The Atlantic Registry is a regional licensing framework developed by the four Atlantic Canadian medical regulatory authorities—the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. It is designed to support physician mobility across the region by enabling eligible physicians to practice across all four Atlantic provinces under a streamlined licensure model, reflecting the intent of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.

For Newfoundland and Labrador, physicians who hold Full registration in good standing with no conditions or restrictions, who are not the subject of an active complaint proceeding or disciplinary matter awaiting adjudication, with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador (or the equivalent Full licence in another Atlantic province) may be eligible to participate in the Atlantic Registry.

Participation in the Atlantic Registry is opt-in. Eligible physicians must submit an opt-in request through their home Atlantic College—defined as the province where they file their income tax, sign consents and pay the applicable annual fee (currently $500). This single fee replaces separate application or temporary licensure fees across the Atlantic provinces and is processed through the physician’s home College.

Once a completed opt-in request, criminal record check, signed consents and payment is received; the physician is granted reciprocal licensure across all participating Atlantic provinces, allowing for cross-jurisdictional practice without separate applications in each province. Physicians must wait for confirmation of licensure from the relevant province before beginning practice there. Participation is renewed annually through the home College, and continued eligibility is confirmed at the time of annual renewal.

Physicians participating in the Atlantic Registry are expected to comply with the regulatory requirements, standards, and applicable laws of the province in which care is delivered. They are responsible for ensuring appropriate credentialing and hospital privileging where applicable, as well as maintaining adequate professional liability coverage for all provinces in which they practice.

Regulatory oversight and complaints are managed in the jurisdiction where the clinical encounter occurs. Physicians remain subject to the standards and authority of each participating Atlantic College while practicing under the Registry.

Participation may be discontinued if a physician opts out, relocates outside the Atlantic region, fails to meet ongoing licensing requirements, or if concerns arise regarding conduct, competence, or capacity.

How to Opt In to the Atlantic Registry

Opting in to the Atlantic Registry must be done through the College from which you hold your Full licence, and in the jurisdiction where you practice the majority of the time.

To opt in to the Registry, you must:

• Please contact CPSNL for the opt in form (licensing@cpsnl.ca)
• Send your completed form

• • By Mail: 120 Torbay Road, Suite W100, St. John’s, NL, A1A 2G8
  • By Email: licensing@cpsnl.ca
  • By Fax: (709) 726-4725

Approval for Registration on the Atlantic Registry

Once the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador receives your completed opt-in form (including all consent forms) and clear enhanced Canadian Criminal Record Check, an internal review will be conducted to determine your eligibility. If approved, the College will recommend Full licensure to each of the other Atlantic Colleges upon payment of the associated fee.

When you have successfully opted in to the Atlantic Registry, the other Atlantic provinces will issue you a Full licence, and you may practice in those jurisdictions.

Atlantic Registry Requirements

The Home Jurisdiction College will review the prospective Atlantic Physician’s College file to confirm whether the physician meets all the following criteria:

1. they hold a Full Licence in the Home Jurisdiction
2. they have a clear enhanced Canadian criminal record check
3. their “Home Jurisdiction” is an Atlantic province
4. their licence or registration in the Home Jurisdiction:
   1. has not been revoked in the previous ten years
   2. has not been suspended, including on an interim basis, in the previous ten years
   3. is not subject to a current restriction or condition which has been applied due to disciplinary or quality assurance/fitness to practice issues, including those conditions or restrictions agreed to by a physician in an agreement or undertaking
5. they are not subject to any open complaint that is known to the Home Jurisdiction, regardless of the jurisdiction in which the complaint was filed
6. they have not received more than one non-disciplinary outcome resulting from a complaint within the last three years (e.g. caution, counsel, censure)
7. they are not currently subject to ongoing monitoring or undergoing a quality assurance or fitness to practice review as a result of a concern(s) raised regarding the physician’s health or competency to practice medicine
8. there are no concerns in any jurisdiction, which are known to the Home Jurisdiction College, and deemed by the Registrar of the Home Jurisdiction College to be a barrier to opt-in, including but not limited to:
   1. criminal convictions, criminal charges, or restraining orders
   2. actions taken against hospital privileges

   If you have any additional questions, please contact us at 709-726-8546 or licensing@cpsnl.ca.