Registration Policy Approved

Four physicians speaking to each other

Policy accepts the LMCC as replacement for MCCQE2

Following the Medical Council of Canada’s decision to discontinue one of its qualifying examinations, CPSO approved a new registration policy.

In September, the proposed policy was approved in principle by Council pending serving notice as required under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). Notice was served shortly afterwards and no changes were suggested during the consultation, so, given the time sensitive nature of this issue, CPSO’s Executive Committee formally approved the draft policy. Council was updated at its meeting in December.

In June, the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) announced it was ceasing delivery of the Medical Council of Canada’s Qualifying Examination Part II (MCCQE2), one of the requirements for issuance of an independent practice certificate. Additionally, they stated that successful completion of the MCCQE2 is no longer required to become a licentiate of the MCC (LMCC).

MCC recognized the impact of the pandemic and the unprecedented challenges associated with delivering the examination.

The MCC announcement directly affected the licensure of both physicians practising in Ontario and those physicians seeking initial licensure in the province as they are unable to satisfy the prescribed requirement to successfully complete Part II of the MCCQE.

CPSO’s policy — entitled the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) — accepts the LMCC qualification as a replacement for the MCCQE2 for the issuance of an independent practice certificate.

The policy states “the Registration Committee may direct the Registrar to issue a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice to applicants who hold the LMCC and are otherwise qualified for an Independent Practice Certificate of Registration and satisfy the non-exemptible requirements set out in Section 2(1) of Ontario Regulation 865/93.”

Since 2020, the MCC postponed the MCCQE2 multiple times as a result of the pandemic. In response to the backlog of residents unable to write the exam, CPSO Council approved the Requirement for Successful Completion of Part 2 of the MCCQE – Pandemic Exemption policy early in 2021.

The new policy is broader than the first policy in that it is not time-limited and provides a route for licensure for the following groups who are currently ineligible under the Pandemic Exemption Policy:

  • Individuals with previous unsuccessful attempts at the MCCQE2;
  • New applicants to Ontario; and
  • Applicants from another Canadian jurisdiction.

In announcing the discontinuation of the MCCQE2, the MCC recognized the impact of the pandemic and the unprecedented challenges associated with delivering the examination.

MCC will grant the LMCC to candidates who meet all the following requirements:

  1. Are a graduate from an accredited medical school;
  2. Have successfully completed the MCCQE Part I;
  3. Have successfully completed 12 months of acceptable clinical post graduate medical training; and
  4. Have the required medical credentials, including verification of postgraduate training, successfully source verified through MCC or, in exceptional circumstances, have provided evidence of the required medical credentials acceptable to the Executive Director.

If you meet the above criteria, you are encouraged to apply to the MCC to have the LMCC granted.