Recently, the governing body or Council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) decided that, effective May 29th, Alberta Health Services (AHS) is the only acceptable sponsor for applicants who qualify only for the Provisional Register – Conditional Practice (PR-CP).
Applicants who qualify for the PR-CP require a clinical assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes called a practice readiness assessment (PRA) and a PRA requires a sponsor. The sponsor ensures that the applicant will have a position as well as covers the costs associated with the assessment upon successful completion. The PRA ensures applicants have the necessary attributes to provide quality medical care to Alberta’s patients.
Prior to this decision, any physician, physician group, clinic, hospital or AHS could be a sponsor however, if AHS was not a sponsor, they would need to provide a letter of support for the recruited hire. The recent change means that AHS is now the only acceptable sponsor for applicants to the Provisional Register – Conditional practice.
What does this mean for applicants?
- For applicants approved for and who are waiting for a PRA (ie have a sponsor and letter of support from AHS if a non-AHS sponsor): there is no change; you are in line to get a PRA.
- For applicants who have a non – AHS sponsor: a letter of support from AHS be required to determine your ability to go forward and get a PRA.
- For applicants whose credentials have been reviewed and found to be adequate by the CPSA and who presently do not have a sponsor: An AHS sponsorship is required.
As AHS is the primary service delivery organization in Alberta, the College Council felt that AHS was in the best position to help determine Alberta’s physician resource needs and ensure that physicians being recruited to the PR-CP are meeting the needs of Albertans.
AHS needs some time to expand and/or develop processes to accommodate its new role as the sole sponsor of applicants to the PR-CP. How much time has yet to be determined however we hope they will be in place as quickly as possible.
RPAP Workforce for Alberta recognizes the value of the contributions of International Medical Graduates to our communities and patience is requested from applicants wanting to come to Alberta to practice who qualify only on this register. Our Community Recruitment Consultants are available to answer questions and keep candidates up to date as new information become available.
Please contact us at consultants@rpap.ab.ca