At a glance
Province by province
Select a province for its full guide.
| Province | Exams required |
Currency of practice required | PGT | Independent practice experience (IPE) required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia – associate physician | None | 960 hours in the last 3 years |
1 year | None |
| Alberta – associate physician | MCCQE* | 6 months in the last 3 years |
1 year | None |
| Saskatchewan – clinical assistant (limited-roles licence) | MCCQE* | 5 months in the last 5 years |
None | None |
| Manitoba – clinical assistant | MCCQE (LMCC) or NAC Examination | None | None | None |
| Nova Scotia – clinical assistant (conditional licence) | MCCQE* | 450 hours in the last 5 years |
1 to 2 years | If 1 year of PGT → If 2 years of PGT → |
| New Brunswick – clinical assistant | MCCQE* | 450 hours in the last 5 years |
1 to 2 years | If 1 year of PGT → If 2 years of PGT → |
| Newfoundland & Labrador – clinical assistant | MCCQE* | 6 months in the last 4 years |
1 to 2 years | If < 2 years of PGT → If 2 years of PGT → |
| Prince Edward Island – associate physician | None | 450 hours in the last 5 years |
Must have completed internship or other PGT | None |
| Prince Edward Island – clinical assistant |
MCCQE* | 450 hours in the last 5 years |
At least 1 training program completed or equivalent qualification | If 2 years of PGT → If 1 year of PGT → |
Not in the table: Ontario, which has no licence for this role. In Ontario, the clinical assistant role is unregulated employment under delegation of controlled acts, and the hours are not recognized by regulators or PRA programs. (Ontario guide)
* NOTE: Although the MCCQE is listed as the required exam, you may also be required to have the designation of a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC). Refer to each provincial medical regulatory authority for details. Additionally, each province has a list of what is considered an “acceptable alternative to the LMCC” and this varies across provinces.
Abbreviations
Abbreviations: AB: Alberta; BC: British Columbia; MB: Manitoba; NB: New Brunswick; NL: Newfoundland and Labrador; NS: Nova Scotia; ON: Ontario; PEI: Prince Edward Island; SK: Saskatchewan; AP: Associate Physician; IPE: independent practice experience; MCCQE: Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination; PGT: postgraduate training.
Common questions
Which provinces do not require the MCCQE for these roles?
British Columbia and Prince Edward Island (for its associate physician class) are the only provinces that issue a limited-role licence without the MCCQE, the NAC Examination, or an accepted alternative.
Which province has the lightest requirements?
Manitoba lists no postgraduate training, independent practice, or currency requirement, and requires either a pass on the MCCQE (which grants the LMCC) or a pass on the NAC Examination.
Which province has no licence at all?
Ontario. The clinical assistant role there is unregulated employment under delegation of controlled acts, and the hours are not recognized by regulators or PRA programs.
Can any of these licences lead to independent practice?
These are supervised roles and are not themselves a route to independent practice. Some provinces count the experience toward other pathways: SIPPA counts licensed clinical assistant work toward currency, and Nova Scotia may consider associate physician experience at its discretion.
Check if you qualify
Open the Eligibility ScreenerFrom the Path to Practice Series
Adapted with attribution from "Physician Licensing in Canada", written by Dr. Filipe Santos and published by the Medical Council of Canada; copyright in the e-book belongs to the MCC, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MCC. For education only: rules, fees and requirements change, the regulator and the program make every eligibility and licensing decision, and Dr. Santos makes none. Confirm with the program before acting. Full disclaimer.