Restrictive permits for medical residents

Conditions for the issuance and for the renewal of a restrictive permit for resident

• hold a medical degree from a Canadian medical school or university, or obtain recognition of equivalence of their doctor of medicine diploma (M.D.) from the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ);
  
  
• have completed :

12 months of postdoctoral training level R1 in a family medicine program accredited by the Board, be registered in a family medicine postdoctoral training program accredited by the CMQ, have completed six months of postdoctoral training level R2 and hold a valid training card, level R2 or more, confirming the training in family medicine;
or
4 years of postdoctoral training in a specialty program accredited by the Board, be registered in a postdoctoral training program in one of the specialties listed in Annex I of the Regulation respecting the terms and conditions for the issuance of the permit and specialist’s certificates by the Collège des médecins du Québec and accredited by the CMQ, and hold a valid training card, level R5 or more;
or
a postdoctoral training program in accordance with CMQ regulations in a program accredited by the Board and be registered for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) exam or for the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) exam;

• have attended one of the ALDO-QUÉBEC educational activities;
  
  
• successfully pass The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE parts I and II) or hold a licence from the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), or hold a specialist certificate from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC);
  
  
• not have failed any examination (CFPC or LMCC or RCPSC) leading to the permit to practice from the CMQ;
  
  
• limit authorized professional activities to those in the discipline of  postdoctoral training and impose that these activities be exclusively performed in a hospital establishment;
  
  
• limit to two (2) the number of restrictive permit renewals.

Internal Medicine and Pediatrics

Please note that the duration of training in internal medicine and pediatrics was modified on November 25, 2010, when the Regulation respecting the terms and conditions for the issuance of the permit and specialist's certificates by the Collège des médecins du Québec came into effect. As such, the training duration for these two specialties is now 48 months rather than 60 months in accordance with the norms and requirements established by the Royal College.

Consequently, residents who have completed 48 months of postdoctoral training in a specialty (including 36 months of training in internal medicine or pediatrics) and who have passed the Royal College exam in internal medicine or pediatrics may apply for a “regular” permit and specialist’s certificate in either of these specialties rather than apply for a restrictive permit for resident. However, residents who wish to obtain a “regular” permit to practice must meet all conditions prior to applying for the permit.

On the other hand, provided they meet all pertinent conditions, residents who have passed the internal medicine or pediatrics examination and are eligible to apply for a “regular” permit can nevertheless opt to apply for a restrictive permit for resident.

It is important to note that the holder of a restrictive permit for resident may, if he meets the requirements, request to have his permit changed into a "regular" permit. On the other hand, a resident who has obtained a "regular" permit cannot afterwards request that this permit be changed into a restrictive permit for resident or into any other type of permit. However, he may request a second or third specialist's certificate after succeeding at a Royal College examination. He will then have to forward to the CMQ the form Demande en vue de l’obtention d’un certificat de spécialiste pour un médecin déjà titulaire d’un permis d’exercice au Québec with the required payment. 

The decision as to which permit to apply for is strictly up to the resident.

Next steps

A resident who wishes to obtain a permit to practice and begin his practice must read carefully the following instructions:

• The fees for a permit are $700, non refundable.
• When the permit will be issued, the candidate will receive by e-mail the necessary informations to fill out the first registration on the membership roll. He will then receive his permit to practice by mail.
• Applications for restrictive permits for residents in medicine must be studied by the members of the Admission to Practice Committee (comité d’admission à l’exercice - CAE) who meet several times a year. In order to know the dates of the next meetings of the CAE, communicate with the permits section: 514 933-4253.
• To access the secured application, the candidate must have a user code (resident number) and a password.
• For any question or in case of difficulties to access the secured application, contact the permits section by e-mail.
• E-mail address: demandepermis@cmq.org

1. Fill out the form Application for a Permit to Practice Medicine through the secured Web site of the Collège.
   
2. Fill out the First registration on the membership roll through the secured Web site of the Collège when the Medical Education Division will have provided him with his permit number. The candidate must be registered on the membership roll in order to be authorized to practice medicine in Québec.

Once the candidate is registered, the Collège will transmit the information to the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

Automatic withdrawal of the restrictive permit for resident

Besides other mechanisms provided from the Professional Code and the Medical Act, the following criteria were determined for the automatic withdrawal of the permit:

• failure at an examination leading to the permit to practice in Québec (CFPC or LMCC or RCPSC);
• expulsion by the Faculty of medicine;
• suspension by the Faculty of medicine;
• abandonment of studies;
• revocation of the registration certificate.

Renewing a resident’s restrictive permit

The resident holder of a restrictive permit who wishes to renew this restrictive permit before its expiry date must complete the form provided for this purpose and return it by mail or by fax (514 933-5167) to the Medical Education Division of the Collège des médecins du Québec, at least two months before the expiry date of his or her restrictive permit. The guidelines for renewing a restrictive permit are the same as those for reviewing and issuing restrictive permits.

Also, applications to renew restrictive permits for medical residents must be reviewed by members of the Admission to Practice Committee (CAE)