TDM exam process
On March 1, 2018, CPSA required all international medical graduates (IMGs) in Family Medicine who weren’t eligible for our General Register to pass the Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam before submitting a Review of Qualifications for independent practice in Alberta.
As of October 1, 2020, IMGs who wish to practice independently in Family Medicine in Alberta must be eligible for our Provisional Register requirements and submit a Review of Qualifications before applying and taking the TDM exam.
If you are a Family Medicine physician and you want to join our temporary Provisional Register, you will need to pass the TDM exam and get AHS sponsorship within 1 year of receiving your CPSA eligibility letter. Once you have both, your Registration Administrator will send you a letter outlining which documentation we need before you register for our Provisional Register.
Why the change?
- This change helps us avoid delays in recruiting physicians to Alberta.
- Applicants understand their CPSA-eligibility before writing the TDM exam.
- The updated process better aligns with PRA programs across Canada.
What is the TDM exam?
The Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam is for International medical graduates (IMGs) in Family Medicine, and is available through the Medical Council of Canada (MCC). Through the TDM exam, your clinical skills and knowledge are reviewed to ensure you can practice at the level we expect of physicians in Canada. It standardizes the selection process for practice readiness assessment (PRA) programs across Canada.
The TDM exam is not required for physicians who are eligible for our Provisional Register and who have Recognized Training and Certification Outside Canada through the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).
For more information on the exam, visit MCC’s TDM Exam Information.
Keep reading to learn more about TDM exam, the application process, fees, study resources, next steps and more.
How to apply
First, make sure you are eligible to practice independently in Alberta. Review our Family Medicine eligibility requirements and apply for independent practice. You will receive your CPSA eligibility letter telling you your eligibility and next steps.
The TDM exam is held twice a year. If you are planning to apply, we recommend you keep an eye on this webpage for updates—this is where we post the date the application is opening. Once the application is open, you may apply through this webpage at the “Apply” link below. You will use the same email you used to apply for independent licensure, and you will be asked to provide:
- MINC Number
- Previous PRA and TDM exam attempts
- Test Accommodations
After you submit your application, we review it and determine your eligibility to write the TDM exam. You will get an email stating your eligibility. If eligible, you will be instructed to pay the TDM exam fee(s) online. Once this payment is received and processed, your spot to write the exam is secure. You will receive emails throughout this process informing you of the next steps. Please note: if your eligibility letter expires after you apply for the TDM exam but before you write, you will need to reapply for independent practice.
Next exam dates
Because there is a limited window for registration, we approve all applications on a first-come, first-served basis.
2023
- January 11, 2023
Registration is now closed - June 6, 2023
Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. MT on Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Exam details
If you are eligible to write the online TDM exam, the MCC will send you a message through your physiciansapply.ca account a few weeks before the exam date. This message will include:
- your Authorization to Test (ATT) number
- instructions on how to schedule your exam
- when the scheduling period will begin
The TDM exam will be offered at Prometric test centres across Canada. In addition to ensuring security and quality control, Prometric test centres adhere to local health authority guidelines. Sessions will have physical distancing and personal protective measures in place to help keep candidates safe.
For more information about the TDM exam scheduling, please visit MCC’s TDM Examination webpage.
TDM exam fees
| 2022 | 2023 | |
| Exam fee | $2,190 + GST | $2,405 + GST |
| Score re-check fee | $256 + GST | $265 + GST (Jan – Mar)$270 + GST (Apr – Dec)* |
| Withdrawal fee | $400 + GST | $400 + GST |
*MCC’s fiscal year will begin in April starting in 2023.
Your exam fee is due as soon as CPSA approves your application—your spot is not secured until you pay.
If you withdraw 5 days (120 hours) or greater prior to the exam date, you will receive a partial refund of the full exam fee, minus the $400 withdrawal fee. If you withdraw within 5 days (120 hours) of the exam date, all fees are non-refundable.
For more information on fees, check out the TDM Exam Candidate Guidelines from MCC.
TDM candidate resources
We strongly recommend reviewing MCC's candidate information sheet and preparation resources to help you prepare for your exam. MCC's TDM exam resources include exam info, withdrawal policies, what to expect on the day of your exam, scoring and results, and test accommodations.
All ResourcesNext steps: after the exam
If you passed the TDM exam
Congratulations on passing your exam! Once you pass the TDM exam, you will receive a result letter. This letter will be sent to you via email and added to your CPSA file and physiciansapply.ca account.
If you haven’t already got Alberta Health Services (AHS) sponsorship, you need to get it by going to doctorjobsalberta.com and applying for physician postings eligible for AHS sponsorship. If you’re hired through AHS, they will sponsor you. Refer to your eligibility letter for more details.
When our Registration team receives both your TDM exam pass result letter and AHS sponsorship form, you will receive more information on which documentation is required to continue with registration on our Provisional Register.
If you didn’t pass the TDM exam
You may reattempt the exam in the following calendar year. You cannot apply for consecutive exam sessions. If you do not pass, your registration file will close after 1 year. Once your file has closed, you can then re-apply for independent licensure at any time. You must meet our current registration requirements at that time.
For more information on the TDM exam recheck, reconsideration or validity periods, visit TDM Examination Results.
FAQ about TDM
All FAQsAre there any TDM exam exemptions?
Yes, Family Medicine physicians who have Recognized Training and Certification Outside Canada through the CFPC may be exempt from writing the TDM exam. To get exemption, we encourage you to apply to the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) for certification without examination before applying for the TDM exam. If CFPC sends you a notice recognizing your training, you may be exempt from writing the TDM exam. Once you get this notice and you meet all the other CPSA registration requirements, submit a Review of Qualifications through physiciansapply.ca and email a copy of your CFPC notice to: registration@cpsa.ab.ca
Also, Family Medicine physicians who complete their postgraduate training within Canada, but do not pass the LMCC or CCFP, are exempt from writing the TDM exam.
Can CPSA increase the frequency of the Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam?
The National Assessment Collaboration’s (NAC) Practice Readiness Assessment only offers this exam two times per year in all jurisdictions, and the Medical Council of Canada sets the exam schedule.
Do I need to take this exam if I am a specialist?
How long does it take to receive my TDM exam results?
You should receive your TDM exam results within approximately 8 weeks of writing the exam. We’ll send it to you by email, and will also be uploaded to your physiciansapply account.
How long is my Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam result valid for and how many times can I take the exam?
Candidates are permitted 1 TDM exam attempt per administration year. If you did not pass the exam, you may reattempt the TDM exam in the following year. You cannot apply to consecutive exam sessions. Candidates may attempt the TDM exam a maximum of 4 times (which includes a maximum of 2 pass results).
Because the impacts of COVID-19 caused some PRA program intakes to be postponed and/or cancelled, the MCC and PRA programs have decided to extend the TDM exam result validity period from 2 years to 3 years for individuals currently holding a valid pass result. See the MCC for more information about TDM exam results.
When can I apply to take the Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam?
We update our website a week before exam registration opens or closes. Check in regularly for the most up-to-date information on exam registration details.
Where else can I take the Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam?
TDM is a national exam offered through the Medical Council of Canada. In addition to Alberta, you can take this exam in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Maritimes. For more information, visit MCC NAC PRA.
Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.
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