Timeline for Transition to Practice

Upon Starting Residency/as early as you can!

Create a file, find an old shoebox or identify a system that will keep all of the information you will need to enter practice, including this checklist, in one place. In it you will need to include:

i) Your medical school diploma: You will need one photocopy for your CPSO application and many other copies when applying for hospital privileges.

ii) Letters from the MCC that confirm you passed the MCCQE parts I and II. If you have not kept these or cannot find them, write to the MCC requesting a letter confirming you passed. The charge for this is $15 per exam (payable by VISA, money order or cheque in Canadian funds). In your letter of request indicate the mailing address where you would like the confirmation sent and, if you still know it, your LMCC number. The request should be made in writing to the Medical Council of Canada:

Courier address:
2283 St. Laurent Blvd., Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 5A2

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 8234 Station T
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 3H7

Three to four months before completion of residency:

Call the CPSO (1-800-268-7096; in Toronto: (416) 967-2603 ext. 221) to request an application for a licence for independent practice or go on-line and download the application.

Two to three months before completion of residency:

If you have not received the materials from the CMPA to change from resident premiums to practice-specific premiums, call the CMPA at

1-800-267-6522 8:30am – 4:30pm EST

After Receiving the Licence for Independent Practice:

Apply for your Billing Number (refer to next section on Billing). The application can only be submitted after the independent practice licence is issued and when an Ontario practice address is established (Form 3384-83: Registration for Regulated Health Professionals).

If you have any questions, call OHIP at (416) 314-7495

Other Important Tasks

Contact WSIB at the WSIB Health Professional Access Line: 1-800-569-7919 or 416-344-4526 to obtain a provider number.

Keep all receipts for application fees, notary fees, copying charges, and phone calls related to your applications in the filing system or shoebox you established in Step 1. These are expenses that can be deducted against practice income when you pay your income tax.

Starting early on these processes and maintaining a sense of humour will make it less frustrating when dealing with the various organizations and bureaucracies!

If you still have questions or concerns, contact the PAIRO office at (416) 979-1182 or toll free at 1-877-979-1183.

Resources

The CMA has developed an online tool to remind you of what you need to do and when to prepare for your transition to practice. Click here to try it.