The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland have recently changed their policy with respect to English language proficiency.  Previously any physician who completed any part of their medical training in a non english speaking country candidates were required to complete the IELTS exam  This proved a problematic policy because even those who were Royal College certified were required to write this exam. So a physician who withstands the gruelling pressure of writing this exam, in English above all things i.e. writes exams and OSCE’s were still required to write the exam.Thankfully that policy has now changed as we lost several Royal College physicians that went elsewhere. Below now is the new standard and Policy for English proficiency. For more questions on English language proficiency, or jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador please contact Warren Bonnell at 709.728.0049 or email admin@physicianjobsCanada.com

Language Proficiency Standards

Section 17(1)(b) of the Medical Regulations, 2015 requires an applicantion for registration or licensure to include “proof satisfactory to the Council of the person’s reasonable fluency in the English language”.

The requirement to demonstrate language proficiency is permissive under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).

The College will consider an applicant to have a reasonable fluency in the English language in one of the following circumstances:

1.The applicant has completed his/her undergraduate medical education in English in a jurisdiction                  that has English as a first and native language (see list below).

2. The applicant has completed his/her post-graduate medical education in English in a jurisdiction that has English as a first and native language (see list below) and has been certified by either the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

3. The applicant is currently in medical practice in a jurisdiction where English is a first and native language (see list below) and the applicant’s undergraduate medical education was taken in English and they are able to provide a certified medical degree in English.

4. The applicant has completed the IELTS academic test within the previous 24 months and has achieved a score of 7.0 in each of the four components in the same examination sitting.

Jurisdictions considered to have English as a first and native language: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands.