1.      Can a US trained osteopath be licensed in Alberta?

Yes, the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) has determined that training and certification for U.S. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine through the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is considered substantially equivalent to the training and certification provided through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS). This means that U.S.-trained Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine who completed AOA-approved programs are eligible for independent practice in Alberta. 

2.       I am a Canadian in medical school overseas. Can I apply for a residency program in Alberta?

The Alberta government launched a new initiative allowing Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are Alberta high school or post-secondary school graduates—and currently studying medicine abroad—to secure a residency placement in Alberta immediately following graduation.  

This new pathway means you can return home to begin practicing medicine sooner and serve the communities you know best. The changes made include removal of the externship and the requirement to have an MD conferred by the December before applying. This will commence for the graduating class of 2026. 

Applications for these dedicated residency spots are open now through the Alberta International Medical Graduate (AIMG) Program. Students must be in their final year of medical school and planning to graduate in the upcoming year. 

3.      I have my CESR/Portfolio Pathway, am I eligible to obtain independent licensure under the CPSA Approved Jurisdiction Route?

Potentially. CPSA does consider CESR/Portfolio Pathway as being equivalent to Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) for specialist certification from the UK.   

Specialists holding a CESR and registered as a specialist with General Medical Council (GMC), could be assessed by the CPSA to be eligible for independent practice and registration on the General Register. This means no assessments, no exams required.

4.      I am a US trained Physician Assistant. Am I eligible to practice as a PA in Alberta?

Yes. You will need to write the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC) exam. This exam is delivered once annually, online, and you can practice on the provisional physician assistant registration for up to a year before writing the exam.  Unlike in the US, you will only need to write this exam once. You will need to maintain continuous professional development (CPD).   

5.      How can I find medical leadership positions?

Medical leadership positions available to physicians practicing in Alberta are listed on Dr. Jobs AB. 

6.      Do you have clinical and academic/research positions available?

Positions that have a mix of clinical and academic or research focuses can be found on Dr. Jobs AB. They are listed by specialty and indicated in the title. They can also typically be found cross-listed on the University of Calgary or University of Alberta job boards. 

Medical Officers of Health positions are posted on the AHS Careers job board. 

7.      How are physicians compensated in Alberta?

Most physicians in Alberta are compensated through fee-for-service. In this model physicians submit a bill to the Alberta Government for every service or procedure they perform. This is because Albertan’s receive publicly-funded healthcare which is paid for through taxes.   

For resources to learn about this funding model and others please visit the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the Alberta Medical Association (AMA), AMA Funding Comparison Table, and specifically for family physicians, the Alberta Government’s new Primary Care Compensation Model. 

8.      Does the Medical Staff Workforce Recruitment Navigation Support change for their services?

We are a free professional service offered to all prospective physicians and physician assistants. 

9.      Once licensed to practice in Alberta, can I also practice in other provinces?

If you are on the provisional registry, you are restricted to practicing only in Alberta.  

If you are on the general registry, you can obtain licensure in other provinces.  

10.  I am a physician. Will I be an employee or an independent contractor?

It depends on the position and the funding arrangement the organization may have with the Alberta Government for the position. Some organizations such as Cancer Care Alberta can offer both types of salary remuneration. 

Typically, this will be identified in individual job postings. If not, please speak with the local recruitment team or ask at the time of the interview.  

11.  Who is responsible for physician recruitment in Alberta?

Each individual provincial health corporation or agency is responsible for managing its own medical staff workforce and as such they all have their own internal recruitment team that supports medical leaders to review applicant C.V.’s, complete interviews, reference checks, and potential scheduled site visits.  

Local recruitment teams have expertise in understanding the environments of the local communities and their workforce needs. They also have contacts with local medical leaders who can be a resource for you to determine if the community and position will be a good fit. 

12.  How cold is the weather in Alberta and what are the typical seasons?

Consider Alberta’s weather system to have a strong personality: usually friendly and sunny, sometimes dramatic, and never boring. We hold the title of the sunniest province in Canada, and our low humidity means that the cold tends to stay on the outside. Sharp, brisk, but not the kind that seeps into your bones.  

Even on chilly winter days, the dryness makes being outside manageable and with the sun shining often, you get that bright, crisp winter feeling instead of a heavy, damp cold. 

We also have four distinct seasons, with winter usually arriving in November and staying until March; spring from April to June; summer July and August and fall September and October. 

13.  What documents does the Medical Council of Canada need to verify in physicianapply?

Source verification means that physiciansapply.ca (MCC) will send the practitioners credentials to the issuing institution (the source) and request that they confirm they are authentic, accurate, and valid. 

Eligible international medical credentials that can be requested for source verification include: 

·         Medical Degree 

·         Medical School Transcript 

·         Internship Document 

·         Postgraduate Training Document 

·         Training Certificate 

·         Medical License or Proof of Registration 

The physician must also provide: 

·         A certified copy of primary identity document (i.e. a photocopied passport that has been notarized) 

·         A photograph 

·         A signature 

14.  What if the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) has already reviewed my credentials previously? Are they still valid?

If you have had documents previously verified by the ECFMG, through the Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC), United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), Australian Medical Council (AMC) or Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), this may help with the verification process. You will still need to create a Source Verification physiciansapply account, pay the fee, and send your documents to the MCC for review. 

The identity validity period, once documents have been review and accepted, will expire either when the primary identity documents expire, or in 10 years if the primary identity documents don’t have an expiry date. If the identity validity period has expired, you will be prompted to provide new documents the next time you submit a source verification request or apply for an exam.  

15.  I'm an IMG and I don't know what area of the province I want to practice in, is there assistance to help me determine this?

Yes, reach out to the Recruitment Navigation Team at physicianleads@ahs.ca and one of the team members can work with you to determine options that fit our workforce needs with your career goals and lifestyle desires. 

16.  Do I need to obtain my Canadian Credentials/write any more exams to be licensed in Alberta?

If you trained in an approved jurisdiction and are eligible for CPSA General Registration, there are no exams or assessments required. You are considered equivalent to a Canadian trained medical graduate. 

If you are eligible for the CPSA provisional registration, you will be required to undertake a practice ready assessment to be placed on the provisional register. Following the assessment, physicians on the CPSA’s provisional register have up to six years to obtain Canadian certification or pass up to two Competency Assessments after year three to transfer to the General Register.

17.  What Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is used in Alberta?

Provincial health agencies and corporations use the clinical information system software EPIC in all public facilities. In Alberta we have named our Epic EMR- Connect Care. Connect Care is a single clinical information system that serves as a central access point for complete and up-to-date patient information, common clinical standards, and best healthcare practices. Patients also have access to their own health information through a Connect Care affiliated app- MyChart or MyHealthRecords.  
 

Private medical clinics in the community typically do not have access to Connect Care.

18.  I have applied for a position on Dr. Jobs AB, but I've not heard anything back- what should I do?

Many of the positions posted on Dr. Jobs AB remain posted until filled, which does sometimes mean that by the time you apply, the hiring recruitment team may already be working with a candidate in the later stages of recruitment.  

If you haven’t heard back, contact the Physician Navigation Team, who works closely with local recruitment teams. We can inquire about the status of your application or help to identify other appropriate opportunities that align with your interests and location preference. 

19.  Can AHS help facilitate my legal eligibility to work in Canada?

Yes, if the position posting indicates that the position is eligible for immigration support, we can request approval from the Government of Canada to support issuing you a work permit.  

20.  Are there job opportunities in Calgary or Edmonton?

Yes, but these markets are amongst the most competitive in Alberta for a few key reasons: 

·         Internal hiring: Many physicians stay in the cities where they completed their residency, so Calgary and Edmonton often hire “known” candidates who trained there.  

·         Academic and research excellence: These cities host Alberta’s major tertiary and teaching institutions. They consistently rank amongst the top 40 research hospitals in Canada and North America, supported by significant external research funding.  

·         Tertiary-level care: Both cities house major specialized centres, such as transplantation services in Edmonton, and the Alberta Children’s Hospital, and Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary, which means complex, high-acuity physician roles are centered there - increasing both prestige and demand.  

21.  What positions are considered "rural" in Alberta?

Alberta is home to five other cities outside of Calgary and Edmonton that have populations around 100,000 with catchment areas of approximately 300,000, being: Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat.  

These cities each have regional full-service hospitals that receive patients from surrounding rural communities and refer higher-acuity cases and specialized complex surgeries to the tertiary centres in Calgary and Edmonton. 

These cities offer all typical urban amenities, have regional airports but are also within two-to-four hours from major international airports, making them well-connected hubs for both clinical practice and daily living. And don’t forget about their non-existent commutes! 

Rural Alberta hospitals are typically classified as being in all communities outside of these cities. A typical rural hospital is within 30-60 minutes of a regional or tertiary hospital, and offer acute-care services such as emergency care, inpatient care, basic surgery and obstetrics (but not at all sites), and diagnostic imaging services such as x-ray and ultrasound. They typically offer stabilization and transfer of higher-acuity cases. They also have essential allied health services such as lab, physiotherapy, mental health supports, primary care clinics, and sometimes nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.  

22.  Are there relocation incentives offered in Alberta?

Yes, all relocation allowances offered are at the discretion of the health care organization’s local senior medical leader.  

Relocation reimbursement can be provided if relocating within Alberta, within North America, and outside of North America.  

Speak with a local recruitment team or navigation support team member for further information.  

23.  Are there any other incentives available for?

Strategic workforce incentives may be available, dependent on the workforce need, priority, and geographic location as determined by the healthcare organization’s local senior medical leader. If any other incentive is offered, it will be contingent upon signing a return of service agreement.  

Speak with a local recruitment team/medical leader about incentives during your recruitment journey. 

24.  Will I need to write an English language proficiency examination?

To obtain a license to practice, the CPSA does set an expectation that all physicians practicing in Alberta need to be able to communicate clearly with their patients in English (French is not required).  Please review the CPSA standards for further detail and whether you qualify for an exemption. 

To obtain permanent residency in Canada you will need to write an English language proficiency examination, no matter if English is your first language and you trained in an institution taught in English.  

25.  Is assistance available to help my spouse find employment opportunities?

We understand that a physician's career affects the whole family, and that physicians often marry other physicians and are seeking employment together. That's why the Physician Recruitment Navigation Team offer support for spouses and partners seeking employment in Alberta.  

·         Healthcare professionals: If your partner also works in healthcare and meets professional standards, we’ll collaborate with internal teams to explore suitable roles. 

·         Other fields: For spouses in non-healthcare industries, we provide tailored support using our local networks to help identify opportunities in your chosen community.  

26.  What is a realistic recruitment timeline for an international medical graduate living outside of Canada?

We tend to advise that from the first time you connect with us to when you are on the ground practicing it typically is 9-12 months. Depending on whether you have school-aged children, you may want to time your commencement of practice in Alberta to work around their school schedule. In Alberta, school begins in September and ends in June, with new semesters occurring in January.  

27.  What is the typical process to obtain a license in Alberta?

The typical process is as follows: 

Option 1: Residency Completed in an Approved Jurisdiction 

·         You completed residency training in a jurisdiction approved for accelerated licensure. 

·         You appear eligible to apply for an Alberta Independent Practice Permit under the General Register. 

·         No exams or assessment required. 

·         English language proficiency is required.  

Option 2: Residency Not Completed in an Approved Jurisdiction, But Recognized Equivalency (e.g., CESR) 

·         You did not complete residency training in an approved jurisdiction, but you have obtained equivalency recognition (e.g., CESR) in a jurisdiction that is approved. 

·         You may be eligible to apply for an Alberta Independent Practice Permit under the General Register. 

·         No exams or assessment required if eligibility is confirmed. 

·         English language proficiency is required. 

Option 3: Equivalent Residency Years Without Training in an Approved Jurisdiction 

·         You did not complete residency in an approved jurisdiction, but you have the same number of years of post-graduate residency training as a Canadian-trained physician. 

Next steps: 

·         Have you completed the MCCQE1 exam? 

o    No → You do not meet registration criteria. Please register and apply for the MCCQE1 exam through physiciansapply.ca. 

o    Yes → Verify your credentials through physiciansapply.ca, and consent to share them with the CPSA for review. 

·         If CPSA confirms eligibility: 

o    You must pass a Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA). 

o    You must complete a period of supervised independent practice before qualifying for the General Register. 

Option 4: Incomplete Residency and Not Equivalent to Canadian Training 

·         You did not complete residency in an approved jurisdiction and do not have the equivalent number of post-graduate training years as a Canadian-trained physician. 

Do you have: 

·         At least 1 year of postgraduate residency training, and 

·         Been in training or independent practice for at least six months in the past three years? 

o    Yes → You may be eligible for a Limited Practice Registration as an Associate Physician. 

o    No → You are not eligible for physician licensure in Alberta at this time. Ineligible applicants may wish to consider non-physician roles. Visit careers.ahs.ca for employment opportunities.