Obtaining a Medical Licence or a Physician Assistant Licence begins with a formal application to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador (CPSNL).
Physicians and physician assistants previously licensed in Newfoundland and Labrador (not including postgraduate training licences) should contact CPSNL’s Licensing and Registration Department by email (licensing@cpsnl.ca) for instructions on the application process.
All applicants will be charged a non-refundable Application fee. All fees can be viewed on the CPSNL’s Fee Schedule.
Physicians
Physician applicants for a Medical Licence can apply for registration via three routes:
- Standard Application;
- Fast-track Application; or
- Temporary Full Licence Application.
Please select the application method that best suits your circumstances.
Standard Application for Medical Registration
All first-time applicants, and applicants who do not meet the criteria for Fast-track and have not held a Licence in NL in the past three (3) years, typically must submit an Application for Medical Registration (Application) through physiciansapply.ca.
A complete submitted Application via physiciansapply.ca allows for a review of your:
- medical education
- postgraduate training
- professional certification
- practice history
- current/previous Licence(s) to Practice
- language proficiency
Please DO NOT submit any additional documents within the Application unless asked to do so by our Licensing and Registration Department.
Failure to provide all requested information may result in delays to the application process or the applicant being deemed ineligible.
Fast-track Application for Registration
Physicians with a Full, and unrestricted Licence in another Canadian province or territory may qualify for a Fast-track Application for Registration, and submission of documents through physiciansapply.ca may not be required.
CPSNL will require:
- completed application
- application fee
- Certificate of Professional Conduct from home jurisdiction
- evidence of professional liability coverage for Newfoundland and Labrador
- current government issued identification (must include photograph)
- credentials documentation
- reference(s)
- payment of licence and registration fees (prior to the issuance of the licence)
Physicians with a Full, and unrestricted Licence in another Atlantic Province (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island) can contact their home jurisdiction to apply for registration via the Atlantic Registry.
Applicants must not have any disciplinary actions, pending or concluded, undertaken by a medical regulatory authority or other recognized authority (e.g., a healthcare institution) against them in any jurisdiction. Those with a disciplinary history in any jurisdiction, pending or concluded, should go through the standard application process (physiciansapply.ca).
Applicants must not be undergoing monitoring for health reasons in the home jurisdiction.
Applicants must be compliant with Continuing Professional Development requirements in the home jurisdiction.
Licences can be issued within five (5) CPSNL business days from date of receipt of application and all required documentation. Licence and Registration fees applicable to your practice intentions are required to be submitted prior to the issuance of a licence.
Should you not meet the criteria above, you may still submit an Application for Registration via physiciansapply.ca.
For physicians interested in applying through this route, please contact licensing@cpsnl.ca for more information.
Temporary Full Licence Application for Registration
Temporary Full Licences are granted in cases where a physician is looking to practice less than 90 days.
CPSNL will require:
- completed application
- application fee
- Certificate of Professional Conduct from your home jurisdiction
- evidence of professional liability coverage for Newfoundland and Labrador
- payment of licence and registration fees (prior to the issuance of the licence)
Should a physician wish to practice in NL beyond 90 days, additional documentation will be required by CPSNL (See FAQ for more information).
Applicants must not have any disciplinary actions, pending or concluded, undertaken by a medical regulatory authority or other recognized authority (e.g., a healthcare institution) against the physician in any jurisdiction. Those with a disciplinary history in any jurisdiction, pending or concluded, should go through the usual application process.
Applicants must not be undergoing monitoring for health reasons in the home jurisdiction.
Applicants must be compliant with Continuing Professional Development requirements in the home jurisdiction.
Licences can be issued within five (5) CPSNL business days from date of receipt of application and all required documentation. Licence and Registration fees applicable to your practice intentions are required to be submitted prior to the issuance of a licence.
Should you not meet the criteria above, you may still submit an Application for Registration via physiciansapply.ca.
For physicians interested in applying through this route, please contact licensing@cpsnl.ca for more information.
Physician Assistants
Physician assistant applicants for a Physician Assistant Licence can apply for registration via the Physician Assistant Application. Physicians are not eligible for Physician Assistant Registration.
Physician Assistant Application for Registration
All first-time Physician Assistant applicants, and Physician Assistant applicants not holding a Licence in NL in the past three (3) years, must submit a Physician Assistant Application for Registration (Application) to CPSNL.
A complete submitted Application to CPSNL allows for a review of your:
- Physician Assistant education
- professional certification
- practice history
- current/previous Licence(s) to Practice
Please DO NOT submit any additional documents within the Application unless asked to do so by our Licensing and Registration Department.
Failure to provide all requested information may result in delays to the application process or the applicant being deemed ineligible.
For physician assistants interested in applying through this route, please contact licensing@cpsnl.ca for more information.
Issuing a Licence
Once an applicant has been deemed eligible for a Medical Licence or a Physician Assistant Licence, the following are required prior to being issued a Licence:
- Enrollment in a Continuing Professional Development Program as is outlined in the Continuing Professional Development Policy.
- Professional Liability Coverage for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Pre-Licensure Courses and Readings– Completed attestation or Course completion certificate for Providing Culturally Safe Health Care for Indigenous Patients in NL
- Payment of Fees – Payment of applicable Licence and Registration Fees – See Fee Schedule
- Practice Intention (location and dates)
- Confirmation of Sponsorship (if applicable) – For Provisionally Licensed physicians, and Clinical Assistants, a Licence may only be issued under the sponsorship of a Provincial Health Authority (PHA)
- Supervision and/or Oversight Agreement (if applicable) – For Clinical Assistant and Physician Assistants, a Licence may only be issued with CPSNL approval of a Supervision and/or Oversight Agreement
- Position Description (if applicable) – For Clinical Assistant and Physician Assistants, a Licence may only be issued with CPSNL approval of a Position Description
All medical practitioners (physicians) issued a licence, including a monthly licence, automatically become a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (the “NLMA”). In accordance with subsection 24(7) of the Medical Act, 2011, CPSNL Council shall revoke the medical practitioner’s licence within 30 days of receipt of notification from the NLMA that the medical practitioner has not paid membership fees.
If you are unsure which method to choose or need further clarification, please contact the Licensing and Registration Department at licensing@cpsnl.ca.