Transition to Practice
Ease Into Family Practice Stress- and Hassle-Free
Getting Started
Below is information that will get help set you on your path to family practice.
Tasks and Timelines
Please note this timeline is simply a proposed guideline that may be used to help organize your next steps.
CFPC Exam Registration
You can sit this exam in the final six months before completing residency training. To apply for the CFPC Exam, you must be a CFPC Member. For more details visit: www.cfpc.ca/FMExam.
LMCC Exam Registration (MCCQE Part II)
You must have completed a minimum of 12 months of post-graduate clinical medical training (PGT), or osteopathic post-graduate training, or will be completing it by the following deadline:
- On or before June 30 for the May exam of the same calendar year
- On or before December 31 for the October exam of the same calendar year
Registration for the LMCC exam can be completed through www.physiciansapply.ca.
AHS Medical Staff Appointments and Clinical Privileges
Usually, the people who are going to hire you will require you to have hospital privileges (e.g. low-risk obstetrics, hospitalist, emergency medicine), This is especially true if you are going to be working at specialized sites in the community, such as clinical teaching sites or long-term care facilities.
- ALLOW 120 DAYS
- Reviewing the onboard-privileges document through AHS’ New Physician Orientation webpage is strongly encouraged
- Learn more about how to obtain and submit your AHSSC to Medical Affairs
Contact the Medical Affairs Office for your zone or contact the Department of Family Medicine in your region.
Alberta Medical License and Physician Registration
- ALLOW 90 DAYS, longer if you are a graduate of an international training program
- Through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)
- Can start the paperwork 6 months in advance
- Need to apply for an Eligibility Review. This may take 6 weeks before approval is granted for On-Line Application.
- For the On-Line Application, you will need three references, and notarized copy of medical degree
- In June: after confirmation of successful completion of CFPC & LMCC exams (sent directly to CPSA from CFPC), you must complete “Registration Electronic Appointment (eAppointment)”. This is where payment happens.
- CPSA will contact you through email. Please make sure you give them an email address that is regularly checked.
- If you have PO Box or a regular clinic, consider putting this down as your public address: this is the address anyone can find you through Doctor Search. Pay attention that you don’t put your personal address or phone number on the public information section.
- Can also contact CPSA registration assistants for help
- Ph. 780-969-4924 or 1-800-320-8624 ext 4924 (in Alberta)
- Registration@cpsa.ab.ca
Alberta Health – Practitioner Identification Number (PracID#)
In order to claim payment or make referrals, all practicing physicians require a Practitioner Identification Number (Prac ID#), this is done through Alberta Health. This will require a CPSA licence number, so this will be one of the last things you do
To avoid errors, when filling out the Government of Alberta forms, it is recommended to follow the directions outlined by AHS on its New Physician Orientation webpage.
Alberta Health – Business Arrangement (BA)
You also need to apply for a Business Arrangement (BA). This is an agreement with Alberta Health to establish the arrangement for payment of health services provided. All practicitioners registered with Alberta Health must have or be part of a BA in order to claim for services.
- Print and complete the BA form
You will often need a BA number for each practice site. This can get confusing, the easiest way to figure this out is to contact whoever hired you and they can guide you through what needs to be filled out.
- If you end up incorporating, you will need a new BA number and will need to fill out an Organization Information form
Canadian Medical Protective Organization (CMPA)
AHS requires that all physicians obtain and maintain CMPA membership and it is also required for privileges.
- For general information, refer to CMPA’s Transitioning to Practice webpage or phone: 1-800-267-6522
Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) Billing Number
Applying for your WCB Billing Number will be one of the last things you do as it requires your CPSA licence # and PracID#. You will need this to make any WCB submissions and also to get paid by WCB.
For more information review the WCB’s Billing Information or contact the WCB Medical Aid Department:
- Ph. 1-866-922-9221
- www.wcb.ab.ca
The Tracked Prescription Program (TPP) Alberta
Formerly the Triplicate Prescription Program, TPP Alberta was established through the CPSA to monitor the use of certain drugs (i.e., narcotics, stimulants, etc.). This includes a special prescribing pad for controlled substances that you have to order through this program.
- You will need a CPSA license number to apply
- To contact TPP Alberta through their online contact form or:
- Phone: 780-969-4939
- Fax: 780-429-1981
Practice Management Considerations
P.O. Box:
Do this before CPSA registration, especially if you do not have a practice address yet! This can be your public address where anyone can find you through the CPSA Physician Directory.
Disability Insurance:
Consider upgrading or buy-into disability insurance.
Student Line of Credit (LOC):
If not incorporated, extend your student LOC if you can, in anticipation of the delay in your first paycheck.
Alberta Medical Association (AMA):
AMA Membership is optional, take advantage of the First Year in Practice special membership rate. Benefits include:
- Medical liability reimbursement – reimburses a portion of your CMPA fees
- CME reimbursement
- Retention benefits in some cases
Professional Incorporation*:
- Start with finding an accountant – they can recommend a lawyer.
- The lawyer will help you with completing the application for a Professional Corporation (PC)
- When all that is completed, you will need to apply for a corporate bank account and credit card
- You can charge application fees (e.g., CPSA registration fees, CMPA fees, AMA fees) to your PC account
- HOWEVER, it may take a few weeks/months before you are paid, depending on how prompt the billing gets done at your sites, so have a backup plan of how to pay off that first credit card bill
- MD Financial can be a good resource for some direction. Alternatively, ask your preceptors or mentors who they work with
*NOTE: Incorporation is not mandatory to the transition to practice. It may be a consideration for individuals who are at least one year (or several years) into practice.