Who licenses physicians in Canada?

Provincial and territorial medical regulatory Colleges. National bodies (MCC, CFPC, RCPSC, FMRAC) play exam, certification, and coordination roles but do not replace College registration for practice.

What is the difference between LMCC and a licence to practise?

LMCC is a national credential granted by the Medical Council of Canada to physicians who meet its requirements. A licence — registration with a provincial or territorial College — is what authorizes practice in that jurisdiction. Colleges commonly expect LMCC as part of their requirements, but LMCC alone is not permission to practise.

What is the difference between RCPSC/CFPC certification and College registration?

RCPSC and CFPC certify specialists and family physicians. Colleges register physicians to practise. Employers and hospitals often require both. One does not automatically create the other.

How do IMGs obtain a licence in Canada?

Through province-defined routes such as Canadian residency training, practice-ready assessment programs, or other College pathways. There is no single national IMG licence. Start with the College and IMG program in the intended province.

Can I move my practice from one province to another easily?

Physicians with full registration in good standing often benefit from mobility provisions, but they must still apply to the receiving College and meet its requirements. Confirm current rules with both Colleges before committing to a start date.

How do I verify a doctor's licence in Canada?

Search the public register of the College in the province or territory of practice. Read class, status, restrictions, and discipline findings. For a patient-oriented walkthrough, see MedXL's credential verification guide. Directory profiles can help you find the right person quickly; the register remains authoritative.

Does a US medical licence allow me to practise in Canada?

No. US licensure does not authorize practice in Canada. You must satisfy the provincial College's registration requirements and any applicable certification pathways, plus immigration authorization to work.

What is a practice-ready assessment?

A structured clinical assessment used in some provinces to evaluate experienced internationally educated physicians for practice under defined conditions. Programs are province-specific, limited in seats, and change over time — confirm on official provincial program sites.

Why does Quebec take separate planning?

Quebec has distinct regulatory processes and French-language requirements that affect many applicants' timelines. Review Collège des médecins du Québec resources early if Quebec practice is the goal.

How long does College registration take?

It varies by College, route, and file completeness. Interprovincial mobility for a physician already in good standing may be faster than a first-time IMG application, but neither should be assumed to fit inside a two-week notice period. Ask the College and your employer's credentialing office for current expectations.

Where does MedXL fit?

MedXL provides a searchable directory of roughly 955,000 US and Canadian provider records with licence and verification information, profile claiming with manual review, a healthcare jobs board with 1,000+ listings, and an employer directory at /employers. It is not a medical regulator and does not issue College registration.

Where do I find the most current requirements?

The official website of the provincial or territorial College where you will practise, plus MCC, CFPC, RCPSC, and provincial IMG program pages as relevant to your route. Requirements change. Always verify current information with the applicable regulator.

Physician Licensing in Canada

By MedXL Editorial Team · Updated 2026-08-03 · 13 min read

Physicians in Canada are licensed by provincial and territorial medical regulatory authorities — the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons and their territorial counterparts — not by a single national licensing body. A registration that authorizes practice in Ontario does not, by itself, authorize practice in Alberta. National examinations and national specialty certification matter enormously, but the legal permission to practise is granted by the College in the jurisdiction where you work.

This guide explains Canadian physician licensure for three audiences at once: physicians planning where and how to register, healthcare employers designing realistic hiring timelines, and recruiters screening candidates across provinces. It covers how the regulatory system is organized, the relationship between the Medical Council of Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), and the provincial Colleges, routes commonly used by Canadian and internationally educated physicians, mobility between provinces, and how to

Requirements change. Always verify current information with the applicable regulator.

In this guide

Introduction
Key takeaways
How medical regulation works in Canada
Provincial and territorial Colleges
National bodies that are not your licensing College
Registration classes
The pathway for Canadian medical graduates
International medical graduates
US-trained physicians moving to Canada
Mobility between provinces
Quebec
Certification versus licensure in hiring
How to verify a physician's licence in Canada
What employers and recruiters should plan for
Common pitfalls
Step-by-step guide
For physicians seeking registration
For employers screening a candidate
Canadian physician licensing checklist
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses physicians in Canada?
What is the difference between LMCC and a licence to practise?
What is the difference between RCPSC/CFPC certification and College registration?
How do IMGs obtain a licence in Canada?
Can I move my practice from one province to another easily?
How do I verify a doctor's licence in Canada?
Does a US medical licence allow me to practise in Canada?
What is a practice-ready assessment?
Why does Quebec take separate planning?
How long does College registration take?
Where does MedXL fit?
Where do I find the most current requirements?
Related resources
References