Physician registration
In Alberta, all physicians and medical learners must be registered with CPSA.
We register medical students, medical residents, physician extenders (Alberta medical residents offering semi-autonomous health care under a registered physician) and physicians.
Physicians wishing to offer telemedicine or temporary care in Alberta must also be registered with CPSA.
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Registration updatesApply for registration
Physicians register for practice in Alberta under different circumstances. To start your application process, select the option below that best represents what you’re looking for.
Apply for independent practice |
Apply for physician extender registration |
Apply for limited practice registration |
Apply for telemedicine registration |
Apply for temporary activity registration |
Apply for postgraduate training in Alberta |
Apply for academic appointments |
Apply for non-clinical registration |
Registration policies
Our registration policies explain our assessment processes and outline eligibility requirements for our General Register, Provisional Register and Limited Practice Register.
English language proficiency
All physicians practising in Alberta need to be able to communicate clearly with their patients in English.
Incorporate your medical practice
Many physicians set up professional corporations (PCs) for their medical practices for financial and legal reasons.
CPSA can’t provide legal advice, so we recommend you consult with a lawyer or accountant with expertise in incorporation before you set up a PC and register it with us.
Registration assessments
Before we give a physician an Alberta medical permit, we often need to assess them to make sure they have the right skills and can practise safely.
CPSA currently performs Practice Readiness Assessments (PRA-AB), Return-to-Practice Assessments, Change-in-Scope Assessments and Summative Assessments.
Therapeutics Decision Making Exam
International medical graduates (IMGs) in Family Medicine who aren’t eligible for independent practice on the CPSA General Register or do not have Recognized Training and Certification Outside Canada through the CFPC can join our Provisional Register through a different path, which involves Alberta Health Services’ sponsorship.
For these physicians, the Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam is a prerequisite for this process. TDM is offered through the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) to review your clinical skills and knowledge to ensure you can practice at the level we expect of physicians in Canada.
Registration reviews
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your registration application, you can have our decision on your practice permit reviewed by a three-person panel of CPSA Council. This review process is overseen under Alberta’s Health Professions Act (HPA).
Registration FAQs
To see more FAQs about Registration, click on All FAQs and filter by "Registration"
All FAQsWhen will CPSA review my file to transfer me from the Provisional Register to the General Register?
CPSA reviews your status every time you tell us about new certifications, or when you reach your five or six-year anniversary on the Provisional Register. We may ask you for information about your certifications at that time to help us determine if you are eligible for the General Register.
Where do I get a Certificate of Professional Conduct / Certificate of Standing?
You must obtain a Certificate of Professional Conduct / Certificate of Standing from all the jurisdictions in which you were registered and practising medicine. These documents come from a licensing body, not from a university.
What happens when my registration is complete?
Once CPSA receives all your documents, if you are eligible for registration, you will get a confirmation email with your new CPSA registration number. This is the identification we use for all our future interactions with you. We’ll also send you an email to let you know when your permit is available in our secure physician portal for you to access.
How often do I have to re-register?
You must renew your registration annually by Dec 31 each year in order to continue practising and to bill the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. You renew your permit by filling in CPSA’s Renewal Information Form and paying annual fees.
If you have been out of practice for more than three years, you need to reapply.
Can I return to practice?
Most physicians can return to work with appropriate supports in place. PHMP may enter into an agreement with the physician to ensure they remain healthy and able to carry out their clinical duties.
Questions for our registration team?
Phone: 780-969-4924
Toll-free: 1-800-320-8624 (in Alberta)