SOCASMA has received an e-mail (see in bold, in e-mail below) from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia indicating that it is seeking input into new proposed bylaws to put American Board certification on par with Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) certification. As per this new bylaw, you can be American Board certified OR RCPSC certified. This also applies to the Full Family Class—Bylaw 2-11 and for all Specialties. Applicants would’t need to have the MCCQE1.
In accordance with section 19(6.2)(a)(ii) of the HPA, notice of the proposed bylaw amendments will be posted for a 60-day notification period, providing registrants and other interested parties the opportunity to review and comment.
Comments can be submitted to the following by May 7, 2025.
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
Registrar and CEO
Fax: 604-733-3503
Email to respond to USA certified: bylaw29@cpsbc.ca
See proposed by-law in bold, in e-mail below:
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From: College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC <donotreply@cpsbc.ca>
Date: Fri, Mar 7, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Subject: Notification of Bylaw Amendments: Registration
Notification of Bylaw Amendments: Registration
On February 20, 2025, the College Board approved proposed amendments to the Bylaws under the Health Professions Act, RSBC 1996, c. 183 (HPA) specifically, the below sections related to registration.
Re-entry to or change in focus or scope of practice – section 2-9
The current bylaws provide processes for:
A registrant who is not current for clinical practice within the scope of their certified training and recent experience to regain currency or change the focus or scope of their clinical practice and,
An applicant who has previously practised medicine in British Columbia or another jurisdiction and who has been absent from practice for a period of time to regain currency or change the focus or scope of their clinical practice.
Currently, in addition to meeting other requirements, such registrants or applicants are required to undergo a review and assessment of their skill, knowledge and competency and provide reports upon completion of such review and assessment. The College is proposing amendments to the bylaws to align with current processes which do not include a review of skill, knowledge and competency. Under the proposed amendments, a registrant or applicant would be required to submit a proposed retraining plan, satisfactory to the College in order to regain currency in practice. Where a registrant or applicant wishes to change their scope of practice to an area in which they have not previously practiced, the registrant or applicant would continue to be required to meet the postgraduate training requirements in the area in which they wish to practice as well as submit a retraining plan and complete such retraining, satisfactory to the College.
Board Resolution 25-91
Redline
Clean
Associate Physicians – sections 2-25, 2-26, 2-50 and new section 2-25
The current bylaws provide a pathway for international medical graduates, with medical training acceptable to the College and who are not eligible for a full or provisional license in BC, to provide services as an associate physician while under the direction and supervision of an attending physician. Currently, there are three associate physician classes: associate physician – acute care, associate physician – community primary care, and associate physician – surgical assistant.
Under the proposed amendments, the three classes are combined into one class in order to streamline the bylaws and address the issues noted below. The proposed amendments will continue to require associate physicians to practise under the direction and supervision of an attending physician and have sponsorship, in addition to the following proposed changes:
Establishing a consistent one-year accredited training requirement in connection with the role of the associate physician,
An exemption from the requirement to meet the currency requirements under the bylaws subject to completing a period of retraining with their sponsorship, and
The requirement to comply with the continuing professional development requirements of the Associate Physician Program.
Board Resolution 25-92
Redline
Clean
Educational – postgraduate (fellow) – section 2- 31
The current bylaws provide that a physician may be granted registration in the educational – postgraduate (fellow) class for the purposes of pursuing further clinical or research training in their specialty. Currently, registration in this class is for a limited duration not to exceed three years. To account for postgraduate training programs which are four years in duration, the proposed amendments provide for a time period of four years to enable physicians to fulfill their postgraduate training program.
Board Resolution 25-93
Redline
Clean
USA Certified – sections 2-11, 2-12, 2-15, 2-27, 1-7, Schedule A
Under the current bylaws, US-trained specialists who are not eligible for full or provisional licensure in BC are eligible for licensure under the USA certified class without having to undergo further assessment or additional training subject to meeting the following requirements:
Completed postgraduate training in a training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and
Certification with the American Board of Medical Specialties in pediatrics, internal medicine, emergency medicine, or psychiatry.
In order to both reduce barriers for US-trained physicians wishing to practise in BC and address the physician shortage in BC, the proposed bylaw amendment would allow US-trained family or specialist physicians to be eligible for the full – family class or full – specialty class of registration if, in addition to completing the postgraduate training referenced above, they hold certification with the American Board of Family Medicine, the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians, or the American Board of Medical Specialties. Granting full licensure to US-trained and board-certified physicians without the need for further assessment, examination or training, has already been adopted by other jurisdictions including Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Board Resolution 25-94
Redline
Clean
Changes to the LMCC requirement – sections 2-11 to 2-12, 2-15 to 2-18, 2-33, 2-39 and new section 2-25
The Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) is granted by the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) and is a registration requirement of the College. The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) was previously conducted in two parts. The MCCQE Part I assesses the critical medical knowledge and clinical decision-making ability of a candidate at a level expected of a medical student who is completing their medical degree in Canada and entering postgraduate education in Canada. The MCCQE Part II was an Objective Structured Clinical Examination. In June 2021, the MCC ceased administering the MCCQE Part II and amended its requirement for obtaining the LMCC. Currently, a candidate must pass the MCCQE Part I and meet the eligibility requirements to obtain the LMCC.
The current bylaws require an applicant for independent practice in the full and provisional classes to have obtained the LMCC (or alternatively, completed acceptable licensing examinations in the USA) prior to being granted registration and licensure. The bylaws also require an applicant to the assessment, associate physician, and clinical observership classes to obtain either the LMCC or MCCQE Part I.
The proposed bylaw amendments provide that international medical graduates (IMGs) applying for registration and licensure in the full and provisional classes will not be required to hold the LMCC. As the MCCQE Part I assesses the medical knowledge and clinical decision-making abilities expected of a medical student completing their medical degree, it is not an appropriate requirement of IMG physicians who are generally mid-career and have completed their medical degrees and residency some time ago.
Further, the proposed amendments will provide that physicians applying for registration and licensure in the assessment, associate physician, and clinical observership classes will not be required to hold the LMCC. The assessment class is a pathway to licensure for IMGs who have already completed their residency and practised independently abroad. The assessment class permits these physicians, if selected by the Practice Ready Assessment – British Columbia program, to participate in a 12-week clinical field assessment. During this assessment, physicians practice under the supervision of trained physician assessors to demonstrate their clinical skills and readiness for independent medical practice. The associate physician class is a restricted form of license for physicians who have acceptable medical training but, are not eligible for registration in the provisional or full classes. Associate physicians are required to practise under supervision in accredited team-based care. The clinical observership class provides an educational experience for applicants to familiarize themselves with the clinical and ethical requirements of the Canadian medical system. Clinical observers are not authorized to practice independently and must be supervised by a registrant of one of the full classes of registration who is responsible for all clinical contact the clinical observer may have with patients.
The elimination of the LMCC requirement will remove barriers for internationally trained physicians wishing to practise in BC as well as help address the physician shortage in BC. Other jurisdictions have adopted a similar approach in order to address these same issues. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick does not require a physician to have obtained the LMCC for a regular licence while the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba eliminated the MCCQE Part I requirement for international medical graduates prior to applying for provisional registration.
Canadian medical graduates will still be required to obtain the LMCC prior to registration and licensure in the full or provisional classes.
Board Resolutions 25-95 and 25-169
Redline
Clean
In accordance with section 19(6.2)(a)(ii) of the HPA, notice of the proposed bylaw amendments will be posted for a 60-day notification period, providing registrants and other interested parties the opportunity to review and comment.
Comments can be submitted to the following by May 7, 2025.
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
Registrar and CEO
Fax: 604-733-3503
Email to respond to re-entry to or change in focus or scope of practice: bylaw26@cpsbc.ca
Email to respond to associate physician: bylaw27@cpsbc.ca
Email to respond to educational – postgraduate (fellow): bylaw28@cpsbc.ca
Email to respond to USA certified: bylaw29@cpsbc.ca
Email to respond to LMCC requirement: bylaw30@cpsbc.ca
Ministry of Health
Director, Regulatory Initiatives Professional Regulation and Oversight Branch
Email: proregadmin@gov.bc.ca