How to Obtain a Licence to Practice Medicine in Ontario

Ontario offers several pathways to licensure for family physicians and specialists trained outside Canada.

All physicians practising medicine in Ontario must be registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). Your first step should be to review the CPSO pathways and complete the Self-Screening Questionnaire through the CPSO Portal. CPSO assesses credentials directly for Ontario registration.

Start here: CPSO – Apply for Registration

Family Physicians

Family physicians trained and certified in certain recognized jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland and Australia, may be eligible for CFPC certification without completing the Canadian family medicine certification examination.

Eligible physicians may qualify to:

  • practise independently within their scope under a Provisional certificate without additional certification examinations; or
  • obtain an Independent Practice certificate if they meet the applicable additional requirements.

Learn more: CPSO – Family Doctors Without CFPC Examination

Specialists

NEW FOR 2026: Eligible specialists trained and certified in a CPSO-approved jurisdiction may qualify for a Provisional certificate to practise independently within their scope without first obtaining Royal College certification or completing the Royal College certification examination.

Approved jurisdictions include:

  • United Kingdom • Ireland • Australia • New Zealand • Hong Kong • Singapore • South Africa • Switzerland
  • Eligibility depends on the specialty, certifying body and dates of training, so physicians should review the CPSO-approved list before applying.

Learn more: CPSO – Physicians Certified in Approved Jurisdictions

Provisional to Independent Practice

Provisional does not necessarily mean supervised practice. Some physicians holding a Provisional certificate may practise independently within their approved scope.

Beginning in 2026, physicians may apply for an Independent Practice certificate after five years if they:

  • continuously hold an eligible Provisional certificate for at least five years;
  • practise continuously in Ontario during that period; and
  • have only a limitation allowing them to practise independently within their scope.

Learn more: CPSO – Provisional Class FAQs

U.S.-Trained Physicians

  • CPSO also has dedicated pathways for physicians trained in the United States.
  • Eligible U.S. board-certified physicians may practise independently within their scope without additional Canadian certification or examinations. Other pathways are available for board-eligible physicians and physicians with significant U.S. practice experience.

Learn more: CPSO – Information for U.S.-Trained Physicians

What About physiciansapply.ca?

  • You do not need to submit your Ontario licence application through physiciansapply.ca. CPSO applications are submitted directly through the CPSO Portal and CPSO assesses credentials for Ontario registration.
  • However, physiciansapply.ca may still be required if your individual pathway involves Medical Council of Canada services, Canadian certification, source verification or licensing in another Canadian province.

Visit: physiciansapply.ca