Practice Readiness
Assessment (PRA)

The required final step of an alternate path to independent practice in Alberta.

Before you begin

Steps you need to take before a PRA

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What to expect
during the PRA

Parts A & B and timelines

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Fees and policies

Fees you can expect throughout the assessment process

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About the Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA)

The Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA) is the required final step of an alternate path to independent practice in Alberta.

International medical graduates (IMGs) from outside CPSA’s list of approved jurisdictions, and Canadian graduates who fail a national exam, must pass the PRA before joining CPSA’s temporary Provisional Register.

Before you begin your PRA

Below are the steps you need to take before beginning the PRA process:

Submit review of qualifications and receive eligibility letter. CPSA will confirm if you meet eligibility requirements and send an Eligibility Letter.

Secure sponsorship and pass the TDM Exam (Family Medicine only): Apply for eligible sponsored jobs via DoctorJobsAlberta.com. Note: Your sponsor must send us a sponsorship form.

Submit all supporting documents: Your CPSA Registration Administrator will contact you after we receive your TDM exam results (if applicable) and sponsorship form.

Steps towards the Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA)

Have you completed all the steps above?

You’re ready to begin your PRA process.

Once we have your full application and supporting documents, we’ll send your file to the PRA program and start setting up your assessment. See PRA steps below (Part A may be waived based on your qualifications).

Completed the PRA? Learn about next steps

What to expect during the PRA: Part A & Part B process

Part A: Preliminary Clinical Assessment (PCA)

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Part A: Preliminary Clinical Assessment (PCA)

Over 3 months, you’ll work under direct observation in the medical practice of a CPSA-approved assessor. The assessor will always be the physician in charge of the practice and will oversee everything you do. They’ll review your clinical competence, chart management and professionalism. CPSA can end the assessment at any point if there is enough evidence to determine you have not passed.

Review CPSA's guidelines for assessors

Part B: Probationary Assessment (previously known as the Supervised Practice Assessment)

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Part B: Probationary Assessment (previously known as the Supervised Practice Assessment)

Over 3 months, a CPSA-approved supervisor will observe you in independent practice where you are the physician in charge. During this phase, you can bill Alberta Health for your medical services. The supervisor will visit you regularly to review charts and collect feedback from your patients, colleagues and staff. CPSA can end the assessment at any point if there is enough evidence to determine you have not passed.

Review CPSA's guidelines for supervisors

Transfer to Provisional Register

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Transfer to Provisional Register

After successful completion of the PRA: Part A & Part B, you will be placed on the Provisional Register.

  • If you obtain your Canadian certification, you may become eligible for the General Register.
  • Without Canadian certification, you would need to complete up to 2 Competency Assessments to become eligible for the General Register.
    Learn about competency assessments

Timelines

Average and extended timelines

  • The average timeline to complete all the steps leading up to and including the PRA is 37 weeks.
  • The extended timeline to complete all the steps leading up to and including the PRA is 154 weeks.

Factors that may affect the timing of each step include:

  • Your questions about the qualifications
  • Time it takes for you to gather information from third parties
  • TDM exam result, such as a need to retake the exam
  • Your PRA start date availability
  • PCA assessor and supervisor availability

PRA fees

Fees (taxes included) are paid by the sponsor and cover:

  • The cost of the assessors’ time and any expenses they incur related to the assessment.
  • Any fees we may pay to the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) to be a part of the pan-Canadian PRA program (NAC-PRA).

Applicants may be responsible for their own assessment fees—please review your employment and sponsorship contracts for details.

See our PRA fee schedule

Assessment information

Assessors

CPSA relies on qualified physician assessors to conduct PRAs. Our assessors are highly-respected clinicians who help us ensure we’re registering competent and well-trained physicians.

Interested in becoming an assessor? Learn more here

Policies

Our registration assessment policies outline the processes for Practice Readiness Assessments.

Learn more about our registration assessment policies

PRA FAQs

To see more FAQs related to Registration, click on All FAQs and filter by "Registration"

All FAQs

Are there any exemptions from the Competency Assessment process, other than obtaining my Canadian certification?

Physicians on the Provisional Register who were exempt from the Preliminary Clinical Assessment (PCA) part of their initial Practice Readiness Assessment (e.g. academic appointments) are also exempt from the Competency Assessment(s). In these cases, CPSA will review their file near the expiry of their provisional registration to confirm they still meet all the requirements to transfer to our General Register, including being in satisfactory practice.

Are there any TDM exam exemptions?

  • Family Medicine physicians with CFPC-recognized training/certification outside Canada may be exempt from the TDM exam. Apply to the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) for certification without examination before applying for the TDM. If CFPC issues a recognition/certification notice, you may be exempt.
  • Once you have the CFPC notice and meet all other CPSA registration requirements, submit a Review of Qualifications through physiciansapply.ca and email the notice to registration@cpsa.ab.ca.
  • Family Medicine physicians who completed Canadian postgraduate training but have not passed the LMCC or CCFP are exempt from the TDM exam.

Am I eligible for the Approved Jurisdiction Route for international medical graduates?

International medical graduates (IMGs) from approved jurisdictions who meet CPSA’s other registration requirements may be eligible for the Approved Jurisdiction Route to registration. CPSA’s registration team reviews physician applications to determine eligibility, and for what route.

Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

Local: 780-969-4924
Toll-free: 1-800-561-3899 ext. 4924 (in Canada)

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Interested in becoming a registration assessment assessor?

See if there are any opportunities currently available.