About non-clinical registration
Physicians and physician assistants who have active practice permits but are not engaged in any clinical work for at least 6 consecutive months may qualify for CPSA’s non-clinical register.
Clinical work refers to providing medical services or advice directly or indirectly to patients, including writing prescriptions and ordering diagnostic tests.
Examples of situations that may qualify for the non-clinical register include registered members who are:
- on parental leave
- performing full-time administrative work
- teaching full time
- temporarily out of Alberta (for at least 6 months)
- serving on a committee full time
Registered members who have sanctions under Part 4 of the Health Professions Act (suspension, withdrawal from active practice due to a complaint) do not qualify for the non-clinical register.
To qualify for the non-clinical register, you must not perform clinical work for at least 6 consecutive months. Read on to learn more.
How to qualify
Physicians and physician assistants must not perform clinical work for at least 6 consecutive months to qualify for the non-clinical register. If this describes your situation, your first step is to let us know about the change to your practice status. There are 2 ways to notify us:
- through the annual Renewal Information Form (RIF) if the change is effective at the beginning of the next calendar year
- by contacting our Registration team if the change is effective after the annual RIF has closed
Annual Renewal Information Form (RIF)
When asked to indicate your practice status on your RIF, there will be an option that says, “I have an active practice permit but I will not be engaged in any clinical work for at least 6 consecutive months starting Jan. 1 (of the following year).” If you select this option, CPSA’s Registration department may reach out to verify your change in practice status.
Contact our Registration team
If you decide to change your practice status after the annual RIF has closed, please reach out to our registration team as part of your preparations for stopping your clinical work. You must notify us 1 month in advance by contacting registration@cpsa.ab.ca. We can then assess your situation to see if you qualify for the non-clinical register and, if so, begin your transfer.
Requirements
While on the non-clinical register, regulated members must:
- be enrolled in and meet the minimum credit requirements (CPD) of either MAINPRO+ (College of Family Physicians of Canada) or Maintenance of Certification (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada).
- maintain an address for the public and the CPSA physician directory. A PO Box is acceptable, but we do not recommend using a home address or phone number, or personal mobile number.
- maintain CMPA coverage for administrative duties.
Fees
The registration fee for physicians placed on the non-clinical register is $550. For physician assistants, the the non-clinical register fee is $137.50.
You are responsible for the general or provisional registration fee until you notify our Registration team of your plans to change your practice status and you’ve been placed on the non-clinical register. Once we have approved your transfer to the non-clinical register, your remaining general or provisional registration fee will be prorated, taking into account the non-clinical register fee.
Resuming clinical work
When you start planning your return to clinical work, please email us at registration@cpsa.ab.ca 1 month advance so we can begin the process of transferring you from the non-clinical register to the provisional or general register. Your general or provisional registration fee will be prorated for the remainder of that year.
Important: If you remain on the Non-Clinical Register for 3 consecutive years, you will no longer have currency of practice in your discipline, which will impact your registration eligibility. Your path back to independent practice is unique to your specific circumstances. If this applies to you, contact our Registration team to learn more.
How will my registration fees be affected if I qualify for the non-clinical register?
If you qualify for the non-clinical register, the non-clinical register fee will apply until you resume clinical work.
If you stop performing clinical work after annual renewal closes, you will be responsible for the general or provisional registration fee until the time you begin the process of transferring to the non-clinical register. You must notify us 1 month in advance of your plans to transfer to the non-clinical register. Once approved, your remaining general or provisional registration fee will be prorated, taking into account the new non-clinical register fee.
Please contact us 1 month in advance of resuming your clinical work so we can begin the process of transferring you from the non-clinical register to the provisional or general register. Your general or provisional registration fee will be prorated for the remainder of that year.
Is there a minimum amount of time I must not be performing clinical work to qualify for the non-clinical register?
Registered members must not perform clinical work—providing medical services or advice directly or indirectly to patients, including writing prescriptions and ordering diagnostic tests—for at least 6 consecutive months to qualify for the non-clinical register.
What happens if my leave or switch to non-clinical work begins after annual renewal?
While you perform clinical services, you will not qualify for the non-clinical register.
As part of preparations for stopping your clinical work, you must notify us 1 month in advance by contacting registration@cpsa.ab.ca. We can then assess your situation to see if you qualify for the non-clinical register and, if so, begin your transfer.
What if my leave from non-clinical work will be shorter than 6 months?
Registered members must not perform clinical work for 6 consecutive months to qualify for the non-clinical register. A registered member resuming clinical work in fewer than 6 months would not qualify for the non-clinical register.
Who qualifies for the non-clinical register?
Physicians and physician assistants who have active practice permits but are not engaged in any clinical work for at least 6 consecutive months may qualify for the non-clinical register. Clinical work refers to providing medical services or advice directly or indirectly to patients, including writing prescriptions and ordering diagnostic tests.
Registered members who have sanctions under Part 4 of the Health Professions Act (suspension, withdrawal from active practice due to a complaint) do not qualify for the non-clinical register.
Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.
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