Independent practice

Applicants who meet all of the requirements of the full class of registration may engage in independent, unsupervised medical practice within their scope anywhere in British Columbia.

Applying for full registration

Full registration permits a registrant to practise medicine within the scope of their education, qualifications and experience.

Pre-application

Physicians and surgeons should first determine whether they meet the ºÚÁÏÉç’s requirements for registration and licensure in the full class.

Applicants can refer to the following to determine if they meet ºÚÁÏÉç requirements:

For physicians and surgeons who do not meet the requirements for full class but hold other certification that may be eligible, see other options:


Application

Applicants who meet the requirements for registration and licensure in the full – family, full – specialty, or osteopathic class should complete an Application for Medical Registration (AMR) through . This should be completed no more than three months prior to their intended start date in BC.

Applicants who hold an active unrestricted full licence in another Canadian province or territory, who do not already have an account on and do not wish to create an account, can request a PDF application form by emailing registration@cpsbc.ca. All other applicants must submit an AMR through .

Applicants who meet the requirements for registration and licensure in the full – podiatry class should email registration@cpsbc.ca to request an application package directly from the ºÚÁÏÉç.

Requirement and eligibility

The ºÚÁÏÉç reviews all applications and assigns a file manager to an applicant. The file manager will email the applicant with the secondary application package.

Applicants must meet the following application requirements:

  • provide a certificate of professional conduct (CPC) from the regulatory or licensing authority in each jurisdiction where the applicant has held medical licensure or trained/practiced—this must be dated within 60 days from the intended start date of practice in BC
  • provide reference letters as per the ºÚÁÏÉç’s instruction
  • meet the ºÚÁÏÉç’s English language proficiency requirements

Fees

  • Full – family, full – specialty, osteopathy
    The application fee for submission of the AMR through is C$665, plus additional fees charged by the Medical Council of Canada.
  • Full – podiatry
    C$665 registration fee
  • USA certified
    C$665 registration fee

Types of full registration

More information on the requirements for full registration in family practice
More information on the requirements for full registration in specialty practice
More information on requirements for full registration in osteopathic practice
More information on requirements for full registration in podiatric practice
ABMS certification in emergency medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, or psychiatry

Do you have questions?

Connect with the registration and licensing department