CPSO has developed draft amendments to the Registration Regulation under the Medicine Act, 1991 to create two new classes of registration for physicians: a Provisional class and a Retired class. The text of the proposed regulatory amendments can be found in the Board materials from the May 2025 meeting.

The Board of Directors has approved the circulation of the proposed amendments for 60 days. Please email policydepartment@cpso.on.ca to provide feedback on the proposed amendments by August 5, 2025.

Proposed Provisional Class

Under the current regulation, a certificate of registration that is subject to any practice condition imposed by a CPSO committee is deemed a “Restricted certificate.” The broad applicability of the “Restricted” designation has led to confusion among physicians, the public, and external stakeholders. While many physicians holding restricted certificates practise independently with only a limitation imposed by virtue of their registration pathway (e.g. a scope-based restriction), there is nothing differentiating their certificates from those with practice conditions relating to an investigation, quality assessment, or disciplinary action.

The proposed Provisional class would ensure that physicians’ certificates of registration accurately reflect the nature of the terms, conditions, and limitations under which they practise. Under the proposal, certificates of registration granted through designated Registration Policies will be deemed “Provisional certificates.” Should a CPSO committee impose additional restrictions on a certificate (i.e. relating to an investigation, quality assessment, or disciplinary action), the certificate will be deemed “Restricted” rather than “Provisional.”

The proposal also sets out a route to an Independent Practice certificate for physicians who have held a Provisional certificate for five years and who have practised continuously in Ontario during that time. When the regulation comes into force, individuals who previously held a Restricted certificate with only a scope-based restriction will be grandparented in, so that the time they held the Restricted certificate will count toward the five years.

Proposed Retired Class

The proposed Retired class would enable physicians who are no longer practising medicine but who wish to remain registered with the College to do so at a reduced fee.

Physicians holding an Independent Practice certificate or Provisional certificate would be eligible for the Retired class. Physicians in the Retired class would not be permitted to provide health-care services, would be exempt from completing other requirements set out in the regulation (e.g. continuing professional development), and would pay a reduced membership fee.

Physicians wishing to transfer from the Retired class back into Independent Practice would be able to do so provided they have been in the Retired class for less than two years.

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