Program Overview
PLEASE NOTE: Effective June 1, 2026, the currency of practice requirement is changing from three months in the last three years to six months in the last three years.
The Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) is a practice-ready assessment program for internationally trained family physicians.
The program evaluates whether candidates have the clinical skills and knowledge to provide quality patient care in Canada. Assessment areas include communication, clinical decision-making, prescribing, case management and readiness for independent practice.
SIPPA consists of two components:
- Orientation to Family Practice in Saskatchewan
- Clinical Field Assessment (CFA)
There are typically three iterations of SIPPA per year in the spring, summer and fall, with a limited number of seats available.
Candidate Selection Process
Entry into SIPPA is competitive and meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee selection.
Requirements for the program are set by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) and SIPPA and are subject to change at any time without notice.
Candidates selected for SIPPA:
- receive accommodation during the in-person orientation and CFA
- receive an honorarium during the program
- must sign a three-year return-of-service (ROS) agreement in a designated rural Saskatchewan community
- communities are assigned by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and approved by the Ministry of Health.
- a sample ROS agreement can be found here (PDF)
The Pathway to SIPPA
A successful applicant will move through the following key milestones:
- Meet pre-screen checklist requirements
- Submit a Review of Qualifications (ROQ) to CPSS
- Pass the Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam
- Obtain preliminary ruling from CPSS
- Be selected for SIPPA
- Complete the SIPPA program
- Begin practice as a family physician in Saskatchewan
1.Meet Pre-Screen Checklist Requirements
The pre-screen checklist determines whether you meet initial eligibility requirements before submitting a formal application.
Requirements must be kept current and up to date until you are selected for and begin the CFA.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.
Pre-Screen Checklist Requirements
1. A medical degree from a school listed on the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
2. Successful completion of post-graduate/internship/residency program in family medicine that is a minimum of 12 months.
The following rotations are required:
- general surgery, pediatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics & gynecology and
psychiatry
If you do not have the required rotation, you must prove your experience in that rotation as part of your practice as a family doctor.
3. Practice experience must be a minimum of 26 weeks of full-time family medicine experience within the past three
years
Note: Effective June 1, 2026, this requirement is increasing from three months in the
last three years to six months in the last three years
Can be met by any combination of the
following:
ELIGIBILITYPREFERRED EXPERIENCE
Most Responsible Physician (MRP)●Family medicine practice
●GP-Specialist: minimum 20 hours per week in family medicine practice
●Full-scope family medicine
Clinical Assistant/Associate Physician●Licensed in Canada
●Isolated surgical assistant work does not qualify
●Hospitalist, emergency medicine, primary care
Postgraduate Training●Clinical rotations●Training in family medicine, anesthesia, emergency medicine, obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, internal medicine or psychiatry
4.If your post-graduate/internship/residency training program was less than 24 months in duration, you are required to have practiced as the MRP for a minimum of 156 weeks in-person under a licence for independent practice.
This means the physician is authorized to diagnose, plan, implement, manage and follow up with a plan for treatment for a patient as well as order medications and diagnostic procedures. Arrangements that do not qualify include volunteer positions if the physician is not the MRP, assist work, observerships and preceptorships.
5.Passed exams:
●Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part I (MCCQE1); and,
●Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part II (MCCQE2)*; or
●National Assessment Collaboration Objective Structures Clinical Examination (NAC OSCE) – 2013 to current
*The MCCQE2 is no longer administered. However, a previous pass is accepted.
6.Proof of English language proficiency:
●English language proficiency exam; or,
i.International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Version
otaken within the previous 24 months; and
oachieved a minimum of 7.0 in each component
ii.Occupational English Test (OET) Medicine Version
o taken within the previous 24 months; and
o achieved a minimum score of B in each of the four subtests
Subtests obtained within the same 24-month period as the original OET exam was sat will be accepted.
iii.Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General
otaken within the previous 24 months; and
oachieved a minimum score of 9 in each of the skill sections
●Alternate proof acceptable to the CPSS Council
7.All required documents must be submitted for verification through physiciansapply.ca hosted by the Medical Council of Canada (MCC).
How do I submit a pre-screen checklist?
Complete the Pre-Screen Checklist and upload it with your updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) into your saskdocs profile.
1.The recruitment team will review the submission.
2.Eligible candidates will be invited to submit a Review of Qualifications (ROQ) to CPSS.
You can submit a pre-screen checklist at any time, even if you don’t yet meet requirements.
2.Pass the Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam
The Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam assesses the competence and readiness of candidates to practise as a family physician in Canada.
The exam is administered by the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) on behalf of the PRA programs, for use in selection of candidates.
Key Details:
●The TDM has three sittings per year (usually January, May or June and September).
●A pass result will be valid for a period of three years.
●Candidates are allowed a maximum of four attempts, which includes a maximum of two pass results.
●Candidates who receive a fail result are ineligible to write the consecutive examination session.
●The TDM is valid across Canada.
●A pass result on the TDM does not guarantee selection for SIPPA.
4.Obtain preliminary ruling from CPSS
A preliminary ruling from CPSS indicates you are eligible for an educational license should you be selected for SIPPA.
Preliminary rulings expire after one year or if any of the pre-screen checklist requirements expire, whichever comes first.
Obtaining a preliminary ruling from CPSS does not guarantee selection for SIPPA.
5.Be selected for SIPPA
Candidates who have a current pass standing on the TDM and a preliminary ruling from CPSS are eligible to be selected for SIPPA.
Selection for SIPPA is determined by SIPPA and the SHA in a two-part process and is usually done 2-3 months prior to the upcoming iteration.
6.Complete SIPPA
Orientation to Family Practice in Canada
●Online orientation is approximately three weeks in duration
●In-person orientation is one week in duration
Clinical Field Assessment (CFA)
●12 weeks in duration
●Occurs in 2-3 different communities throughout Saskatchewan (other than the community in which you will fulfill your ROS)
7.Practice as a family physician in Saskatchewan
●Results of the CFA are released approximately two weeks after completion of the CFA.
●Results are provided to the candidate and stakeholders (SHA, CPSS) via email.
●Candidates who passed the CFA can begin finalizing a start date with their assigned community.
oCPSS will be in touch regarding licensure.
oSHA will be in touch regarding privileges.