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Alberta Medical Practice Permit

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) regulates the practice of medicine in Alberta. View this document for details on how to obtain your medical practice permit.

You should begin this process immediately as it may take up to 90 days.

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) Credentials Verification

At the same time you apply to the CPSA for licensure, you need to apply to the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) to have your medical credentials source verified. The MCC is responsible for assessing the authenticity of the primary medical qualification – the candidate’s medical diploma. Once the diploma has completed the verification process, the MCC can produce an Educational Credential Assessment report.

You should begin this process immediately as it may take up to 100 days to process your credentials.

International Medical Graduates (IMGs): Application to Work in Canada

Before you can begin practice in Alberta, AHS would have to apply and receive a favourable Labour Market Impact Assessment. The next step will be to apply for a work permit. View Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s processes for more details.

You should begin this process immediately.

Canadian Medical Protective Association

Once you are licensed with the CPSA, you must apply for CMPA membership to ensure you have medical liability protection. This is a requirement of AHS and must be completed prior to AHS granting clinical privileges.

AHS Medical Staff Appointments & Clinical Privileges

In the process of granting clinicians access to AHS facilities and resources, Medical Affairs verifies credentials and coordinates clinical privileging.

Medical Affairs will send you an application package for your medical staff appointment and clinical privileges.

View onboard-privileges document for more details.

Alberta Health Services Security Check

Under the Protection for Persons in Care Act, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has a legal obligation to ensure that parties engaged in the delivery of care or support services for AHS undergo Security Checks (AHSSC).

Learn more about how to obtain and submit your AHSSC to Medical Affairs.

Alberta Health Care Insurance Program Registration

In order to bill the Alberta Health Care Insurance Program (AHCIP), either through a Fee for Service mechanism, an Alternate Relationship Plan, or Academic Medicine Health Services Plan, a physician will need a few things from Alberta Health, including:

• Practitioner Identification Number – once a physician has a practice permit from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, they can request a Practitioner Identification Number from Alberta Health. This is more generally called either a billing number or a PracID.
• Business Arrangement (BA) – once a physician has a PracID, they then need to apply to either set up a new BA with Alberta Health or apply to join an already existing BA with another physician. A BA is required to submit billings to the AHCIP, and are a combination of a PracID, a billing submitter ID (which accredited submitter will be sending claims) and a bank account to which payments will be remitted.
• Obtain a facility ID – if a physician is going to be setting up their own office where they will provide services to patients, they will need to have the office registered with Alberta Health and assigned a facility ID. If the physician is working in a hospital or an existing clinic/office already seeing patients, the facility IDs will have already been assigned.

All of the forms necessary for AHCIP registration are available from the Alberta Health website. 

Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) Billing Number

WCB requires physicians to have a billing number if you will be treating eligible workers.
Application form

Alberta Medical Association (AMA)

The AMA (membership is optional) is the official voice of the medical profession in Alberta. From health reform to health issues - with government, the public, other health providers - the association concerns itself with how Albertans receive care and with the physicians' work environment.

On the national level, the association is a division of the Canadian Medical Association. The AMA is distinct from, and cooperates with, the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta, which is the regulatory, licensing body for physicians.

The Alberta Medical Association and Canadian Medical Association serve members with a wide range of benefits and services that are outlined in the @ your service member guide. Benefits include, but are not limited to, reimbursement for a portion of your CMPA dues, CME and retention benefits.