INTERNATIONAL DOCTORS TEMPORARY REGISTERATION
**************************************************************************
Alternative licensure for physicians with international medical qualifications.
Most physicians with international medical credentials do not meet the requirements for full, unrestricted, licensure. The Saskatchewan College's philosophy that underlies its licensing rules that permit granting alternative forms of licensure to such physicians is to:
permit physicians who do not meet all of the criteria for full licensure, but who meet certain minimum defined standards, to enter into a form of restricted practice;
require physicians to meet the criteria for full licensure (Royal College certification for physicians with specialist credentials, all the required postgraduate training for family physicians and the three Medical Council of Canada examinations for all physicians) within a defined time schedule;
provide physicians the opportunity to practice on a temporary license for a period of time before being required to commit on a longer-term basis to practice in Saskatchewan, or to practice in a particular Saskatchewan community;
provide stability of medical care by requiring physicians who obtain such alternative licenses to commit to a defined period of practice in a Saskatchewan community as a condition of obtaining such a license;
ensure that physicians working on a temporary license have a named physician who is responsible to assist the physician in becoming aware of Saskatchewan practice issues.
Paragraph 9 - Categories of license available
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan offers the following forms of licensure to physicians:
Temporary licenses (also referred to as locum tenens permits) - for family physicians. A physician who has:
completed 24 months of approved postgraduate training (see paragraph 13 below); and
either full licensure in the country in which their training was obtained or the MCCEE, USMLE or FLEX
may be eligible for a temporary, unsupervised, license. A physician who has completed 12 months of approved postgraduate training may be eligible for a temporary, supervised, license (See Paragraph 14 (2) below for details). A temporary license is limited to 12 months and cannot generally be extended or renewed. A physician practicing under a temporary license must be sponsored by a physician who has full or provisional licensure with the College.
Temporary licenses (also referred to as locum tenens permits) for physicians with specialty credentials. A physician who has:
a specialty designation from Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand that is acceptable to the Council; and either
full registration with the regulatory body granting the qualification; or
MCCEE, USMLE or FLEX
may be eligible for a temporary license.
A temporary license is limited to 12 months and cannot generally be extended or renewed. A physician practicing under a temporary license must be sponsored by a physician who has full or provisional licensure with the College.
Provisional licenses - for family physicians. These are available to physicians who have 24 months of approved postgraduate training and either full licensure with the country in which their training was taken or a pass standing in the MCCEE. A physician must make a commitment to remain in a named Saskatchewan community for 3 years in order to obtain a provisional license. The physician must write the MCCEE at the next opportunity and must pass the MCCEE within 2 years. The physician must pass the MCCQE Part I within 4 years and must pass the MCCQE Part II within 5 years. If the physician obtains the LMCC, the physician will be eligible for a full license.
Provisional licenses - for physicians with specialist qualifications. These are available to physicians who are certification eligible with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. A physician must make a commitment to remain in a named Saskatchewan community for 3 years in order to obtain a provisional license. The physician must obtain Royal College certification within the period of Royal College certification-eligibility (usually 3 years) and must obtain the LMCC within 5 years. A physician who obtains certification and who obtains the LMCC will be granted a full license.
Special licenses - There are several categories of special licenses, generally only for physicians with specialty credentials. These include:
special licenses for psychiatrists to work for the Government of Saskatchewan, a district health board or the Regional Psychiatric Centre. Such licenses are offered to physicians who hold certification in psychiatry from a program accepted by Saskatchewan and for whom a special request is made by the Saskatchewan Minister of Health. Such licenses are only valid while the physician continues to work for the employer that hired them.
special licenses for oncologists who have been offered a position by the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency if a special request is made by the Minister of Health. Such licenses are only valid while the physician continues to work for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.
special licenses for Medical Health officers who have been offered a position as a Medical Health Officer by a district health board, who have a Masters degree in public health from a program recognized in Saskatchewan and for whom a special request is made by the Saskatchewan Minister of Health. Such licenses are only valid while the physician continues to work for the district health board that employed them.
special licenses for physicians who are not certification eligible with the Royal College but who meet other defined criteria. There must be an unmet need for the physician's services that cannot be met by a Royal College certified or certification-eligible physician. The physician must hold specialty credentials that are recognized by the Saskatchewan College. The physician must have undergone an assessment of their skills and knowledge. The physician must agree to take an examination in their specialty when such an examination becomes available. The physician must attain the LMCC within 5 years. The physician must make a commitment to remain in a named Saskatchewan community for a period of 3 years.
