Enhancing Registration: new Approved Jurisdiction Route

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As Alberta’s communities continue to grow and more patients need timely access to care, CPSA’s Registration team remains focused on streamlining the registration and assessments process while maintaining high standards of of physician competence, which supports good patient care. Our recent process improvements recognize substantial equivalence of credentials for international medical graduates (IMGs) from approved jurisdictions, allowing them to start practising in Alberta sooner.

What’s changing?

Previously, physicians eligible for the Accelerated Jurisdiction Route were required to obtain a sponsor and complete a Supervised Practice Assessment (SPA) and two Competency Assessments before their transfer to the General Register.

Now, IMGs certified in approved jurisdictions, where their medical education and training are deemed substantially equivalent to Canadian standards, are eligible for full licensure on the General Register without any additional assessments.

This means:

• CPSA will no longer require SPAs or Competency Assessments for IMGs who qualify for the Approved Jurisdiction Route.
• Eligible physicians will be added directly to the General Register upon completing their registration.

CPSA has contacted all eligible applicants in Alberta who qualify for the Approved Jurisdiction Route, providing them with next steps to begin their transfer to the General Register.

Learn more about the Approved Jurisdiction Route to registration here.

While all policy shifts require a clear implementation timeline, we recognize the significant personal, professional and financial investment by those who have already completed the PRA process through the Accelerated Jurisdiction Route. We deeply respect and wish to thank all physicians in the province who met CPSA’s previous requirements. CPSA is committed to continuously evaluating and improving our processes to ensure that physicians are moving through our registration assessments and into independent practice as efficiently as possible.

Fee changes for Alberta-trained postgraduate trainees

To support the retention of postgraduate trainees doing their residency or fellowship in Alberta, CPSA has waived registration fees ($800) and the first annual renewal fee ($2,000) for physicians graduating from a postgraduate training program between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027. Eligible individuals will receive more information about these fee changes from CPSA shortly.

Questions? If you have any questions regarding this updated process, please reach out to CPSA’s Registration team at registration@cpsa.ab.ca.