of the Canadian Standard, the set of requirements for awarding a full licence. Upon receiving their LMCC, candidates are also enrolled in the Canadian Medical Register.

CFPCºÚÁÏÉç of Family Physicians of CanadaThe ºÚÁÏÉç of Family Physicians of Canada is the professional body responsible for establishing standards for the training, certification and lifelong education of family physicians and for advocating on behalf of the specialty of family medicine, family physicians and their patients. The CFPC accredits postgraduate family medicine training in Canada’s 17 medical schools.
CCFPCertificate of the ºÚÁÏÉç of Family Physicians 

Certification is granted by the ºÚÁÏÉç of Family Physicians of Canada to physicians who have

  1. successfully completed residency training accredited by the CFPC and successfully completed the ºÚÁÏÉç’s Certification Examination in Family Medicine or an approved equivalent, or
  2. met the ºÚÁÏÉç’s criteria for practice eligible candidates as determined by the National Board, or
  3. successfully completed discipline specific training in family medicine in a jurisdiction other than Canada that has been approved as equivalent to accredited Canadian training in family medicine and who hold certification in family medicine or the equivalent qualification from a jurisdiction other than Canada and which is judged to be equivalent to Certification in the CFPC.

Physicians may hold a Certificate of Added Competence (CAC) special designation awarded by the ºÚÁÏÉç of Family Physicians of Canada. CAC special designations recognize those family physicians who have achieved and maintained enhanced skills in certain domains of care. Family physicians who hold a CAC designation must maintain competence through continuing professional development.

CMQCollège des médecins du Québec Specialist's Certificate in Family MedicineThe Collège des médecins du Québec issues the specialist's certificate in family medicine to physicians who hold a valid permit to practise in Québec and have successfully passed the ºÚÁÏÉç of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) exam.
RCPSCRoyal ºÚÁÏÉç of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

The Royal ºÚÁÏÉç of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is the national examining and certifying body for medical specialists in Canada. The RCPSC establishes standards for specialty medical education and accredits the residency programs and learning activities at Canada’s 17 medical schools. 

Physicians who have successfully completed extensive postgraduate specialty medical education and examinations are certified by the RCPSC in a specialty or subspecialty of the profession to which the term, title or designation relates (e.g. obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, psychiatry, or dermatology).

PER-SEAP CandidatePractice Eligibility Route for the Subspecialty Examination Affiliate Program

The Royal ºÚÁÏÉç of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is the national examining and certifying body for medical specialists in Canada. The RCPSC establishes standards for specialty medical education and accredits the residency programs and learning activities at Canada’s 17 medical schools.

Internationally trained subspecialists already licensed and practising independently in Canada who are not RCPSC certified in their primary specialty may be eligible to apply for assessment through the PER-SEAP allowing them to be formally recognized by the Royal ºÚÁÏÉç for their subspecialty only.

SEAPSubspecialty Examination Affiliate Program

The Royal ºÚÁÏÉç of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is the national examining and certifying body for medical specialists in Canada. The RCPSC establishes standards for specialty medical education and accredits the residency programs and learning activities at Canada’s 17 medical schools.

Subspecialist affiliates have successfully completed a Royal ºÚÁÏÉç subspecialty examination through the Subspecialty Examination Affiliate Program (SEAP), however have done so without completing the primary specialty examination.

Subspecialist affiliates are not Royal ºÚÁÏÉç certified nor are they eligible for fellowship. Maintenance of affiliate status requires ongoing participation in the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program.

USA CertifiedUSA Certified

USA certified is a registration and licensure class with the ºÚÁÏÉç for physicians who are diplomates of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), or the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).

Physicians in the USA certified class are not fellows of the Royal ºÚÁÏÉç of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

APMLEAmerican Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination

The APMLE are national board examinations administered by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME) that are taken by all podiatric surgeons. The AMPLE consist of three parts and assesses whether a candidate has the knowledge required to practise as a minimally competent entry-level podiatric surgeon, and determine whether a candidate’s knowledge and clinical skills are adequate for safe, unsupervised practice.

Students enrolled in any of the nine accredited DPM programs are required to pass Part I and Part II prior to commencing residency training. Part III of the APMLE is taken during residency.

ABPMAmerican Board of Podiatric MedicineThe ABPM offers podiatric surgeons wishing to complete advanced training beyond their DPM and residency a board qualification, and certification process for the specialty of podiatric orthopedics and primary podiatric medicine.
ABFASAmerican Board of Foot and Ankle SurgeryThe ABFAS offers podiatric surgeons wishing to complete advanced training beyond their DPM and residency a board qualification, and certification process for the specialty of foot and ankle surgery.