Trainees and clinical fellows

Before applying for CMPA membership in type of work (TOW) code 12 or 13, you may want to verify whether you require CMPA membership. In some provinces/territories some degree of liability protection for residents can be obtained through the hospital insurer.

If you are a trainee (TOW code 12 or 14) or clinical fellow (TOW code 13), your CMPA membership may be based on the academic year (July to June). If this is the case, fees are due July 1. The CMPA will provide proof of membership (Membership Update) from July of the current year to June of the following year.

CMPA members whose university requires proof of CMPA membership to finalize their registration in a training program do not always need to provide individual confirmation. Many universities correspond directly with the CMPA. If you have informed CMPA of your training details, your membership will be confirmed directly to your university. At any time, go to proof of membership if you require an individual confirmation.

To be able to provide reliable information to the universities, the CMPA needs to have accurate information from you. If you change program or university during your training, please provide the new information to the CMPA. Use the General inquiry form, or contact us.

Requesting membership

To request membership in TOW code 12, 13 or 14:

• If you are a new member, complete and submit the Online Membership Application/Reactivation Form or print and complete the Membership Application/Reactivation Form to submit by fax or mail.



• If you are reactivating your membership after an interruption of more than 12 months, complete and submit the Membership Application/Reactivation Form, or print and complete the Membership Application/Reactivation Form to submit by fax or mail. If you are reactivating after less than a 12-month period, call the CMPA at 1 800 267-6522.



• If you are an existing member and
  • moving to TOW code 12, 13 or 14; or
  • a trainee in TOW code 12 or 14 in your eighth year or more of training; or
  • a clinical fellow in TOW code 13 in your fourth year or more of training;
    
complete only the Questionnaire for Trainees and Clinical Fellows.

Completing the application/reactivation form

When completing the application/reactivation form, trainees and clinical fellows must select a type of work (TOW) AND a fee region where they are registered in a training program, or moonlight (Region A – Québec, Region B – Ontario, Region C – Rest of Canada).

Selecting a TOW code

TOW code 12 is for trainees who do not moonlight. Extra resident shifts are not considered moonlighting and are included under this code.

TOW code 14 is for trainees who do occasional moonlighting (i.e., for two consecutive weeks or less). Those in TOW code 14 who limit their clinical activities to only moonlighting work (locum) for more than two consecutive weeks, must change to a practising physician TOW code and hold a licence/registration acceptable to the regulatory authority (College) in the jurisdiction in which the moonlighting will occur.

TOW code 13 is for clinical fellows who do not moonlight. Extra resident shifts are not considered moonlighting. Clinical fellows in code 13 who moonlight cannot select TOW code 14. They must change to a practising physician TOW code and hold a licence/registration acceptable to the regulatory authority (College) in the jurisdiction in which the moonlighting will occur.

See the Fee Schedule for full details on each TOW code.  

Selecting a fee region

Trainees (TOW code 12) and clinical fellows (TOW code 13) must select the fee region where they are registered in a training program; for example, trainees registered in a training program in Manitoba must select Region C – Rest of Canada.

Trainees in TOW code 14 must select the fee region where they moonlight or where their training program is registered, whichever one has the higher fee.

NOTE: Existing members in code 12 or 14 doing an elective in a province other than their province of training continue to select the fee region where they are registered in a training program. They must hold licence/registration in the province of the elective and are required to notify the CMPA in advance of the elective. There is an exception for new members requesting short-term membership in TOW code 12 (to do an elective). These new members must select the fee region where they are doing the elective (not the region where they are registered in a training program, although it can be the same).

Your membership fee

First-time applicants must pay for a minimum of two months in the first calendar year. The fees for practising physicians and trainees are calculated each year in the fall for the upcoming calendar year and take effect on January 1st. Trainees joining between July 1st and December 31st for the academic year pay the current fee for the entire academic year and will not be affected by any potential fee increase in January.

Trainees who are doing an elective or who moonlight occasionally and join the CMPA for these periods only may be entitled to the CMPA’s Flexible Date Membership option. Fellows (TOW code 13) who have to change to a practising physician TOW code when moonlighting may also benefit from this option. Please contact the CMPA to verify your eligibility.