Updates to the physician sponsorship form and process

CPSA has revised the physician sponsorship form and process for approved sponsors as follows:

As of August 20, 2026, approved sponsors will not be required to name potential Probationary Assessment supervisors for their sponsored physician until after the physician has completed their Preliminary Clinical Assessment (PCA) and is preparing to begin their Probationary Assessment (PA).

Previously, approved sponsors were required to name potential supervisors earlier in the process.

Scope of practice assessment updates

As of August 20, 2026, if an approved sponsor selects the sponsored physician’s scope of practice as anything other than clinic-based practice on the physician sponsorship form, CPSA will assess the physician’s ability to work in that chosen scope during the Preliminary Clinical Assessment (PCA). If the sponsored physician successfully completes the PCA within the chosen scope, they are permitted to continue working in that scope of practice during their PA if there is a position available.

Before the sponsored physician can begin their PA, the sponsor must ensure that the relevant public facility or health service provider (such as Alberta Health Services, Covenant Health or Recovery Alberta) is aware of the recruitment and knows that the physician either holds, or is expected to hold, the appropriate CPSA registration for the proposed work.

If any new facility locations are added to a sponsored physician’s work, the sponsor must submit an updated physician sponsorship form before CPSA can begin arranging the PA.

If a facility-based position is not available when the PA begins, the physician may complete a clinic-based PA instead.

Questions? Contact the Registration Assessments team at RegistrationAssessments@cpsa.ab.ca.