How to Become a Physician in Alberta
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta to work as a physician in Alberta or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- physician
Show the source
“Under Alberta’s Health Professions Act [pdf], Health Professions Restricted Activity Regulation [pdf], and Physicians, Surgeons, Osteopaths and Physician Assistants Profession Regulation [pdf], registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) is mandatory.”
From alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/physician-surgeon..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 0 steps
- Licensed in another province: 3 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 7 steps (1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total)
- Annual fees
-
- Annual renewal fee (physician extender): $1,000
Source
“| Annual renewal fee | $1,000 | $900 |”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p... - Annual renewal fee (physician extender): $900
Source
“| Annual renewal fee | $1,000 | $900 |”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p...
- Annual renewal fee (physician extender): $1,000
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
- Annual fees: $1,900
Steps not listed by the regulator Check with CPSA
Licensed in another province
0 of 3 done
- 3 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $1,900
-
Your transfer may be made easier by agreements and legislation such as the Labour Mobility Act, the Canadian Free Trade Agreement and the New West Partnership Trade Agreement, which support recognition of licences across Canadian jurisdictions.
Source
“These agreements support recognition of licences across Canadian jurisdictions.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... -
During application review CPSA assesses whether you qualify for the General Register, if you hold a full unrestricted licence in another Canadian jurisdiction, or the Provisional Register (Conditional Practice), if you hold a provisional licence with no conditions or accommodated conditions and obtain sponsorship.
Source
“Your eligibility for registration (General or Provisional Register) will be assessed during application review.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... -
You must complete the full CPSA application process to apply for an Alberta practice permit.
Source
“All applicants must complete the full CPSA application process.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with CPSA
3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees: $1,900 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Annual renewal fee (physician extender): $1,000
Source
“| Annual renewal fee | $1,000 | $900 |”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p... - Annual renewal fee (physician extender): $900
Source
“| Annual renewal fee | $1,000 | $900 |”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p...
Trained outside Canada
0 of 7 done
- 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
- 6 steps without a listed fee
- Annual fees: $1,900
- Listed time: 3 months (only 1 of 7 steps state a time)
-
You create a physiciansapply.ca account and submit your qualifications review, after which CPSA confirms whether you meet eligibility requirements to join the Provisional Register and sends an Eligibility Letter.
- Review of qualifications (CPSA, via physiciansapply.ca): $200 (complete a review of qualifications through your physiciansapply.ca account first to get access to the complete application for independent practice)
Source
“Review of qualifications, $200; complete a review of qualifications through your physiciansapply.ca account first to get access to the complete application for independent practice”
mcc.ca/credentials-and-services/pathways-to-licensure/application-f...
Source
“Create your physiciansapply.ca account and submit your qualifications review: CPSA will confirm if you meet eligibility requirements to join the Provisional Register and send an Eligibility Letter *(steps 1 & 2)*.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... - Review of qualifications (CPSA, via physiciansapply.ca): $200 (complete a review of qualifications through your physiciansapply.ca account first to get access to the complete application for independent practice)
-
You apply for eligible sponsored jobs via DoctorJobsAlberta.com, and your sponsor must send CPSA a Physician Sponsorship Form.
Source
“Apply for eligible sponsored jobs via DoctorJobsAlberta.com. Note: Your sponsor must send us a Physician Sponsorship Form *(step 3)*.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... -
Family Medicine applicants must pass the TDM Exam, though some physicians with CFPC-recognized training or certification outside Canada, or who completed Canadian postgraduate training without the LMCC or CCFP, may be exempt.
Source
“Secure sponsorship and pass the TDM Exam (Family Medicine only)”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... -
You refer to your Eligibility Letter to complete and submit your full application with all supporting documents.
Source
“Submit all supporting documents: Refer to your Eligibility Letter to complete and submit your full application *(step 4)*.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... -
Over about three months, a CPSA-approved supervisor observes you in independent practice, visiting regularly to review charts and collect feedback, while you can bill Alberta Health for your services.
Time: 3 monthsTime source
“Over 3 months, a CPSA-approved supervisor will observe you in independent practice where you are the physician in charge.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract...Source
“Over 3 months, a CPSA-approved supervisor will observe you in independent practice where you are the physician in charge.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... -
After successfully completing the PRA Part A and Part B, you are placed on the Provisional Register.
Source
“After successful completion of the PRA: Part A & Part B, you will be placed on the Provisional Register.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... -
If you obtain your Canadian certification you may become eligible for the General Register; without it, you would need to complete up to 2 Competency Assessments.
Source
“Without Canadian certification, you would need to complete up to 2 Competency Assessments to become eligible for the General Register.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract...
Listed fees for this route
1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
6 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Annual fees: $1,900 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.
- Annual renewal fee (physician extender): $1,000
Source
“| Annual renewal fee | $1,000 | $900 |”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p... - Annual renewal fee (physician extender): $900
Source
“| Annual renewal fee | $1,000 | $900 |”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p...
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Initial registration fee (physician extender): $200
Source
“| Initial registration fee | $200 | $200 |”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p... - physiciansapply.ca account setup: $150
- Source verification request: $232 (per medical credential)
- File transfer service: $65 (per document transferred)
Source
“File transfer service Learn about file transfer services ### $65.00 Per document transferred”
mcc.ca/fees - File transfer service: $260 (four or more documents transferred to the same third party in a single transaction)
Source
“$260.00 Four or more documents transferred to the same third party in a single transaction”
mcc.ca/fees - MCCQE (formerly MCCQE Part I) application: $1,500
- MCCQE eligibility window extension: $120
- Appeal fee: $1,200
- LMCC application: $50
- LMCC document replacement: $100 (per document)
- Application for medical registration (AMR): $240
Requirements
Education
You need an approved medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree.
Source
“An approved medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/physician-surgeon...
Experience
You need 2 years of acceptable post-graduate training in family medicine, or 4 or more years of acceptable post-graduate training in a specialization.
Source
“2 years of acceptable post-graduate training in family medicine or 4 or more years of acceptable post-graduate training in a specialization”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/physician-surgeon...Physician extender applicants must have completed at least 12 months of related postgraduate training.
Source
“Completed at least 12 months of related postgraduate training”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p...
Other
You need registration as a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), or an equivalent credential.
Source
“Registration as a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), or equivalent”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/physician-surgeon...You need certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the Collège des Médecins du Québec.
Source
“Certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or the College des Medecins du Quebec (CMQ)”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/physician-surgeon...Unless exempt, you must complete an academic version of an English Language Proficiency test within 24 months before submitting your CPSA application.
Source
“Unless exempt, you need to complete an academic version of an English Language Proficiency (ELP) test within 24 months before submitting your CPSA application.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/english-language-...Physician extender applicants must hold the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC).
Source
“Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p...Physician extender applicants must have the support of their current program director, and the permit is valid only while enrolled full-time in a postgraduate medical program at the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary.
Source
“The physician extender practice permit is valid only while you are actively enrolled full-time in a postgraduate medical program at the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p...
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
Physicians already licensed in another Canadian province or territory may transfer under agreements such as the Labour Mobility Act, the Canadian Free Trade Agreement and the New West Partnership Trade Agreement, and must complete the full CPSA application process for an Alberta practice permit. Source
“Physicians, surgeons, and osteopaths who are registered by and in good standing with a regulatory body elsewhere in Canada may be eligible for registration in Alberta.”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/physician-surgeon...
Review transfer agreements
Source
“These agreements support recognition of licences across Canadian jurisdictions.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract...Apply for practice permit
Source
“All applicants must complete the full CPSA application process.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with CPSA
Credential assessment
Source verification request
Verification of the applicant's medical credentials
Exams
-
Therapeutics Decision-Making (TDM) Exam
Source
“Secure sponsorship and pass the TDM Exam (Family Medicine only)”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... -
Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA)
Source
“International medical graduates (IMGs) from outside CPSA’s list of approved jurisdictions, and Canadian graduates who fail their certification exam, must pass the PRA before joining CPSA’s Provisional Register.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... -
MCCQE (formerly MCCQE Part I)
-
NAC Examination
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with CPSA
Exemptions: Some applicants may be exempt from proving English language proficiency. Source
“This page outlines the English Language Proficiency (ELP) tests you are permitted to take, as well as exemptions for proving English language proficiency.”
cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/english-language-...
Canadian experience
Applicants need acceptable post-graduate training in Canada, either 2 years in family medicine or 4 or more years in a specialization. Source
“2 years of acceptable post-graduate training in family medicine or 4 or more years of acceptable post-graduate training in a specialization”
alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/physician-surgeon...
Supervised practice
Required
Applicants who do not meet the requirements for independent practice may be placed on the Provisional Register, where they practise under conditions or supervision before moving to the General Register. Source
“The Provisional Register includes physicians and osteopaths who do not meet the criteria for the General Register yet, but are working on getting what they need to get onto the General Register (paperwork, experience, etc.).”
cpsa.ca/about-cpsa/statistics/quarterly-statistics
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $66,798 | $178,213 | $327,151 | Very good (5 of 5) |
| Canada | $90,826 | $232,227 | $435,240 | — |
Physicians in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Licence required
- Ontario Licence required
- Quebec Licence required
- New Brunswick Licence required
- Nova Scotia Licence required
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Licence required
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Licence required
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Physician, Surgeon and Osteopath: Certifications in Alberta - alis alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/certifications-in-alberta/physician-surgeon... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Transfer to Alberta from Another Province or Territory - College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta | CPSA cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA) - College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta | CPSA cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/independent-pract... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Application for medical registration | Medical Council of Canada mcc.ca/credentials-and-services/pathways-to-licensure/application-f... · fetched October 10, 2026
- English Language Proficiency - College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta | CPSA cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/english-language-... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apply for Physician Extender Registration - College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta | CPSA cpsa.ca/physicians/registration/apply-to-practise/medical-learner/p... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Examination and service fees | Medical Council of Canada mcc.ca/fees · fetched October 10, 2026
- Quarterly statistics: Physician resources in Alberta - College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta | CPSA cpsa.ca/about-cpsa/statistics/quarterly-statistics · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a physician in Alberta?
Yes. Registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta is required to practise in Alberta, and to use the title physician.
Which exams are required?
Therapeutics Decision-Making (TDM) Exam, Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA), MCCQE (formerly MCCQE Part I), NAC Examination.
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