Subspecialists: Practice Eligibility Route

The Practice Eligibility Route for Subspecialists (PER-sub) is for physicians who are practising in a subspecialty in Canada but who are not eligible for the traditional credentials review as a result of completing unaccredited training or no training in the subspecialty.

Please note that fees paid for an application for exam eligibility do not cover examination fees.

Candidates pursuing this route to the subspecialty examination must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply and fall into one of the cohorts outlined below:

• Royal College certification in a primary specialty that is the entry route to the subspecialty, or College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) certification in Family Medicine (for Palliative Medicine only)
• A valid, unrestricted licence to practise in Canada
• Registration in the Royal College Maintenance of Certification Program (MOC) or, for Palliative Medicine only - the CFPC Maintenance of Certification Program (Mainpro+)

Physicians in subspecialty practice will belong to one of two cohorts:

Cohort 1:

• In practice for 5 + years in the subspecialty
  • Final 2 years of practice must be in a continuous practice location in Canada

Cohort 2:

• In practice for 1 – 5 years in the subspecialty
  • Final year of practice must be in a continuous practice location in Canada
  • Proof of completion of training (unaccredited) that is equivalent in length to the requirements set out in the subspecialties training requirements (STR)/training experiences*

Candidates must submit the following with their application:

• Copy of your CV
• Proof of licensure in a Canadian province
• Documentation of any training completed in the subspecialty
• Letter(s) of confirmation of practice for the last 5 years (cohort 1) or 1-5 years (cohort 2) from your Chief of Staff/Head of Department.
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from referees
• Documentation of registration in MAINPRO (if applying for Palliative Medicine)

* Please request a Certificate of Professional Standing from your Medical Regulatory Authority. This must be sent directly to the Royal College from the licensing authority.

How do I apply?

You can apply for assessment by registering with the Royal College and submitting your application through our online platform by the deadlines outlined below.

You will require a Royal College ID to complete this process. If you do not have a Royal College ID, complete the registration form before registering through our online platform at https://booking.royalcollege.ca. Please use Google Chrome as your browser. If you’re an existing candidate/applicant who has a Royal College ID number and has never logged into the system, you can click on “Reset your password” or “Forgot your ID” if necessary. Please read the instructions beforehand.

Submitting an application by the deadline does not guarantee the assessment process will conclude by the exam registration deadline.

Key Assessment Deadlines

The deadline to apply for exam eligibility occurs the year before you wish to take your exam:

• For spring exams, the deadline is April 30.
• For fall exams, the deadline is August 31.

If you miss the deadline, late fees will be applied.

Questions?

Please reach out to persub@royalcollege.ca for questions pertaining to this route or the application process.