Recruiting an internationally trained physician starts with sponsoring a position.
Sponsorship is a step towards bringing internationally trained physicians into Alberta. Before these physicians can begin their practice readiness assessments and enter the workforce, they must first apply for a sponsored position.
The sponsorship process helps potential sponsors know what we need from them. It also helps us understand what the applicant physician is being sponsored for and what kind of assessment they will need.
Who may become a sponsor
Examples of who may apply to be a sponsor for a physician position in their desired community include:
- Individuals
- Nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations
- For-profit corporations
- Municipalities, counties or other legally recognized entities under the Municipal Government Act
- Federal or other authorities, such as a First Nation, Métis Nation of Alberta, or a Métis Settlement
CPSA reviews all applications to make sure sponsors can meet their responsibilities to their community and to the physician who will fill the sponsored position.
Expanded sponsorship rolloutCPSA has expanded our sponsorship model to support continuous efforts to improve access to physician resources in our province. The expanded sponsorship model will be rolled out in phases:
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Application process: what to expect
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, you will need to apply to CPSA with details about the sponsored position, the patient population served by the position and more. CPSA reviews all applications to make sure sponsors meet their responsibilities to their community and to the physician who will fill the sponsored position.
Applying to become a sponsor involves these steps:
Step 1: Application
Prospective sponsor completes the sponsor application form.
- CPSA to acknowledge receipt within 2 days.
- Prospective sponsor gets a copy after submission.
Step 2: Initial Review
CPSA completes an application rubric to ensure all necessary information is included.
- CPSA reaches out to prospective sponsor to advise where application is incomplete/missing if required.
Step 3: Complete Application
Once an application is deemed complete, CPSA reaches out to prospective sponsor to pay the non-refundable sponsor application fee of $3,500 + GST.
- Entered in CPSA database.
- CPSA sends invoice to prospective sponsor.
- Payment made by prospective sponsor.
Step 4: Review
A committee reviews the complete application within 2 weeks.
Step 5: Decision
CPSA makes approval/denial decision within 2 weeks.
- Decision email from CPSA Registrar to prospective sponsor.
- Letter from CPSA Assistant Registrar.
If the application is not approved, the prospective sponsor may submit an appeal.
Step 6: Contract
If prospective sponsor’s application is approved:
- Sponsor will sign a sponsorship contract with CPSA.
- CPSA emails contract to sponsor through DocuSign.
- Sponsor must register clinic with CPSA within 30 days.
Step 7: Position Posting & Recruit Applicant
- CPSA sends approval letter with position posting information to sponsor. CPSA does not handle the recruitment process.
- Sponsor posts their approved position(s) on DoctorJobsAlberta.com.
- Sponsor ensures applicant physician has a current/valid CPSA Eligibility Letter.
- Once sponsor has chosen the applicant physician, sponsor must notify the site administrative email of their successful applicant and request that the position be closed on DoctorJobsAlberta.com.
Step 8: Sponsor Applicant
- Sponsor submits the Physician Sponsorship form to CPSA.
- Sponsor is solely responsible for any applicable work permits, visas, immigration documents and employment contracts for chosen applicant physician.
Step 9: Renewal
Sponsor renews contract annually.
- Sponsor can request additional positions once they have filled the initial positions, the applicant physicians in those positions have successfully completed their practice readiness assessments and the sponsor has paid all assessment fees.
Ready to apply?
Apply to become a sponsor >
Questions?
If you have any questions before completing your application, please use the contact form below to reach out to our Registration Assessments team.
Expectations of sponsors
Sponsoring a position for recruiting physicians helps support community-based health care. It’s also an important responsibility. Sponsorship is of a position and to a practice/community, and not of a specific physician
CPSA expects all sponsors to make the following commitments:
Time and orientation support
- Sponsors are responsible for supporting the sponsored physician for up to 6 years while they are on the Provisional Register and until they qualify for a full practice permit.
- Sponsors must ensure the sponsored physician is adequately oriented to the practice and completes required orientation for international medical graduates through either the University of Calgary or another course which is deemed suitable and approved by CPSA.
Clinical oversight
- Sponsors must provide a current, active, in good standing physician who is on CPSA’s General Register to be responsible for supporting the sponsored physician’s professionalism.
- Sponsors must recognize that CPSA’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics & Professionalism supersede any arrangements made between the sponsored physician and the sponsor.
- Sponsored physicians reserve the right to report concerns about a sponsor to CPSA. Maltreatment of a sponsored physician may result in CPSA withdrawing approval for that sponsor.
Financial support
- Sponsors must commit to financially supporting the sponsored physician through the registration process, practice readiness assessment (PRA) and into independent practice.
- Prospective sponsors pay a non-refundable sponsor application fee of $3,500 + GST. This cost goes toward the assessment of the sponsor application. Approved sponsors will only need to pay the application fee for the first sponsor application form.
- Assessment fees range from $9,000 – $35,000 depending on the assessments the successful physician candidate must undergo. Other costs to support the successful physician candidate can range up to $100,000, which includes costs like incentives, relocation support, stipend during the assessments, support with work permits, site visit costs, etc.
Legal advice
- Sponsors must offer sponsored physician independent legal counsel to review all sponsorship and employment contracts.
Practice location(s)
- Medical clinics must be CPSA-registered in order to become a sponsor. Medical clinic registration is at no cost to clinics. Learn how to register your medical clinic >
The Patient’s Medical Home model must be in place for all sponsored family medicine physician positions or specialist positions that include longitudinal care.
- CPSA will not approve sponsor applications for family medicine positions or specialist positions that include longitudinal care that are not connected to a Patient Medical Home. The College of Family Physicians of Canada defines the Patient’s Medical Home as a medical practice where “family physicians work in teams with other healthcare professionals to provide accessible, high-quality care for their patients.” These other healthcare professionals may include nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists and others who work with the physician/specialist to ensure continuity of care.
For approved sponsors
Have you identified a successful applicant physician? Complete the following steps:
- Review the applicant physician’s CPSA Eligibility Letter to ensure it is valid and that the applicant physician is eligible to practise in Alberta. The Eligibility Letter will help with your selection process, as it outlines which CPSA register the applicant physician is eligible to apply for and what assessment they need to undergo.
- After selecting a successful applicant, ensure the appropriate job posting has been closed on DoctorJobsAlberta.com’s website.
- Complete and submit the Physician Sponsorship form. This outlines the applicant physician’s type, scope and location of practice.
- You are required to provide the names of potential supervisors for the Supervised Practice Assessment. Supervisor qualifications include:
- Have an Alberta medical practice permit
- Are on the General or Provisional Register
- Have a minimum of 3 years of active practice on either register in Alberta
- Are in good standing with CPSA
- Should work in or have access to all locations and scope of practice that the applicant needs to be supervised in
- Have no financial incentive in the facility/clinic or personal conflict of interest with the applicant
- You are required to provide the names of potential supervisors for the Supervised Practice Assessment. Supervisor qualifications include:
Note: With the recent introduction of the Physician Sponsorship and Change to Physician Sponsorship online forms, we will continue to accept the previous PDF forms by email until November 29, 2024.
For sponsored physicians
Have you completed your assessment and looking to change the details of your practice?
If you are a currently sponsored physician and want to change sponsors or other details of your practice, such as scope or adding or changing locations, your current sponsor must complete the Change to Physician Sponsorship form.
Physicians must maintain their sponsorship once they join CPSA’s Provisional Register.
Complete the following steps to change sponsors:
- Ask your current sponsor to provide CPSA with a Change to Physician Sponsorship form indicating withdrawal of Sponsorship.
- You will apply for a sponsored position on DoctorJobsAlberta.com.
- Once you are selected by the new sponsor as the successful candidate, your new sponsor must notify the site administration to close the position on DoctorJobsAlberta.com, as well as inform CPSA that you are the chosen candidate.
- Your new sponsor can proceed with submitting a separate Change to Physician Sponsorship form indicating the new clinic location and scope of practice.
Important notes:
- Your sponsor should not submit a Change to Physician Sponsorship form until they have a signed contract with you.
- We will reject the Change to Physician Sponsorship form if we receive it from your new sponsor prior to receiving the Change to Physician Sponsorship form indicating withdrawal from your current sponsor.
Sponsorship FAQs
All FAQsWhat is sponsorship?
Sponsorship is a step towards bringing internationally trained physicians into Alberta. Sponsors are responsible for recruiting physicians, which includes selecting the successful candidate to undergo CPSA’s assessment process.
Sponsors also play a key role in financially supporting the physician from CPSA registration and assessments through to independent practice in the community.
How is CPSA expanding the sponsorship model?
Since 2015, Alberta Health Services (AHS) was the sole sponsor for internationally trained physicians going through CPSA’s assessment process. While AHS-sponsored positions will continue to serve communities with the greatest need, CPSA now welcomes individuals, organizations, corporations, and others with interest to apply to be a sponsor for a physician position in their desired community.
How will this change benefit patients in Alberta?
Like all provinces and territories across Canada, Alberta is facing a physician shortage. CPSA is expanding our sponsorship model to support improved access to community-based health care for patients in Alberta.
Who can become a sponsor?
Individuals, organizations, corporations, and others with interest may apply to be a sponsor for a physician position in their desired community. CPSA reviews all applications to make sure sponsors can meet their responsibilities to their community and to the physician who will fill the sponsored position.
After applying to CPSA, how long does it take to become a sponsor?
Applying to become a sponsor involves the following process:
- Prospective sponsors complete a sponsor application form on cpsa.ca.
- CPSA reaches out to prospective sponsors to advise where applications are incomplete/missing information.
- Once an application is deemed complete, CPSA reaches out to prospective sponsors to pay the sponsorship fee.
- A sponsorship committee reviews the sponsor application submission and makes a decision.
Prospective sponsors will receive an email within 2 business days confirming receipt of the application. CPSA will strive to complete the initial screening of the application for completeness within 2 weeks and the final adjudication of the complete package with a written decision within another 2 weeks; the total time should be about 1 month for applications that require little to no follow-up. If an application is incomplete and requires further follow-up during the initial screening, this will impact the timelines above. CPSA anticipates that our process will continue to become more efficient and timelier with increased experience in managing sponsorship applications.
Can approved sponsors sponsor more than one position?
Yes, approved sponsors can sponsor multiple physician positions. Approved sponsors must submit separate sponsor applications for each clinic location but can request multiple physician positions with each application.
Can sponsored physicians practise from different clinic locations?
Yes, sponsored physicians can practise from different clinic locations as long as the locations are associated with the same sponsor. However, sponsored physicians must have a primary clinic location. All clinics where the physician will work must submit an application and receive approval before the physician works at that location. The clinic locations must be included in the sponsor application form and Physician Sponsorship form.
Do approved sponsors need to pay the sponsor application fee for each sponsor application form submitted?
Approved sponsors will only need to pay the sponsor application fee for the first sponsor application form.
Do non-physician or clinic sponsors need to find a physician and clinic partner?
Yes, sponsors must have a practice location identified and a physician on CPSA’s General Register to provide clinical oversight.
Can an approved sponsor have sponsored physicians lined up before a new clinic is opened?
No, sponsorship is only permitted to fill physician positions in clinics which are currently in operation.
Questions about sponsorship?
Use this form to contact our Registration Assessments team. We’d love to hear from you!