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Ontario’s expedited pathway

UK and Irish GPs: practise family medicine in Toronto

Ontario’s expedited pathway lets GPs certified in the UK and Ireland practise independently, without Canadian exams, supervised practice or a further clinical assessment.

At Button Health in downtown Toronto, you start with 1,200 verified patients ready to attach and a full team behind you. The practice is built on continuity of care, with no walk-ins.

Available to physicians who meet the CFPC and CPSO eligibility requirements.

Canadian exams
None CPSO
Supervision or assessment
None CPSO
Return of service
None Ontario
First-year fees
$6,811 Route

Ontario calls this route an expedited pathway for internationally trained family physicians. The CPSO, Ontario’s regulator, calls it streamlined licensure, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) calls it the Equivalent Jurisdictional Pathway, or certification without examination. In August 2026 the CPSO confirmed that these family physicians may practise independently “without supervision or additional assessment, and without any additional examinations or certifications.”

Who qualifies

United Kingdom MRCGP
GP training accredited by the General Medical Council.
Ireland MICGP
GP training accredited by the Irish College of General Practitioners.

The CFPC also asks that you:

  • Have held an active licence throughout your career, and hold one when you apply
  • Have no voluntary gaps in licensure or practice longer than two years in the past three
  • Practise in person, since virtual-only practice does not count
  • Keep your MRCGP or MICGP active
  • Have no loss, suspension or removal of licence, no refused licence and no disciplinary action. Warnings and cautions are reviewed case by case

If a UK training record cannot be confirmed because it is unavailable, the CFPC treats the applicant as ineligible. Its board makes the final ruling on eligibility.

The route

  1. Check that you qualify

    Complete the CFPC’s online self-assessment questionnaire, then join the CFPC as a member.

  2. Apply to the CFPC

    Submit the Equivalent Jurisdictional Pathway application and register your credentials with the Medical Council of Canada’s Physician Credentials Repository.

    $533 application fee

  3. Apply to the CPSO

    Ontario’s regulator approves you under its Recognition of Certification without Examination policy. The CFPC needs this approval before it certifies you.

    $1,035 application fee

  4. Receive CFPC certification

    The CFPC certifies you once every requirement is met.

    $3,518 certification fee

  5. Receive your Ontario certificate

    The CPSO issues a certificate to practise independently within your scope, with no supervision, assessment or further exams.

    $1,725 a year in CPSO membership

  6. Get your work permit

    Button Health provides the paperwork you need to enter Canada, for a work permit or an LMIA exemption as needed.

The CFPC needs the CPSO’s approval, and the CPSO’s certificate rests on CFPC certification, so the CFPC and CPSO steps overlap. No single official document sets out the whole order, so confirm it with both colleges.

Work permit and permanent residence

The CPSO does not require citizenship or permanent residence for a licence, but “the Canadian government will require you to hold a valid work permit”. Button Health provides the paperwork you need to enter Canada, for a work permit or an LMIA exemption as needed.

Two federal measures for doctors, announced in December 2025, cover getting here and staying:

You can include your family in a permanent residence application.

Sources

Checked against these sources on November 3, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Button Health recruits family physicians, so we have an interest in this topic.

Common questions

Is there a fast track for UK and Irish GPs to practise in Canada?

Yes, in Ontario. Ontario has an expedited pathway for internationally trained family physicians. UK and Irish GPs who get CFPC certification without examination can practise independently, without supervision or additional assessments.

Do I need to pass Canadian exams?

No. The CPSO says UK and Irish family physicians with CFPC certification without examination may practise independently “without any additional examinations or certifications.” A CPSO policy also removed the MCCQE and LMCC as requirements, though other provinces may still ask for them.

How much does it cost?

The licensing fees on this route come to $6,811 in your first year: the CFPC’s $533 application fee and $3,518 certification fee, and the CPSO’s $1,035 application fee and $1,725 annual membership. Immigration and relocation costs are separate.

How long does it take?

The CPSO says registration for internationally trained physicians can take three months on average, varying by case, and that it typically issues a certificate within five business days of a complete application. The CFPC does not publish a processing time.

Do I need permanent residence before I can be licensed?

No. The CPSO does not require Canadian citizenship or permanent residence for a certificate of registration. You do need a valid work permit to work in Canada.

Does return of service apply to UK and Irish GPs?

No. Ontario’s return of service applies to ministry-funded residency positions, Practice Ready Ontario and a few other funded programs. This route goes through none of them. A return of service would apply only if you later joined a funded program that carries one.

Can I apply to Button Health before I am licensed in Ontario?

Yes. The role asks for a CPSO certificate of registration for independent practice, or eligibility for one.