Licensing process in Manitoba

The regulatory body responsible for licensing physicians in Manitoba is the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba. The college offers two classes of registration - full and conditional.

The following are the requirements for full registration.

Academic - one of following:

1. Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada:

The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) has established the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), which is recognized by the 13 medical regulatory authorities in Canada, and is one of the requirements for the issuance of a licence to practise medicine in Canada.

To that end, the MCC administers the Qualifying Examination Part I (QE Part I) and the Qualifying Examination Part II (QE Part II). A Pass standing is required on both the QE Part I and the QE Part II in order be awarded the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada and be registered in the Canadian Medical Register.

An International Medical Graduate (IMG), for the purpose of eligibility for the MCC examinations, must have completed all of the requirements for the final medical diploma in a university outside of Canada or the United States which is listed in either the International Medical Education Directory or the World Health Organization's World Directory of Medical Schools.

An IMG must have a valid pass standing on the MCC Evaluating Examination (MCCEE) as one of the eligibility criteria for the Qualifying Examination Part I. Exception: An IMG who is a specialist certified by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties may request an exemption from the MCCEE.

2. Specialist certificate from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada obtained by examination

3. Specialist certification obtained through an examination administered by the College des medecins du Quebec

4. Degree in medicine from the University of Manitoba granted before Jan. 1, 1994

Clinical - one of following:

1. Satisfactory completion of the certification requirements of the College of Family Physicians

2. Certification from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

3. Specialist certification or family medicine certification obtained through an examination administered by the Collège des médecins du Québec

4. satisfactory completion of postgraduate clinical training:

• General practice - a two-year, postgraduate clinical training program acceptable to the college (must be an approved university teaching program containing a core of eight weeks in general medicine, eight weeks in general surgery, eight weeks in obstetrics, and eight weeks in pediatrics)
• Specialists - current certification from a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties allows for a licence limited to the specialty field

Conditional registration

General requirements:

• be a graduate from an approved faculty of medicine
• be issued a certificate from the Manitoba minister of health stating that the physician is required to provide medical services in a specified community or practice setting

Additional requirements:

1. If you are eligible for examination by one of the American specialty boards based on satisfactory completion of training, or you are a diplomate of an American board of medical specialty, and you do not hold the LMCC, you may be eligible for a licence limited to your specialty training field, and would be required to obtain the LMCC within five years of the date of conditional registration.

2. If you are eligible for examination in a specialty of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) you may be eligible for a licence limited to your specialty training field and would be required to obtain RCPSC certification within the time frame set by the RCPSC.

3. If you are eligible for examination by, or are a certificant of, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and you do not hold the LMCC you may be eligible for a licence in primary care. If you are not certified by the CFPC, you would be required to obtain certification within the time frame set by the CFPC and the LMCC within five years of the date of conditional registration.

4. All other applicants must:

a) have satisfactorily completed an assessment process acceptable to the college

• General practice - For detailed information on requirements for conditional registration for general (family) practice, please visit College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba.
• Specialists (not examination eligible by the RCPSC, or a member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties acceptable to the College) - a clinical assessment by the Division of Continuing Professional Development, University of Manitoba (minimum three months, maximum one year).

b) hold an unexpired pass standing in the MCCEE, and/or Part I, Part II, or both of the MCCQE,

c) have satisfactorily completed one of the following postgraduate clinical training requirements:

(i) For general practice:

• two years postgraduate clinical training acceptable to the college
• one year postgraduate clinical training acceptable to the college and have had a total of at least three years practice experience in the preceding five year period and complete an orientation program acceptable to the college
• the highest qualification in a specialty field where the length of training is of equal duration to that required by the RCPSC, which would entitle the physician to obtain a licence limited to the specialty training field, two years of post-graduate clinical training acceptable to the college and a postgraduate training program acceptable to the college which would entitle the physician to obtain a license limited to the specialty training field

(ii) For practice in a specialty area of practice:

• the highest qualification in a specialty field where the length of training is of equal duration to that required by the RCPSC, which would entitle the physician to obtain a licence limited to the specialty training field
• two years of postgraduate clinical training acceptable to the college and a postgraduate training program acceptable to the college which would entitle the physician to obtain a licence limited to the specialty training field

Applicants for general practice must obtain the LMCC within five years and the CCFP within seven years of the date of conditional registration. Applicants for a specialty area of practice must obtain the LMC within five years of the date of conditional registration.

Revised October 2011

Resources, websites and learning opportunities

Health Employment Manitoba
This government website is for international doctors interested in practising in Manitoba. Register with the Manitoba Physician Resource Co-ordination Office. The office will respond directly to your inquiries and help you fulfill immigration and licensure requirements.

Medical Council of Canada

Canadian Communication for Physicians Trained Abroad

A recent immigrant explains how he found employment in this profession

The Medical Act