Clinical Requirements

There are a number of mandatory requirements you must complete that are specific to the clinical environment, which include educational licensing, medical liability protection, and more.

Although PGME does not track the submission of many of these requirements, we are notified if you have not completed them because they are necessary to begin your clinical training.

A Criminal Records Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector (VS) Search/Check is a required document for both CPSA licensure (CRC only) and by AHS Academic Medicine (CRC + VS). 

Please note that all new applicants are required to supply a criminal record check or police certificate from every jurisdiction they have ever lived (90+ days) within 10 years of their application or dating back to their 18th birthday.

You should initiate these checks immediately, as it can sometimes take 8+ weeks to process.

Licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) is mandatory and is completed online.

You will receive an email from the CPSA titled, "Welcome to the Postgraduate Training Tracking System,” containing your application and further information (e.g. access details, documents required, payment instructions). Please do not ignore/delete this email as it is legitimate, and double check your spam/junk folder as sometimes they get misdirected there.

CPSA application processing time varies, and can take at least 3-4 weeks. Waiting to complete your application could result in delayed licensure (and therefore a delayed training start date).

Registration with the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) is mandatory. To prevent any delays to your start date, please submit your application as soon as possible with only the CPSA registration number remaining outstanding. Once you have your CPSA number, you can add it to finalize your application.

Residents: Residents are responsible for paying the CMPA fees during the application process. Per Article 30.01 of the Resident Physician Agreement, all active residents will receive reimbursement payments from AHS to a maximum of $1500. Residents can monitor their pay advice on the AHS ePeople payroll system. Next to the stipend amount, there will be a note about CMPA reimbursement.

AFC Diploma Trainees + Fellows: AFC Diploma Trainees and Fellows are responsible for paying the CMPA fees during the application process.

All trainees should receive a pager information package and pager agreement from AHS Academic Medicine via email. Please submit the completed Pager Agreement to Edm.AcademicMedicine@ahs.ca per the applicable deadline.

Rural Residents: If you are a rural-based resident in Camrose, Grande Prairie, Red Deer, or Yellowknife, you do not need to complete/submit the pager agreement. You will receive different paging information from your home site.

Trainees Starting On-Cycle (July):

We want to ensure that your AHS ID Access badges is ready to pick up at the in-person orientation. Please watch your email, as you will be sent specific instructions.

Note for U of A and U of C Students moving from the MD program to residency:

  • Your current photo card will be surrendered and replaced with a new card, changing your status in the system from student to resident. If your photo card is not surrendered, you may be subject to a replacement fee by AHS.
  • You will retain your white access card - DO NOT return this card to PGME or AHS.

If you do not receive an email with AHS ID Access Badge information by April 30, please email our office at pglearn@ualberta.ca.

Fellows Starting Off-Cycle (After July):

Please see your welcome email for additional information.

The PGME office does not mandate any advanced life support training for residents. We rely on programs to identify the minimum requirement needed for their residents based on many variables, including site and unit requirements. Residents should confirm requirements with their home residency program for the most accurate, up to date information.

Per the Resident Physician Agreement, Article 34.02 (Advanced Resuscitation Courses), residents funded by Alberta Health shall be reimbursed by AHS for 100% of the tuition and registration fees. For more information, please visit our Educational Resources webpage.