CPSO licence issuance up 42% in the 2000s

Issuance to international medical graduates up 119%

TORONTO, April 20 /CNW/ - A report released today by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) shows a 42% increase in the number of licences issued to physicians in the 2000s over the 1990s. The record number of 3,638 certificates of registration issued in 2009 completes a decade of registering success.

More striking is the significant increase in licence issuance to international medical graduates (IMGs) in the past decade - up an unprecedented 119%. In the 2000s, 10,982 certificates were issued to IMGs up from 5,013 in the 1990s. The total number of certificates issued in the 2000s to IMGs actually exceeded the number issued to Ontario graduates.

"We have been doing everything we can to find and implement solutions to the physician resource challenge in Ontario, and the numbers today demonstrate our success," said College President Dr. Jack Mandel.

The CPSO issues postgraduate training certificates to physicians in residency training and practice certificates to all other candidates. Of the 3,638 certificates issued last year, 1,563 were practice certificates, the highest number of practice certificates issued since 1985. International medical graduates were issued 39% of those licences, nearly matching the number issued to Ontario graduates (41%).

For more than a decade, all categories of graduates - Ontario, Canadian and international - have seen increased issuance. Some key factors contributing to the rise include the positive effect of new CPSO registration policies; increased enrolment and residency positions at Canadian medical schools; and more Ontario government-funded residency positions reserved for IMGs.

"We are pleased with the results to date and will continue to work with our partners in government, medical education and training, and specialty certification to ensure that all Ontario residents have access to a physician," said Dr. Mandel.

The full report, Registering Success 2009, is available online at www.cpso.on.ca under What's New.

For further information: Media Inquiries: Kathryn Clarke, [phone] ext. 378, [email protected]; Jill Hefley, [phone] ext. 445, [email protected]