“Cape Breton Island offers a beautiful landscape and kind people – the type of place that makes for a great place to set up a practice as a family doctor. There are great opportunities for work, and to maintain a nice work-life balance.”
To work as a physician in Nova Scotia you need to be able to obtain a license to practice in Canada through our provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons.
If you are looking to practice family medicine in Nova Scotia, you are required to complete, have completed, or be eligible to challenge examinations from the Medical Council of Canada (MCC). If you are a specialist, you will need to have completed exams or meet exam eligibility requirements for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Family physicians trained in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Australia, or United States may be exempt from exams, with the proper experience.
Registration & LicensingThis is designed to offer you a quick check to establish if your credentials would be deemed on par with Canadian.
Approval for licensure is subject to verification of documents and further processes.
EligibilityIn addition to licensing and exam eligibility, you will also be required to obtain insurance from the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) to practice in Canada. These fees are calculated based on a fee schedule and vary based on specialties.
CMPA Insurance
Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC) FMRAC sets the standards for Canadian Regulation of Medical Profession. They provide recommendations for provincial bodies to regulate licensing. You can read its recommendations here.
Federation of Medical Regulatory AuthoritiesAre you a licensed physician outside of Canada, but interested in relocating? This helpful link will direct you to all of the essential information you will need to begin your journey!
Physicians ApplyInternational medical graduates (IMGs) may apply to the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment Program (NSPRAP) if they are unable to find another pathway to practice or licensure. Applicants must be eligible for a defined license with the Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons. A defined license would not be granted until successful completion of the NSPRAP.
NSPRAP“Cape Breton Island offers a beautiful landscape and kind people – the type of place that makes for a great place to set up a practice as a family doctor. There are great opportunities for work, and to maintain a nice work-life balance.”