SIPPA: the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment

SIPPA is comprised of two parts, Orientation to Family Practice in Saskatchewan and the Clinical Field Assessment (CFA).

• Orientation: This initial phase includes an introduction to the Canadian health care system. Online orientation is approximately three weeks and in-person orientation is one week (Health Careers Saskatchewan). SIPPA's own orientation page lists the topics covered but does not state a length.

• Clinical field assessment: Typically lasts around 12 weeks. During this period, candidates are assessed on their clinical skills and competencies in a real-world health care setting in Saskatchewan

• Licensing and supervision: Candidates who successfully complete the Clinical Field Assessment will begin practice as a family physician in the community to which they were assigned for their return of service. Candidates also enter SIPPA supervision, while on a provisional licence, which spans approximately two years. Physicians under supervision are actively engaged in a continuing education program with regular feedback and coaching, meaningful support and a facilitated pathway to full licensure.

Candidates who are selected for SIPPA are:

• Provided accommodation for the duration of the in-person orientation and assessment

• Provided stipend while participating in SIPPA

• Required to sign a three-year return of service agreement to provide service in a specific underserved rural community in Saskatchewan

Re-entry: Unsuccessful candidates may be eligible to enter SIPPA again after a period of six months from their initial failure. The candidate must meet all SIPPA eligibility requirements, reapply through Health Careers Saskatchewan, and be reselected for SIPPA.

There are typically three SIPPA iterations per calendar year. Eligibility, including currency of practice, is assessed against a cut-off date for each intake. The 2026 cut-offs published by SIPPA (SIPPA important updates):

• January 30, 2026, for the May 2026 intake

• May 15, 2026, for the August 2026 intake

• September 25, 2026, for the January 2027 intake

Next cut-off: not yet published by SIPPA; check the program page (checked September 25, 2026).

Training

• Medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools

• Postgraduate training with a generalist scope. May include rotations in family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Other postgraduate training will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Successfully completed a postgraduate/internship/residency training program in family medicine that is a minimum of 12 months in duration. You require training or practice experience in the areas of general surgery, pediatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics & gynecology and psychiatry. If you are deficient in a rotation, you will need to be able to prove experience practising in the area of deficiency as an independently practising family physician.

• Completed three years of full-scope practice as a family physician if your post-graduate /internship / residency training program was less than 24 months in length

Exams

• Have a pass result on the MCCQE

• Have a pass result on either the MCCQE Part II (before 2021) or the NAC Examination

• Pass the TDM Examination

Currency of practice

• Effective June 1, 2026, the requirement is six months in the last three years (Health Careers Saskatchewan)

• SIPPA accepts most responsible physician (MRP) Family Medicine, licensed Clinical Assistant/Associate Physician work, and relevant additional post-graduate training as currency of practice, and will consider GP-Specialist practice.

Documents, ruling and selection

• Submit documents for source verification through the MCC’s physiciansapply.ca account

• Obtain and maintain a preliminary ruling from the CPSS. Provided that your Review of Qualifications and supporting processes are successful you will be issued a Preliminary Ruling from the CPSS. The Preliminary Ruling will indicate that you are eligible for an Educational License and allows you to be considered for selection. Preliminary Rulings are subject to expiration if any of the time-sensitive requirements expire.

• A Saskatchewan Health Authority family practice suitability sponsorship interview.

• Enter SIPPA – Centralized Orientation and Clinical Field Assessment (CFA)

• Permanent residency is not a requirement, however if you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, it is your responsibility to obtain a work permit.

IMGs residing in Saskatchewan can apply to a Saskatchewan government grant to have required SIPPA eligibility expenses reimbursed up to $6,000. This includes:

• Medical Council of Canada (MCC) fees such as:

  • Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE)

  • National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination

  • Therapeutics Decision-Making (TDM) Examination

  • Application for medical registration (AMR)

• English proficiency

• Review of qualifications of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS)

Only expenses incurred after December 1, 2022, are eligible for reimbursement. To apply for the grant, IMGs must register with the IMG Support Program.