You can apply by accessing the online application form. In order to apply, a Canadian bank account is required. Note: payments will only begin once you start your training and NOT on the day you submit your application. Once you apply, please allow 2 to 4 weeks of processing time.

International trainees, who are not currently in Canada, must wait until they arrive to apply for the CMPA membership since banks require verification of identification in person to open a Canadian bank account and as mentioned, a Canadian bank account is required in order to apply.

CaRMS R-1 matched residents: CMPA will contact you directly with application instructions.

Note that you do not need to wait to receive your CPSO license before applying for a CMPA membership. Simply indicate the type of license you will obtain (educational or independent practice) and the province of licensure (Ontario). The CMPA membership can be issued without your CPSO license, however you are responsible for providing your CPSO license number and effective date through the CMPA member portal account as soon as it is available. If your CPSO license is not acquired before or on your start date, you MUST notify CMPA without delay! 

CMPA may ask you to provide your Medical Identification Number for Canada (MINC) number. Note that you can obtain this number from CPSO, as they will be applying for the MINC number on your behalf.

Note: Members of the Canadian Forces may be exempt from obtaining CMPA, if covered by the Canadian Armed Forces, National Defence only.

Applying for CMPA requires completion of the application form, which includes:

• the Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) Agreement,
• your Canadian banking information,
• the Postgraduate Questionnaire and
• your CPSO license number, once available.

Postgraduate Questionnaire:

If you answer “yes” to any questions, please provide full details.

Work codes: 

Please clearly identify codes; i.e. 12 for residents and fellows, and 14 for residents and fellows with Independent Practice License (IPL), who plan on moonlighting for a maximum of (no more than) 14 consecutive days per month.

Training site:

If changing site, you must update your information with CMPA; kindly ensure to change your profile and consult this link: Member Self-Service.

CMPA fee reimbursement:

Eligibility criteria for reimbursement are set by each province/territory. In Ontario, please visit the Medical Liability Protection (MLP) Reimbursement Program on the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care website.

It's your responsibility to ensure your CMPA coverage is active throughout your entire training!

Where to Submit/Get Information

CMPA

Member self-service

FAQs

Contact for questions

 1-800-267-6522 (in Ottawa area: 613-725-2000)

Application and supporting documents must be submitted online through the CPSO member portal. Ensure to regularly check the status of your application online and act on all pending and/or rejected credentialing requirements. Please allow 3 to 4 months processing time. 

CaRMS R-1 matched residents: CPSO will contact you, at the email address you provided to CaRMS, after the match results are received with instructions on how to log into your account. You do not need to complete the self-screening questionnaire to obtain an application.

Application Deadlines for CaRMS Residents:

• First iteration CaRMS match: April 25, 2025
• Second iteration CaRMS match: May 15, 2025

Many documents in addition to the payment of fees, need to be submitted before your certificate of registration (license) is officially issued by CPSO including:

• Application form (includes MINC consent form)
• Copy of medical degree
• Copy of Canadian Citizenship, Permanent Resident of Canada card, or valid Canadian work permit, once received
• Criminal Record Check – Refer to the “Vulnerable Sector Screening” section below
  • Type required: Level 2 Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check CRJMC (Residents outside of Canada)
• Copy of updated CV.

Depending on your situation, other items may be required. Once the initial assessment of your application is complete, you will receive a message to log into your member portal to check the status of all outstanding requirements. 

A number of other supporting documents must be sent to CPSO directly by the Source Organization, including medical school transcript, evidence of standing, verification of non-clinical or non-medical employment.

Important:

• Ontario training appointment contact information: You must provide your program’s address, as this becomes the contact info that will be used by pharmacies for prescription refills. DO NOT provide any contact information of the PGME office.
• When to apply: To avoid additional costs, please do not apply more than 6 months prior to your start date, as third-party documents may only be valid for 6 months.
• File status: Please ensure to view your on-line member portal regularly throughout the enrolment process.

Please retain your Applicant Number, as it is required for eLOA submission. Once your eLOA is electronically signed and submitted, PGME will upload details of your appointment to CPSO on your behalf.

*CLINICAL FELLOWS: Any resident completing a residency program and being subsequently appointed as a Clinical Fellow must either renew his/her Postgraduate Education license or apply for an Independent Practice Certificate of Registration, if intending to bill OHIP for services while pursuing the Fellowship. No trainee will be permitted to bill OHIP with an Educational license.

International Trainees, you will not see the checkmark beside the CPSO requirement on your Compliance Checklist until you have arrived in Canada and received your official work permit document, since this is a mandatory document required by CPSO. 

Where to Submit/Get Information

CPSO Member Portal

Application Information

Contact: 416-967-2617 (Toll Free: 1-800 268-7096) 

Toronto Police Services

Ottawa Police Services

Read and submit the Declaration of Professionalism online via your Compliance Checklist. 

Where to Submit/Get Information

Compliance Checklist in Student Centre via uoZone

Electronically sign and submit your eLOA online via the Compliance Checklist. 

You must include your CPSO Applicant Number (e.g. AP123456), or your CPSO license number, if you had one in the past, in order to electronically "sign" your eLOA.

Once your eLOA is submitted, PGME will upload details of your appointment to CPSO on your behalf; CPSO will not accept the eLOA unless it comes directly from PGME.

Error(s) on eLOA:

• If the address on the eLOA has changed, please submit your eLOA to avoid delays. Note that you can update your address after your eLOA has been submitted. Your address can be updated in the Student Centre via uoZone. Once you have updated your address, you can refresh your eLOA and print a copy for your records.
• If the MD and/or any other information is incorrect on your eLOA, please contact PGME.

To obtain a copy of your eLOA: Refer to “View/Print LOA” on your checklist in the Student Centre via uoZone.

Note: The LOA covers only one academic year at a time (July 1st to June 30th).  If you are starting after July 1st, e.g. January 1st, the remainder of your training will be reflected on your LOA for the following academic year. Your LOA will never go beyond June 30th.

Where to Submit/Get Information

Compliance Checklist in Student Centre via uoZone

PGME: [email protected]

In the event of an emergency, a notification will automatically be sent to your uOttawa email. You can also download the uOttawa safety app: SecurUO to receive emergency alerts via push notifications on your device. The alert system ensures you can be reached efficiently and effectively through a variety of methods. 

It’s vital that we have current emergency contact information should anything happen to you.

Do not wait! Update your emergency contact and next of kin information on uoZone right away. Go to Applications and select Emergency Contacts.

Where to Submit/Get Information

Protection Services

uoZone

Additional requirements exist, including a valid employment authorization (work permit) and health insurance coverage.

Work Permit: If you haven’t yet received the documents required for your work permit application from our immigration advisor, please contact PGME immediately. Before planning your trip to Canada, review the Government of Canada checklist link that is relevant to your travel situation.

Health Insurance: Effective March 2020, the government waived the three-month waiting period for OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) coverage. You must apply for OHIP in-person immediately upon arrival or purchase UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan).

Guidelines to help prepare for your arrival will be sent 6-weeks prior to your arrival.

IMPORTANT: If you have decided to withdraw from your training or are certain that you will not be able to start as scheduled, please inform the PGME Office and your program.

We recommend that you arrive in Canada 2-3 weeks ahead of your planned start date to complete in-person requirements. 

Please view the New International Medical Trainee Information Booklet for additional information.

Where To Submit/Get Information

PGME: [email protected]

The Clinical Placement Risk Management Nurse Advisor will be contacting you directly regarding your immunization requirements, including deadlines.

It is imperative to comply with the uOttawa immunization requirements and to respond to your uOttawa email as some requirements take time to complete.

Important:

There are no religious or philosophical accommodations for immunization requirements.

Your N95 Mask Fit Testing will be completed during orientation; details to follow from the Office of Continuing Professional Development.

Where To Submit/Get Information

[email protected]

$980 annual fee (effective July 1, 2025) payable to the University of Ottawa.

You will receive an invoice and communications from the Financial Resources Office on how to pay your Registration fee, and you will require your University of Ottawa student/account number in order to do so. Your student number can be found in uoZone. It is recommended that you pay with your financial institution via on-line banking. Add University of Ottawa as the new company/payee and use your student number as the account number. Please note that you cannot start training until your fees have been completely paid.

Visa Trainees:  You are advised to make your payment only once you arrive to Canada and open a Canadian bank account. Please be advised that you cannot start training until your fees have been completely paid. **Note that if you are sponsored by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau, your registration fees will be paid directly by the sponsor. Please do not pay them yourself.

Where to Submit/Get Information

Financial Resources

uoZone

Registration fee refunds apply to trainees who are completing their training off-cycle, meaning on a date other than June 30th. Refunds can be submitted on or after your last day of training and within 30 days from this date, no exceptions.

Where to Submit/Get Information

PGME - Registration Fee Refund Request

Trainees must complete the online VSS Self-Declaration form which can be accessed through the Compliance Checklist in the uoZone Student Centre. 

The Faculty of Medicine Clinical Placement Risk Management (FoM CPRM) office will be contacting you directly regarding your police check requirements and timeline. Visit their website  for more information on how to request a VSS. 

NOTE: A Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC) and a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) are not the same but can be issued together in one document if you reside in Canada. 

A CRJMC is a criminal background check that includes local police involvement and searches for outstanding charges. This document is required as part of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) licensing application but is not sufficient to begin your uOttawa training.  

The University of Ottawa requires a VSS which is a more detailed check that provides screening of individuals who intend on working or volunteering with vulnerable people such as children under 18, the elderly, and the disabled. It searches for police involvement but also searches for any sexual offence convictions for which an individual has received a pardon. 

The CPSO will also accept a VSS in place of a CRJMC as it is the highest level of screening you can obtain. Therefore, you could apply for a VSS, if you currently reside in Canada, and submit a copy to the CPSO to finalize your licensing application. Note that the ORIGINAL VSS document must be provided to the uOttawa FoM CPRM office to comply with their risk management obligations to the hospitals. No exceptions.

If you currently reside in Canada, you can apply for a VSS online or in person through your local police force of jurisdiction. Note that the procedure can vary from city to city and some jurisdictions may require a letter or form from the institution, which you can request from [email protected]. For details on how to apply, please review your local police service website. 

Visa trainees arriving to Canada must complete the following: 

• For CPSO: 
  • The CPSO requires a Canadian Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC) Level 2 to issue your medical license, even if you have not previously been to Canada. Note that you can only apply once you arrive in Ottawa and have proof of address. Below are different options on how you can obtain this.
    • The Toronto Police Service using a VPN connection.
    • The Ottawa Police Service, if you don’t yet have your Social Insurance Number, please enter 000 000 000 in their application instead. You will then be asked to book an in-person appointment through their on-line system, for ID verification. There can be lenghty delays so please plan accordingly. If you have any questions, email [email protected].
    • Triton Canada. Your results will be obtained online within the same day of your application. It is done usually within 15 minutes.
    • The Kingston Police’s K-PIC tool. Note that you can apply through this system even though you are not a resident or employee in the City of Kingston. If you fail the E-ID verification process, please skip that step, and continue completing the application. Once complete, please contact Teresa Mayhew at [email protected] or 1-613-549-4660, ext. 2225 to schedule a virtual meeting. You are not required to go in person.
  • You can upload the final CRJMC results to the CPSO member portal or email them a copy at [email protected].
• For FoM CPRM:
  • TRAINEES LIVING OUTSIDE CANADA must provide an ORIGINAL VSS or equivalent that is no older than six months to your scheduled start date. This includes an ORIGINAL VSS or equivalent for every country in which you have lived for a period of six consecutive months or longer during the last five years. A notarized translation of the police certificate will also be required if it is issued in a language other than English or French. Both ORIGINAL foreign and notarized translation will be required to meet your requirements.
    • It is imperative that this document be obtained before leaving your country to avoid any delays.
    • If you require assistance with the process, please email [email protected].
• Visa trainees who have lived in Canada during the last five years and are applying for their CPSO license, must request only the following for both CPSO and FoM CPRM:
  • Vulnerable Sector Check (Level 3)
    • The police service will send your VSS results via email (eCopy), or they will provide you with an ORIGINAL hard copy embossed with a police service seal or original police signature. The eCopy can be forwarded to both the CPSO and the FoM CPRM to finalize your requirements.
    • If your VSS results are obtained in person or by mail, you must first scan a copy of your VSS to the CPSO before mailing the ORIGINAL hard copy to the FoM CPRM office.  

Where to Submit/Get Information 

Compliance Checklist in Student Centre via uoZone

FoM CPRM office: 
University of Ottawa, Roger Guindon Hall 
Faculty of Medicine, CPRM office 
451 Smyth Road, room 3071 
Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5

For all VSS questions or concerns, please contact: [email protected]

The modules are available via Brightspace. Use of desktop/laptop highly recommended to complete the modules below.

Login: Same credentials as your uOttawa email.

Once logged into Brightspace, select "PGME 2025 New Trainees".

Module 1: WHMIS (renewed annually)

Module 2: Workplace Violence: Recognizing, Preventing & Responding 

Module 3: Privacy and Information Security (renewed annually)

Module 4: Emergency codes (renewed annually)

Module 5: Infection Control and Tuberculosis Management (renewed annually)

Module 6: Teaching Medical Students

Module 7: Radiation and Laser Safety

Module 8: Best Possible Medication History and Medication Reconciliation

Module 9: Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 steps

Module 10: Working Together: The Code and the AODA

For modules 9 & 10, you will receive a certificate upon completion. In order to receive credit, you must attach each certificate in Brightspace (follow instructions in Brightspace).

If identical modules are completed on The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) or Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario CHEO platform: Email [email protected] a screenshot of module completion.

Please allow 1 week for the checkmark to appear on your checklist. 

Where to Submit/Get Information

Brightspace

It is imperative to continuously monitor your uOttawa email throughout your training in order to receive important communication from the PGME office, the Office of Clinical Placement Risk Management, as well as Paymaster for residents. You are responsible for checking your uOttawa email regularly. 

Please note: some email account settings will place emails received from the University into their Junk, Clutter, or Spam folders. Please continue to monitor all folders for receipt of your uOttawa email credentials. 

Where to Submit/Get Information

MedTech (IT) for username and password help 

• Login to your @uOttawa.ca email
• Configuring your uOttawa e-mail on a mobile device (Scroll to the bottom of the page)

The University of Ottawa’s online student services/Student Centre can be found on the uoZone student portal. Access it for financial statements, tax forms (T2202), enrolment checklist, etc.

Username: uoAccess ID is the short name before your @uOttawa.ca e-mail address (e.g.: jsmit000).

To access your Student Centre which also contains your Compliance Checklist:

• Proceed to the uOttawa website for Current Students (Google Chrome recommended).
• Scroll down until you see the link for "uoZone" under "Key Resources".
• Log in using your uOttawa email credentials:
• Username: short name before your @uOttawa.ca e-mail address (e.g.: jsmit001)
• Password: same password as your uOttawa email.
• Once logged in, click on "Student Centre" under the "Applications" tab.

Where to Submit/Get Information

Student Centre via uoZone

You can update your personal information, such as your address or non-uOttawa email, directly through your uoZone.

• Proceed to the uOttawa website for Current Students (Google Chrome recommended).
• Scroll down until you see the link for "uoZone" under "Key Resources".
• Log in using your uOttawa email credentials:
• Username: short name before your @uOttawa.ca e-mail address (e.g.: jsmit001)
• Password: same password as your uOttawa email.
• Once logged in, click on "Student Centre" under the "Applications" tab.
• Click on the "General Info" at the top of the page.
• You will then be able to edit your personal information.

Where to Submit/Get Information

Student Centre via uoZone