All physician resource numbers are based on quarterly data:

• Q1: January 1 to March 31
• Q2: April 1 to June 30
• Q3: July 1 to September 30
• Q4: October 1 to December 31

Fully-registered physicians in Alberta

This table provides a count of the number of physicians who are registered with CPSA by taking into account both the General and Provisional Registers. Quarterly comparisons provide a clear picture of the changes in physician resources.

Definitions

• Fully-registered Physicians in Alberta: Physicians in independent practice who can work in medicine in the areas they have been trained in and are responsible for their medical practice.
• General Register: The General Register includes all physicians and osteopaths who are responsible and accountable for their medical practice, without supervision by another physician or CPSA.
• Provisional Register: The Provisional Register includes physicians and osteopaths who do not meet the criteria for the General Register yet, but are working on getting what they need to get onto the General Register (paperwork, experience, etc.).

Limitations

Counts: The numbers reflect physicians who held an active license on the last day of the quarter; it cannot be interpreted as those who are actively practising.

Regulated members by other licensures

This table provides a count of the number of members who are registered with CPSA by taking into account other areas of licensure.

Definitions

• Associate Physicians: Physicians who do not meet the requirements to practice independently and must work under supervision.
• Non-clinical Physicians: Physicians and physician assistants who have active practice permits but are not engaged in any clinical work for at least 6 consecutive months.
• Physician Assistants: Trained healthcare providers who work under the supervision of a physician. Physician Assistants are not physicians and do not hold a medical degree. Training may include special military programs or education directly through university-based programs.
• Physician Assistant Students: Healthcare professionals undergoing training to become Physician Assistants.
• Provisional Register Post-Grads: Physicians or osteopaths enrolled as a resident or fellow in a postgraduate training program approved by the Registrar. They are not the most responsible physician in the care of patients, and their practice of medicine is subject to the supervision of the Program Director or designate.
• Student Register: Register for undergraduates enrolled in a faculty of medicine in Alberta or enrolled in another medical school who are undertaking undergraduate medical education at a university in Alberta.

Limitations

Counts: The numbers reflect physicians who held an active license on the last day of the quarter; it cannot be interpreted as those who are actively practising.

Fully-registered physicians by individual specialties

This table provides a quarterly comparison of physician resources by specialties.  Physicians are categorized by their most recently recognized specialty. If a physician obtains a new certification, their initial speciality is reduced by one and the new specialty is increased by one.

Limitations

These counts do not necessarily reflect physicians’ functional area of practice, or even if they have an active clinical practice.

Fully-registered physicians by AHS regional zones

This chart provides net changes by Zone for those physicians fully licensed in Alberta.  The chart is broken down to reflect Specialists in Family Medicine and Specialists in Non-Family Medicine.

Fully-registered physicians by practice locations

This table provides the number of fully-registered physicians in Alberta by practice location.

Fully-registered physicians by place of graduation

This table reflects where physicians received their medical diplomas. “Graduate Other Locations” refers to medical schools outside Canada or the United States.

Summary of Practice Readiness Assessments (PRA)

A Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA) is the required final step of an alternate path to independent practice in Alberta for international medical graduates (IMGs) who don’t have complete Canadian credentials or are not eligible for the Approved Jurisdiction Route.

Once an IMG registers with CPSA, they must pass this 2-part assessment of their clinical competence, chart management and professionalism to join CPSA’s Provisional Register. If a Canadian medical graduate fails a national exam, they also have to participate in a portion of this assessment and pass before joining the Provisional Register.

Definitions

• Practical Clinical Assessment (PCA): Over 3 months, physicians work under direct observation in the medical practice of a CPSA-approved assessor.
• Probationary Assessment: Over 3 months, physicians work in independent practice as the physician in charge while under observation of a CPSA-approved assessor.