Applications and National Consultations: Active
We are committed to transparency of discipline recognition and committee decision-making. On this page you will find:
- Open national consultations.
- The status of current applications for the recognition of new subspecialties
- The status of current applications for the recognition of new AFCs
- Information regarding the development of documents in recognized disciplines
- The status of current applications for changes to existing disciplines
National Consultations
The Royal College regularly conducts consultations on pending decisions regarding the recognition of new disciplines and major changes to existing disciplines to ensure that the points of view of its partners are taken into consideration and to avoid unintended consequences to the system of specialty medicine. Feedback from each consultation will be presented to the Committee on Specialties (COS) its next meeting. The COS values the feedback from consultations as it informs the committee’s important decisions regarding the entire system of specialty medicine.
Consultation recipients are identified for each proposal, based on their role in the system of specialty medical education/regulation and the projected impact of the proposal. If you do not regularly receive invitations to participate in national consultations and you’d like to be included in an upcoming consultation for one of the applications below, please email cos@royalcollege.ca.
Subspecialty Applications for Recognition
◯◯◯◯◯ | To become a recognized Royal College discipline, subspecialty applications must pass five votes: two at the Committee on Specialties and one each at the Committee on Specialty Education, Executive Committee of Council and Council. Filled circles (to the left) show how many votes an application has passed. |
Read a full description of the application process.
Dermatopathology
Status: Committee on Specialties Part II ⚫◯◯◯
Entry Routes |
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Summary | Dermatopathology is that branch of laboratory medicine concerned with the study of the morphologic aspects of diseases of the skin. It is a subdomain of both anatomical pathology and dermatology. It includes the techniques of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, in-situ hybridization, and molecular pathology, as they pertain to diseases of the skin. Application is available upon request and permission of the applicant. | |
COS Part 1 | Deferred in Spring 2020 | |
Reconsideration at Part I in Fall 2023 | ||
National Consultation | January 2024 | |
COS Part II and CSE | April 2024
| |
ECC and Council | Spring/Summer 2024 | |
Memorandum | TBD |
Inherited metabolic diseases medicine
Status: Committee on Specialties Part II ⚫◯◯◯
Entry Routes |
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|---|---|
Summary | Inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs) are genetic conditions affecting cellular metabolism. Although individually rare, there are over 1400 different IMDs; collectively affecting 1/600 to 1/1000 live births and numbers in all age groups are increasing due to improved diagnostic technologies and therapies. |
COS Part 1 | Fall 2023 |
National Consultation | January 2024 |
COS Part II and CSE | April 2024 |
ECC and Council | Spring/Summer 2024 |
Memorandum | TBD |
AFC Applications for Recognition
◯◯◯ | To become a recognized Royal College discipline, AFC applications must pass three votes: two at the Committee on Specialties and one at the Committee on Specialty Education. Filled circles (to the left) show how many votes an application has passed. |
Read a full description of the application.
Clinical Informatics
Status: Committee on Specialties Part II ⚫◯◯◯
Entry Routes |
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Summary | Clinical informatics (CI) is a sub-discipline of biomedical informatics focused on how information and technology integrate with clinical decisions during patient care. CI goes beyond the use of “computers in medicine”. Rather, it is the body of knowledge, methods, and theories that focus on the effective use of information and knowledge to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of patient care for individuals and populations. |
COS Part 1 | Fall 2023 |
National Consultation | January 2024 |
COS Part II and CSE | April 2024 |
Memorandum | TBD |
Recognized AFCs in Standards Development
When a discipline is recognized by the Royal College, a working group is struck to oversee the initial stages of implementation. For AFCs, the working group will be responsible for the appointment of the AFC committee to oversee the discipline, as well as finalizing the standards documents, including the summative portfolio.
The following AFCs are currently in this initial stage:
- Neuromuscular Medicine
Recognized as a Royal College discipline in 2022 - Pediatric Anesthesiology
Recognized as a Royal College discipline in 2022 - Neonatal Neurocritical Care
Recognized as a Royal College discipline in 2022 - Adult Glomerular Diseases
Recognized as a Royal College discipline in 2022 - Neuromuscular Medicine
Recognized as a Royal College discipline in 2022 - Spine Surgery
Recognized as a Royal College discipline in 2021 - Neuro-intervention
Recognized as a Royal College discipline in 2020 - Antimicrobial Stewardship
Recognized as a Royal College discipline in 2020. - Consultation Liaison Psychiatry
Recognized as a Royal College discipline in 2020.
Document suites will be posted on the Information by Discipline section of the Royal College website after they are finalized.
Please contact specialtycommittees@royalcollege.ca for more information.
Applications for Changes to Existing Disciplines
The Committee on Specialties also receives applications for changes to existing disciplines, including changes to:
A discipline name: The COS is tasked with the determination regarding whether a proposed name change is major or minor in nature. Major changes will proceed to a broad, national consultation, with a final decision by Royal College Council. For minor changes, a notice of intent toward the change is published via Royal College communication channels for sixty days, and a final decision is rendered by the Director, Standards and Assessment.
- Training length
Eligibility requirements (e.g. entry route modifications)
Status
- Primary specialty to subspecialty
- Subspecialty to primary specialty
- subspecialty to AFC
- AFC to subspecialty
Occupational Medicine
| Status change: | Subspecialty to primary specialty |
| Proposed Change: | The Committee on Specialties has endorsed a series of recommendations, produced by an Independent Panel of experts, intended to resolve challenges associated with the health and sustainability of Occupational Medicine and to ensure its optimal configuration within the system of specialty medicine. The overarching recommendation is that Occupational Medicine should transition from a subspecialty of Internal Medicine and Public Health and Preventive Medicine to a primary specialty with direct entry from medical school. |
| National Consultation: | January 2024 |
| COS Part II, CSE, ECC, Council | Spring/Summer 2024 |
| Memorandum | TBD |
