Apply for Limited Practice

Clinical or surgical assistant registration criteria

CPSA has seven expectations of clinical or surgical assistants with limited practice registration:

1. Medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
2. Postgraduate training (minimum of 1 year).
   • For clinical assistants, this needs to be hospital-based training in clinical services providing direct patient care interaction in the acute care setting. Medical or clinical research, full-time administrative activity, and instruction in aspects of medicine not contributing to direct patient care do not qualify.

3. Medical Council of Canada’s Qualifying Exam Part 1 (MCCQE1)

4. Proof of English Language Proficiency if you were trained in a country where English is not the first and native language (even if English was the language of instruction). For more on this requirement, visit English Language Proficiency.

5. A criminal record check or police certificate is required from all locations you have practised and/or trained for more than 90 days in the last 5 years. Canadian criminal record checks are nation-wide, so only 1 is required. Although we don’t need it, we will accept a vulnerable sector check if it is a part of your criminal record check.
6. Demonstrate currency of practice. Within the last 3 years, you need to have been in postgraduate training or independent practice for at least 6 months.
7. Letter of offer from Alberta Health Services.
8. Successful completion of Alberta Health Services Clinical or Surgical Assistant orientation programme.

Apply for limited practice registration

To register for limited practice registration, you first need to apply for AHS’ pre-screening process.

Learn how to begin AHS’ pre-screening process.