Physician Licensing in Ontario

By MedXL Editorial Team · Updated 2026-08-26 · 6 min read

Ontario is Canada's largest physician market, and registration there runs through a system that differs in important ways from US-style state licensing. Instead of a state medical board, you deal with a provincial regulatory college, national examination bodies, and certification colleges, each holding a piece of the puzzle. This guide maps those pieces and points you to the official sources for current requirements.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is the provincial regulator. It issues certificates of registration, sets registration policies within Ontario law, maintains the public register, and handles complaints and discipline. Several national bodies feed into CPSO registration:

The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) administers national qualifying examinations and grants the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC).

In this guide

Who regulates physicians in Ontario
The typical route for Canadian and US-trained physicians
What CPSO verifies
Pathways for international medical graduates
Documents to gather early
Practical tips
After registration
Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways