Recruiting an internationally trained physician starts with sponsoring a position
Sponsorship is a step towards bringing internationally trained physicians into Alberta. Before these physicians can begin their practice readiness assessments and enter the workforce, they must first apply for a sponsored position.
The sponsorship process helps potential sponsors know what we need from them. It also helps us understand what the applicant physician is being sponsored for and what kind of assessment they will need.
Who may become a sponsor
Since 2015, Alberta Health Services (AHS) was the sole sponsor for internationally trained physicians going through CPSA’s assessment process. While AHS-sponsored positions will continue to serve communities with the greatest need, we have expanded who may qualify to be a sponsor. Some examples include:
- individuals
- nonprofit or not-for-profit organizations
- for-profit corporations
- municipalities, counties or other legally recognized entities under the Municipal Government Act
- federal or other authorities, such as a First Nation, Métis Nation of Alberta, or a Métis Settlement
Expanded sponsorship rolloutThe expanded sponsorship model will be rolled out in phases:
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Expectations of sponsors
Sponsoring a position for recruiting physicians helps support community-based health care. It’s also an important responsibility.
CPSA expects all sponsors to:
- understand that sponsorship is of a position and to a practice/community, and not of a specific physician
- commit to sponsoring the successful candidate—the sponsored physician—for up to 6 years
- ensure the sponsored physician completes required orientation for international medical graduates through either University of Calgary or other approved/suitable course
- commit to financially supporting the sponsored physician through the registration process, practice readiness assessment (PRA) and into independent practice
- this includes living expenses, transportation costs and remuneration for PRA assessors and supervisors
- offer sponsored physician independent legal counsel to review all sponsorship and employment contracts
- recognize that CPSA’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics & Professionalism supersede any arrangements made between the sponsored physician and the sponsor
Sponsored physicians reserve the right to report concerns about a sponsor to CPSA. Maltreatment of a sponsored physician may result in CPSA withdrawing approval for that sponsor.
Application process: what to expect
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, you will need to apply to CPSA with details about the sponsored position, the patient population served by the position and more. CPSA reviews all applications to make sure sponsors meet their responsibilities to their community and to the physician who will fill the sponsored position.
Applying to become a sponsor involves these steps:
- Prospective sponsors complete the sponsor application form.
- CPSA reaches out to prospective sponsors to advise where applications are incomplete/missing information.
- Once an application is deemed complete, CPSA reaches out to prospective sponsors to pay the non-refundable sponsorship fee of $3,500 + GST.
- A sponsorship committee reviews the sponsor application submission and makes a decision.
Applicants will receive an email within two business days confirming receipt of the application. CPSA will strive to complete the initial screening of the application for completeness within two weeks and the final adjudication of the complete package with a written decision within another two weeks; the total time should be about one month for applications that require little to no follow-up. If an application is incomplete and requires further follow-up during the initial screening, this will impact the timelines above. We anticipate that our process will be faster as time passes and we work to improve efficiency, as well as get through the large and enthusiastic initial volume of requests.
If your sponsor application is approved:
- You will sign a sponsorship contract with CPSA.
- You will arrange for the sponsored position(s) to be posted on DoctorJobsAlberta.com (at a minimum).
- The successful physician candidate(s) will follow usual eligibility, registration and assessment processes.
- You will renew your sponsor status annually or if recruiting for additional positions.
If your application is not approved, you may submit an appeal.
Apply to become a sponsor >
Questions?
If you have any questions before completing your application, please use the contact form below reach out to our Registration Assessments team.
For current sponsors
Once you’ve identified a successful applicant physician, you’ll complete the following steps:
- Review the applicant physician’s CPSA Eligibility Letter to help with your selection process. The letter outlines which CPSA register the applicant physician can apply to and what assessment they need.
- Complete and submit the Physician Sponsorship form. This outlines the applicant physician’s type of practice, scope of practice and practice location.
- Update CPSA (if applicable) about any changes to a sponsored physician’s practice by completing the Change to Physician Sponsorship form.
Applicant physicians must maintain their sponsorship once they join CPSA’s Provisional Register.
Sponsorship FAQs
All FAQsWhat is sponsorship?
Sponsorship is a step towards bringing internationally trained physicians into Alberta. It starts with identifying a family medicine position in a primary care setting in the sponsor’s community of choice. Sponsors are responsible for recruiting physicians, which includes selecting the successful candidate to undergo CPSA’s assessment process.
Sponsors also play a key role in financially supporting the physician from CPSA registration and assessments through to independent practice in the community.
What has changed with the expanded sponsorship model?
Since 2015, Alberta Health Services (AHS) was the sole sponsor for internationally trained physicians going through CPSA’s assessment process. While AHS-sponsored positions will continue to serve communities with the greatest need, CPSA now welcomes individuals, organizations, corporations, and others with interest to apply to be a sponsor for a family medicine physician position in their desired community.
Why did CPSA expand their sponsorship model?
CPSA has expanded our sponsorship model to support continuous efforts to improve access to family medicine physician resources in our province.
How will this change benefit patients in Alberta?
Like all provinces and territories across Canada, Alberta is facing a family physician shortage. CPSA is expanding our sponsorship model to support improved access to community-based health care for patients in Alberta.
Who can become a sponsor?
Individuals, organizations, corporations, and others with interest may apply to be a sponsor for a family medicine physician position in their desired community. CPSA reviews all applications to make sure sponsors can meet their responsibilities to their community and to the physician who will fill the sponsored position.
After applying to CPSA, how long does it take to become a sponsor?
Applying to become a sponsor involves the following process:
- Prospective sponsors complete an application form on cpsa.ca.
- CPSA reaches out to prospective sponsors to advise where applications are incomplete/missing information.
- Once an application is deemed complete, CPSA reaches out to prospective sponsors to pay the sponsorship fee.
- A sponsorship committee reviews the sponsor application submission and makes a decision.
Applicants will receive an email within two business days confirming receipt of the application. CPSA will strive to complete the initial screening of the application for completeness within two weeks and the final adjudication of the complete package with a written decision within another two weeks; the total time should be about one month for applications that require little to no follow-up. If an application is incomplete and requires further follow-up during the initial screening, this will impact the timelines above. We anticipate that our process will be faster as time passes and we work to improve efficiency, as well as get through the large and enthusiastic initial volume of requests.
What are the overall costs of being a sponsor? How much does it cost to apply?
Prospective sponsors pay a non-refundable application fee of $3,500 + GST. This cost goes toward the assessment of the sponsor application.
If approved, the sponsor is responsible for financially supporting the physician from CPSA registration and assessments through to independent practice in the community.
Assessment fees range from $9,000 – $35,000 depending on the assessments the successful physician candidate must undergo. Other costs to support the successful physician candidate can range up to $100,000, which includes costs like incentives, relocation support, stipend during the assessments, support with work permits, site visit costs, etc.
Why does expanded sponsorship only include family medicine physicians?
CPSA identified family medicine positions as the most immediate priority for the first year. CPSA will be working toward expanding the sponsorship model to include specialty positions and eventually positions for any physician who meets CPSA eligibility requirements over the subsequent one-to-two years (mid 2025 onwards).
Questions about sponsorship?
Use this form to contact our Registration Assessments team. We’d love to hear from you!