REGISTRATION
As a result of changes made to pathways and policies in 2023 , an additional 426 physicians entered independent practice . internationally educated physicians ( IEPs ) enter practice . Practice Ready Ontario ( PRO ) is designed to assess IEPs over a 12-week period with direct supervision and observation , deploy candidates to high-need communities with a Return of Service commitment and provide a path to independent practice .
A pathway was developed for physicians who do not possess Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada ( RCPSC ) certification in a primary specialty but have Subspecialist Affiliate status . This pathway provides a route for physicians who have successfully challenged the RCPSC subspecialty exam to practise independently in their scope .
Amendments to the Academic Registration policy remove the requirement for internationally educated physicians who have maintained an active practise in Ontario within an academic setting for at least five years to complete a practice assessment to receive a scope-limited restricted certificate of registration . existing routes / qualifications to bring qualified physicians into Ontario .
Office of the Fairness Commissioner
CPSO continues to actively engage with the Office of the Fairness Commissioner , the organization charged with assessing the registration practices of certain regulated professionals , including physicians , to make sure registration practices are transparent , objective , impartial and fair for anyone applying to practise their profession in Ontario .
In 2023 , we worked with the Fairness Commissioner in consultation for Physician Assistants oversight , the practice ready assessment initiative and other policy initiatives . CPSO was noted by the Fairness Commissioner in their annual report for the positive contributions made to human health resources , including the support for practice ready assessments and the creation of additional residency and medical school positions .
As a result of changes made to pathways and policies in 2023 , an additional 426 physicians entered independent practice between April and December of 2023 . These changes added 175 family physicians and 251 specialists to the pool of practising physicians . In 2024 , CPSO will be committed to continuing to look for alternatives to
CPSO ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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