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INDUSTRY NETWORKING
SESSION with
Dr. Karen Mazurek, Assistant Registrar
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta
Date: June 21, 2005
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Dr. Karen Mazurek presented on the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Alberta and the process by which foreign
trained physicians and general practitioners may take to
attain licensure in Alberta.
*
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta is
the regulatory and disciplinary body for physicians in
Alberta. All practicing physicians MUST BE licensed by
the CPSA, and abide by their policies and regulations.
* Foreign trained physicians are assigned to the
register category �part 5.�
Strategic goals of the CPSA:
1.
Ensure that members are ethical, competent and
accountable professionals
2. Secure public trust of the college and its mandate
3. Collaborate with external organizations and
government policy makers and influence public policies
that affect health care and practice
Why
License International Medical Graduates (IMGs)?
Even though a physician has had over 10 or 15 years of
experience practicing medicine in a foreign country, it
is still very crucial to measure and assess their skills
and experience against Canadian standards for
healthcare. Every country educates and trains their
professionals in a different way. Healthcare is also
regulated differently from one country to another.
What registration categories are available to IMGs?
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Post-graduate Education
(training can be
used toward eligibility for licensure) |
Need:
- medical degree
from a school listed in the International Medical
Education Directory (degree to be verified by
source)
- contract with
PGME (Postgraduate Medical Education) office at the
University of Alberta or Calgary
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Non-University Based Clinical Traineeship
(training cannot
be used toward licensure) |
Need:
- medical degree
from a school listed in the International Medical
Education Directory (degree to be verified by
source)
- community
preceptor (physician who will supervise the IMG) has
completed CPSA application for clinical traineeship
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Supervised Practice Role
(with rare
exceptions, experience cannot be applied toward
independent licensure) |
Need:
- medical degree
from a school listed in the International Medical
Education Directory (degree to be verified by
source)
- success on
preliminary assessment period of 3 to 6 months
- Medical Council
of Canada Evaluating Exam
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Independent Practice
(General
Practitioners) |
Need:
- medical degree
from a school listed in the International Medical
Education Directory (degree to be verified by
source)
- postgraduate
training similar to that received in a family
medicine residency in Canada or the US (24 months
with a minimum 2 months in each core discipline)
- Medical Council
of Canada Evaluating Exam
- references from
preceptors/senior colleagues
- preliminary
practice based assessment
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Independent Practice
(Specialist) |
Need:
- medical degree
from a school listed in the International Medical
Education Directory (degree to be verified by
source)
- 4 years of
postgraduate training acceptable to CPSA
- certification in
specialty from national certifying body in country
of origin
- written
assessment if available
- practice based
assessment
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There are two limiting factors in Calgary for foreign
trained physicians:
1.
There is no formal capacity for assessment in
Alberta. Although some health authorities (there
are 9 in Alberta) have Preceptorship or Community
Physician Trainee Role programs, Calgary does not have
assessment tools that will pair a licensed physician
with a foreign trained one.
2. Aside from completing a full residency program,
there is lack of upgrading for foreign trained
physicians to attain Canadian practice experience in a
supervised environment.
ADVICE:
For foreign trained physicians, one recommended path
to restarting a professional career in Calgary is to
take the Medical Council of Canada exams and to find
and work in physician-related services during the
process of accreditation. It will take time to become
an independent practitioner in Canada. Even if the job
you find does not count towards professional medical
experience for licensure, it will expose you to
Canadian medical culture and practice.
For further information contact Dr. Kate Reed,
Assistant Registrar:
Telephone: (780) 970-6203
Email:
kreed@cpsa.ab.ca
Website:
www.cpsa.ab.ca
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