FAQs

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is the professional association and the legal certifying body for the specialty of family medicine in Canada. Founded in 1954, it is a national organization of family physicians dedicated to improving the practice of medicine and the health of Canadians.

Family physicians across Canada make up the College. Membership is growing steadily, and as of June 2012, tallied more than 28,000 family physicians, students and residents. More than 20,501 family physicians have earned certification in family medicine and hold the CCFP designation; approximately 2,326 hold the EM designation for emergency medicine, and more than 4,995 are Fellows of the College of Family Physicians (FCFP). The College has 10 provincial chapters and sections for teachers, researchers, family physicians with special interests or focused practices, residents and medical students. Many members also serve on national and/or provincial committees, which are the primary driving force in the development of family medicine policy, programs, education, research, and advocacy initiatives.

The College cannot assist patients in finding their own family physicians. Your provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons may be able to help in this regard. The College cannot offer medical advice or counseling to patients. Contact your family physician for any medical care or advice. The College does not handle complaints against physicians. Contact your provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons for assistance in this area.

Family medicine can best be described as personal, comprehensive, continuous care. It is personal based on the relationship between the patient and his or her family physician; it is comprehensive based on the family physician’s consideration of the whole patient in the context of his or her needs, history and life situation; and it is continuous, based on the long-term, on-going nature of the professional relationship.

Family physicians are qualified to practise general medicine and have additional training in the specialty of family medicine as well as a clearly defined focus on comprehensive, continuous care of their patients.

The College sets the standards for education and certification in family medicine, and is the accrediting body for the post-graduate training programs in family medicine in each of Canada’s 17 medical schools. The College conducts the certification exam in family medicine leading to the CCFP designation.

CCFP is the professional designation of the specialty of family medicine. Medical school graduates who successfully complete an approved family medicine residency are eligible to sit for the certification examinations. Practising physicians who qualify may be eligible to earn certification through a combination of approved training and practice experience.

Physicians who have earned certification in family medicine may use the designation CCFP after their names. Certified family physicians with additional training and qualifications in emergency medicine may earn the CCFP(EM) designation; in addition, physicians who have been certified for 10 years and meet eligibility guidelines may earn the FCFP designation as Fellows of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Members of the College are required to meet strict standards of continuing professional development (CPD) consisting of a wide variety of accredited activities such as attending courses and participating in educational events. Members must submit evidence of these activities on a regular basis and earn a specific number of educational credits in the MAINPRO® (maintenance of proficiency) program administered by the College.

Canadian Family Physician is a monthly, peer reviewed journal of family medicine published by the College to disseminate the latest clinical and educational information, as well as to support and publish research.

The College holds the largest single annual medical educational conference in Canada – the Family Medicine Forum (FMF) – as well as Annual Scientific Assemblies held by the provincial chapters across the country throughout the year.

Information about what the CFPC offers to medical students with an interest in a family medicine careers can be found at http://fmig.cfpc.ca/en/home/ For questions about careers in family medicine, please see the FAQ feature at http://www.cfpc.ca/MedicalStudentFAQs/