Pathways to Patient Care
Reducing barriers, increasing access: how CPSA is streamlining registration requirements to improve access to care
CPSA has existed as the medical regulator in Alberta for over 100 years. Throughout that time, and through multiple iterations of legislation, our mandate has remained the same: to protect the public interest. Although our role has not changed, our processes are constantly evolving to meet the changing demands of our healthcare system.
Did you know?
CPSA is responsible for licensing physicians, ensuring they have the proper training and credentials to provide safe and high-quality health care. CPSA is not responsible for recruiting physicians or negotiating compensation.
In 2025, CPSA made several significant enhancements to our registration processes to reduce barriers for physicians wanting to practise in Alberta. From streamlining assessments to lowering fees, these innovative changes contribute to an increase in the number of physicians practising in Alberta without compromising quality of care or patient safety.
Streamlining assessments
How does CPSA determine substantial equivalence?
CPSA maintains a list of certifications from specific jurisdictions that have been deemed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to be equivalent to Canadian specialty credentials.
One of the most significant changes to the registration process in 2025 was the introduction of a new route to registration: the Approved Jurisdiction Route. The Approved Jurisdiction Route recognizes the substantial equivalence of credentials from specific international jurisdictions.
The pilot project begins
In 2023, CPSA rolled out a pilot project called the Accelerated Jurisdiction Route. The pilot was developed to evaluate whether eligible IMGs with medical education and training deemed substantially equivalent to Canadian standards could begin practising independently in their designated communities sooner, while continuing to prioritize patient safety. Under the Accelerated Jurisdiction Route, eligible physicians were required to obtain a sponsor and complete a Supervised Practice Assessment and 2 Competency Assessments before their transfer to the General Register.
The pilot project successfully moved eligible physicians through the registration process, and CPSA identified additional ways to improve this route.
New and improved route
In 2025, CPSA introduced the Approved Jurisdiction Route, which allows international medical graduates who received their credentials from approved jurisdictions to be eligible for licensure on the General Register without any additional assessments.
These changes have reduced assessment time, which means physicians are now practising in their communities sooner, giving patients more options for accessing care. In fact, in 2025 alone, CPSA registered 343 physicians through the Approved Jurisdiction Route—over 30% of CPSA’s total new registrations for the year. Historically, these physicians would have needed to obtain a sponsor and complete over three months of assessments.
The Approved Jurisdiction Route enables physicians with substantially equivalent training to directly join the General Register as independent practitioners, all while meeting CPSA’s high standards of patient care.
"By focusing on international equivalence in medical training, CPSA is creating more opportunities for Albertans to access the care they need." -Bruce Leisen, Director, Registration
Improving processes while maintaining standards
CPSA also made significant changes to the Provisional Register in 2025, streamlining the registration process for international medical graduates who have not received their credentials from an approved jurisdiction. CPSA eliminated the Summative Assessment, a mandatory, 3-to-4-day, pass/fail evaluation previously required for physicians who had not obtained full Canadian credentials within 6 years on the Provisional Register.
Now, after joining the Provisional Register, physicians are required to complete up to 2 Competency Assessments in their first 3 years on the register before becoming eligible for the General Register. These changes are designed to assist physicians with transitioning onto the General Register sooner, and at a significantly lower cost to them, while ensuring compliance with all CPSA guidelines and standards.
See the differences between the previous PRA process and the new process, as of July 2025.
Sponsorship
For physicians eligible for the Provisional Register, the registration journey includes obtaining sponsorship. Before an international medical graduate (IMG) who doesn’t qualify for the Approved Jurisdiction Route can enter the workforce, they must first apply for a sponsored position. Sponsors play a crucial role in bringing IMGs into the province, and we have seen sponsors consistently and effectively support their sponsored physicians throughout their integration into practice.
Previously, sponsors were required to name a physician to provide clinical oversight. However, in 2025, CPSA updated the requirements, so sponsors are no longer required to name a clinical oversight physician. Removing this requirement makes the sponsorship process smoother for both new and current sponsors.
“CPSA’s sponsorship program continues to strengthen Alberta’s physician workforce. Alongside its longstanding support of publicly sponsored positions, the expansion to include private sponsors has enabled the creation of more than 500 physician positions across the province. With more than a decade of experience administering the sponsorship program, CPSA helps qualified physicians enter independent practice and supports access to care in communities across Alberta.” – Dr. Sayra Khandekar, Assistant Registrar, Registration & Registration Assessments
Another positive change in 2025 was the reduction of CPSA’s sponsorship application fee. CPSA reduced the sponsorship fee from $3,500 to $2,000 in June 2025, making it more accessible for individuals, municipalities, organizations or other authorities to sponsor a physician position in their community. Whether urban or rural, this change gives communities more options to attract physicians to their area.
Want to know what it’s like to be a sponsor? Hear from one of CPSA's current sponsors, Dr. Abdul Tabani, on the positive impact you can have!
Fee changes
A physician’s journey with CPSA may start long before they begin independent practice. While CPSA is not directly involved in medical school, residency or recruitment, we recognize the importance of doing everything we can to support the practice of medicine in our province. To support the retention of postgraduate trainees doing their residency or fellowship in Alberta, CPSA waived the registration fee ($800) and the first annual renewal fee ($2,000) for physicians graduating from a postgraduate training program between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027. Changes like this may seem minor, but they can encourage postgraduate trainees to not only learn in Alberta but also stay in Alberta as they move into independent practice.
As we continue to make refinements and improvements to our processes, we are guided by our mandate of protecting the public interest, ensuring patients receive safe, equitable and high-quality health care. With our mandate as our north star, we are doing everything we can to facilitate pathways to patient care: reducing barriers, improving processes and, ultimately, helping physicians practise in their communities sooner.
