Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program Q and As for Eligibility for Licensure for Family Physicians 1. I am an internationally educated physician. Should I complete the pre-screening checklist? All international medical graduates with family practice postgraduate education, seeking to practice family medicine in Saskatchewan, must complete a form of assessment before they can be eligible for licensure in Saskatchewan. The two assessment options are: 1. Recognition of foreign family medicine credentials by the College of Family Physicians of Canada – this option is currently available to family practice candidates who completed their medical education in Australia, Ireland, the United States or United Kingdom. For more information, please visit cfpc.ca/RecognizedTraining/ and/or contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS). 2. Completion of the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program. If you were internationally educated in family medicine in any other country, you will be required to complete the SIPPA program. Physicians pursuing the SIPPA program must fill out the licensure pre-screening check list and return it to the recruiter they are working with or [email protected] if they do not have a recruiter. 2. Is there a deadline to complete the pre-screening checklist? No. Pre-screening checklists are accepted throughout the year. 3. Is there a deadline for applying to SIPPA? SIPPA is offered three times per year – winter, spring and fall usually in January, May and September. While there are no official deadlines for application, it is recommended that you begin the process to become licensed in Saskatchewan soon and that you provide completed applications throughout the process. Incomplete applications will not be processed. About Licensure Requirements 4. Where do I find the list of FAIMER and WHO list of schools? You can find these lists at: faimer.org/resources/imed.html who.int/hrh/wdms/en/ Please note that your school must have been on one of these lists for the duration of your medical training. 5. I am missing my MCCEE (Medical Council of Canada’s Evaluating Exam), should I write it? Yes, all international medical graduates who would like to be considered for licensure in Saskatchewan must write and pass the MCCEE. You can find more information about the exam at mcc.ca/en/exams/ee/. 6. Is there an expiry date on the MCCEE? No. 7. Are any internationally educated physicians exempt from writing the MCCEE? No, all internationally educated physicians (IMGs) must pass the MCCEE before CPSS will review their eligibility review form. This includes those with USLME 1, 2, 3. 8. Where can I find out more about the MCCEE? mcc.ca/en/exams/ee/ 9. I do not have the minimum number of weeks of post-graduate training as detailed on the licensure pre-screening check list. Will I still be considered for a medical license? Saskatchewan licensing requirements require you have at least 8 weeks of formal post-graduate training from an approved university affiliated program in each of General Surgery, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Obstetrics/Gynecology as well as training in Psychiatry. If you are deficient in some of the rotations and you can prove that you have experience practicing in the area of deficiency as an independently practicing family physician, the College may accept this experience in lieu of training. 10. I don’t have post graduate training, but I have completed an internship, does that count? Depending on which country you come from the terminology may be different. As long as you have successfully completed post-graduate, internship or residency training and have a Certificate of Completion of your training, you may be eligible for registration. Please note that any training under 24 months in length will require a minimum of 3 years independent family practice experience as the most responsible physician for your patients. 11.I have not taken one of the English language proficiency exams, should I? As stated on the on the licensure prescreen checklist, the only candidates that are exempt from passing an English language proficiency exam are those whose medical education and patient care experience were in one of the following countries that have English as a first and native language: Australia, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands and the Caribbean Islands of: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Grenadines, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago.. If you did not take your medical education in one of the above mentioned countries you must take the Academic TOEFL (minimum mark of 24 in each section and a total score of 100) or Academic IETLS (minimum mark of 7.0 in each component) to be considered for licensure in Saskatchewan. The English language proficiency exams expire after 2 years. The CPSS will advise you if a language proficiency examination is required. 12.Is there an expiry date on my English language proficiency test? Both the TOEFL and IELTS expire after 2 years. 13.At what point in time will the English equivalence be assessed? You must keep your TOEFL/ISTLS current and up to date until the time that your application for license is granted by CPSS. CPSS will not issue you a license until you are selected for and are entering SIPPA. 14. Is any other evidence accepted as proof of English equivalency? No, one of these two exams is required by Canadian Medical Regulatory Authorities including the CPSS. 15.Will community experience or observerships count towards the post-graduate (rotation) training requirements? No, the CPSS does not recognize community experience or observerships as post-graduate training. 16.Why do I need to submit my documentation to the Physician Credentials Registry of Canada (PCRC)? To ensure public safety, the Canadian Medical Regulatory Authorities including the CPSS utilize the services of the PCRC for source verification of undergraduate and postgraduate documents. It should be noted that the Medical Council of Canada also relies on the PCRC for source verification of documents. Once candidates set up an account with PCRC, they can share their document verification with multiple jurisdictions which means candidates only need to have their documents verified once. 17. What documents should I submit to PCRC? All documents must be translated into English and you must submit: 1. your medical school transcripts; 2. the English translation of your medical school transcripts (if necessary); 3. your medical degree; 4. the English translation of your medical degree (if necessary); 5. your certificate of completion of training and/or your internship certificate to provide details of your rotations; and 6. the English translation of your internship certificate or post graduate certificate of completion of training (if necessary). 18.Where can I find out more information of credentials verification with PCRC? pcrc.org/en/guides/quick.shtml 19.I do not meet the Currency of Practice requirements. What are my options? CPSS requires that all applicants demonstrate that they have been in active independent family practice during the last three years. There is no minimum requirement for the amount of practice for applicants who are entering a pre-licensure assessment program. Active independent family physician means the physician has been practicing independently as the patient’s Most Responsible Physician. This means the physician is authorized to diagnose, plan, implement, manage and follow up with plan for treatment for a patient as well order medications and diagnostic procedures. Arrangements that do not qualify include volunteer positions if the physician is not the most responsible physician, assist work, observerships and preceptorships. 20. How long should I go back to practice medicine to be eligible for licensure? Currently, CPSS does not have a minimum standard as to the length of time you must practice to be considered for a medical license in Saskatchewan. You need to consider that you may be competing with other applicants for a limited number of seats and that a longer period of recent practice as a family physician may impact your opportunities for selection for SIPPA. 21. At what point in time will my currency of practice be assessed? You must keep your currency of practice current and up to date until the time that your application for license is granted by CPSS. CPSS will not issue you a license until you have entered SIPPA. 22.If I meet all of the pre-screening qualifications am I guaranteed a medical license in Saskatchewan? No, successfully completing the licensure pre-screen checklist does not guarantee you will be eligible for a medical license in Saskatchewan. Completion of the licensure pre-screen checklist means you can now make a formal application to the CPSS for assessment of your Eligibility for Licensure. You will be required to pay an assessment fee to have your credentials reviewed. The purpose of the licensure pre-screen checklist is to help you review whether or not you will meet the eligibility criteria for licensure prior to having to commit a fee for the official ruling. 23.What do I do with my completed licensure pre-screening checklist? Please send the completed licensure pre-screen checklist to the recruiter you are currently working with. If you are not working with a recruiter, email your checklist to [email protected]. If you have been working with a recruiter at saskdocs or one of the regional health authorities, you may send the pre-screen checklist directly to them. The email address can also be found on page 2 of the pre-screen form. 24. What happens after I submit the licensure pre-screening checklist? The completed licensure pre-screening checklist will be submitted on your behalf to CPSS (you will be copied on this correspondence). Please do not send this directly to CPSS. Once the CPSS has your completed licensure pre-screen checklist, you will be advised to complete their eligibility review form and pay the CPSS assessment fee. 25. What does it mean to be legally entitled to work in Canada? Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents and those with authorization (i.e. work permit) issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada are legally entitled to work in Canada. Getting into SIPPA 26.Why do I need to complete SIPPA if the CPSS has indicated I am eligible for licensure? The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan along with other Canadian Medical Regulatory Authorities is moving to align with the national registration standards that are currently under development. National Registration requirements require a pre-licensure assessment. In order to ensure all physicians practicing in Saskatchewan meet the same standard of care, most international medical graduates seeking to practice in Saskatchewan are required to complete SIPPA. Feedback from past SIPPA has been very positive and has helped those physicians better adapt to their new practice environment. 27.Am I guaranteed a seat in SIPPA if CPSS gives me a ruling that I am eligible for licensure? No, entry into SIPPA is a competitive process. There are 30 spots available in each cohort (January, May and September). A selection committee will review the professional qualifications and the degree of critical need for a physician in the community which the physician intends to practice to determine the applicants that will be accepted into SIPPA. Applications will not be accepted on a first come first served basis. 28.How many internally education physicians will be assessed through SIPPA each year? 30 physicians will be assessed in each of the January, May and September cohorts each year for a total number of 90 assessment spots available to applicants each year. 29.Why don’t you open up more than 90 assessment seats? Presently the number of assessment seats in SIPPA meets our current demand. If this changes, the number of seats will be reviewed. 30.How will candidates be selected for the SIPPA program? A selection committee will review the professional qualifications and the degree of critical need for a physician in the community which the physician intends to practice to determine the applicants that will be accepted into SIPPA. Quick tips when applying with CPSS 31. What can I do to expedite the process of the eligibility review with CPSS? Some tips when filling out the eligibility review are Ensure when opening up your PCRC account that you provide access to CPSS to review your documents. Provide that your IELTS/TOEFL copies are sent to CPSS directly from the testing center. Make sure you account for any gaps in your medical training/practice. All gaps in your information must be accounted for from the time you enter medical school until the date you submit your eligibility review to the College. Typical gaps in education or practice may include maternity leave, relocating to Canada, etc. The CPSS declines to accept incomplete documents. 32. Where can I find more information about SIPPA? You can find more information by visiting the SIPPA website. usask.ca/cme/SIPPA/general-information/index.php 33. I am working with a third party/private recruitment agency. Does the process charge for me? The third party agencies may provide you with assistance while you work to meet the requirements. Once you meet all of the requirements the third party agency will then work directly with employers (clinic/regional health authority) who may be interested in hiring you and paying the placement fee. The employer will then assess your prescreen and support your application to CPSS. saskdocs is not able to support candidates that are working with third party agencies – as we are unable to confirm your employment prior to submission of the eligibility review application to CPSS. Finding a position in Saskatchewan 33.When and how do I start looking for a position in Saskatchewan? Information about physician vacancies in Saskatchewan can be found at: • saskdocs - saskdocs.ca/work • Health careers in Saskatchewan - healthcareersinsask.ca/Careers/findajob/allsearchresults/allphysicians.html saskdocs will work with IMGs to find a position in Saskatchewan that suits their professional and personal goals. 34.Does my currency of practice have to be consecutive time served or will practicing for short periods be considered? CPSS will be assessing currency of practice. If you indicate that you meet currency practice requirements on the licensure pre-screening checklist, the College will verify this information when it receives your completed Eligibility Review document and completes the eligibility review process. 35. I have my USMLE 1, 2, & 3, do I still require my MCCEE. Yes. In SIPPA, physicians begin with an educational license. An educational license requires the MCCEE – no exemptions. If you were going the CFPC route and are exempt from examinations, the USMLE 1, 2, & 3 would be accepted. If you required the examinations MCCEE would be required. 36.What documentation do I need to confirm my postgraduate rotations? You will be required to provide internship or postgraduate training documentation that confirms a minimum of 8 weeks of rotations in General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics. Candidates are also required to have post-graduate training in psychiatry. The College of Physicians and Surgeons will advise you on the type of documentation after they assess your information provided in the Eligibility Review Form. 37.How will saskdocs know the status of my application to CPSS? CPSS will copy saskdocs on the provisional/final letter(s) of ruling that they send to you. CPSS will inform saskdocs when they determine that you may be eligible for license. saskdocs will then contact you to help you find the perfect job for you. 38.I was born and raised in Canada. I received my medical education from a country that is not granted an exemption from the English language proficiency test. Do I need write the TOEFL or IETLS? Yes, CPSS requires that all International Medical Graduates comply with the language proficiency requirements, so you must write and pass the TOEFL or IETLS. 39.I was born and raised in Canada but completed my undergraduate medical and postgraduate training abroad. Do I need to meet the currency of practice requirement, or can I come home after finishing my studies to start practice in Saskatchewan? At the present time, CPSS has indicated that all physicians who trained abroad must meet the currency of practice requirements. 40. What kind of license will I have while in SIPPA? Once you enter into SIPPA you are given and educational license. If you are successful and complete the Centralized Assessment and the Clinical Field Assessment in SIPPA, you will be given a provisional license. The provisional license permits you to practice under supervision while completing the requirements for a more enduring form of licensure. IMGs have 2 pathways to obtain an enduring form of licensure: 1. Complete exams of the Medical Council of Canada (MCCQE1 & MCCQE2) and CFPC. The College will then issue a full license; 2. Successfully complete a summative assessment. Success in the summative assessment will result in an enduring form of licensure. The College of Physicians and Surgeons will provide additional information at the time that the educational license is issued for participation in SIPPA. All processes are subject to change during the transition to national registration standards. usask.ca/cme/SIPPA/images/SIPPA_Horizontal.jpg
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 15:06:49 +0000
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