The CPSO Board of Directors is proposing changes to allow more physicians trained in osteopathic medicine a licensure route into Ontario. The path into Ontario is made possible through changes in the accreditation of osteopathic residency training programs in the United States.
The College currently recognizes the equivalence of the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine granted by medical schools accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). It has not, however, recognized residency training or board certification accredited by the AOA – instead only recognizing training programs accredited by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
In 2020, the AOA became a member of the ACGME, and the ACGME now accredits the specialty of osteopathic medicine.
As a result, physicians trained in osteopathic medicine who have completed their residency in ACGME-accredited programs will be eligible for licensure under the amended Alternative Pathways to Registration for Physicians Trained in the United States.
The policy offers three alternative pathways for physicians trained in the United States looking to gain licensure in Ontario but who are applying outside its regular registration requirements. The changes offer a route to independent licensure to physicians who have been certified (Pathway A) or are deemed eligible to be certified (Pathway C) by the AOA or the American Board of Medical Specialities (ABMS).
The policy offers three alternative pathways for physicians trained in the United States looking to gain licensure in Ontario.
Pathway A will grant a restricted certificate of registration to osteopathic physicians who have been certified and Pathway C will grant a time-limited, restricted certificate of registration to practise under supervision to those physicians deemed AOA board-eligible in the last five years.
The Board also approved circulation of the Specialist Recognition Criteria in Ontario. Changes to this policy reflect the amendments to Pathways A and C and will grant specialist recognition to osteopathic physicians.
In a related decision, the Acceptable Qualifying Examinations policy will be amended to reflect the discontinuation of the COMLEX-USA Level 2 – Performance Evaluation. The evaluation was part of a three-level standardized licensure examination for the practice of osteopathic medicine.
The proposed changes in all three registration policies will be circulated to the Ministry of Health, the coordinating minister under the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009, and the Medical Regulatory Authorities in Canada. The Board directed CPSO’s Executive Committee to approve the policies after circulation, removing the need for them to return to the Board for final approval.
