CMPA
Canadian Medical Protective Association coverage is mandatory for all residents. The cost of coverage is based on the type of work and region.
You must register and pay for category 12 or 14 coverage. The monthly rate will be reimbursed through payroll.
Code | Type of Work | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
12 | Residents & Fellows – No moonlighting – Residents registered in a postgraduate medical education program, international medical graduates registered in a program to obtain a license for independent practice and clinical fellows and physicians pursuing a structured university affiliated program. Includes extra resident shifts, but will not include CMPA assistance in medical-legal difficulties arising from independent practice of medicine outside the program. | $2,388.00 | $199.00 |
14 | Residents — With moonlighting/restricted registration — extracurricular (outside of a residency training program) practice of medicine by residents registered in a postgraduate medical education program leading to certification with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or a provincial or territorial medical regulatory authority (College). Will generally include eligibility for CMPA assistance in medical-legal difficulties arising from independent practice of medicine outside of the program whether remunerated or not. Residents who moonlight must hold licensure or registration acceptable to the regulatory authority (College) in the jurisdiction where the moonlighting takes place. Residents who limit their clinical activities to moonlighting (e.g. locum) for more than two consecutive weeks must change to a practising physician code. Clinical fellows who moonlight must select the appropriate practising physician code, not code 14. | $2,388.00 | $199.00 |
*These costs are current to 2026 for the BC fee region.
Family Medicine, Student Loan Forgiveness
Please visit the Government of Canada site to check your eligibility.
Finding A Family Doctor
Divisions of Family Practice offers a service to help find a family doctor in select locations.
Physician Health Program has a service to connect residents with family doctors.
Immunizations
Residents are required to report their immunization status prior to the beginning of training via the Provincial Workplace Health Call Centre (WHCC) using their online self reporting tool.
You will need to consult your UBC Resident Registration Package or the Occupational Health & Safety website for a list of all vaccine documentation required for WHCC.
*TB skin tests are done free at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) or Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) hospitals. Residents are to obtain their free TB skin test at VCH clinic sites once they have been assessed by the Provincial Workplace Health Call Centre. The PWHCC will provide you with the clinic schedule. Residents who are located in rural areas and are therefore unable to attend a VCH site clinic should contact a Field Service Nurse at safetyandpreventionfsn@vch.ca to discuss their options. Reimbursement for TB skin tests obtained outside of the free VCH site clinics must be pre-approved by a Field Service Nurse at the email address above.
If you require an occupational immunization use the waitwhile app to see upcoming clinics or make an appointment.
Licensure
You must apply directly to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC for your postgraduate license, and pay the annual fee.
There are four classes of postgraduate license:
Group | |
|---|---|
Residents | A registrant who is enrolled in postgraduate training in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. |
Residents – Elective | A registrant who is doing a visiting elective through UBC. |
Fellows | A registrant who is certified and is pursuing further training through UBC. |
Trainees | A registrant who is pursuing further training but is not certified. |
Eligible postgraduate residents who have registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC as an “associate” are authorized to provide supervised services on an in-patient ward of a clinical academic centre affiliated with the UBC Faculty of Medicine.
Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part I
UBC encourages all residents to take the MCCQE Part I prior to beginning residency, or to take it as soon as possible. The MCCQE-I is a one-day, computer-based test that assesses the competence of candidates who have obtained their medical degree, for entry into supervised clinical practice in postgraduate training programs.
Moving
If you are moving to BC or within BC for residency don’t forget to update your new address with the following places:
Banking
Financial institutions
Credit cards
Canada Post
There is an optional service you can purchase to have mail forwarded to your new address in case there is someone you forgot to notify
Communications/Publications
Internet
Cable/Satellite
Subscriptions (magazines, newspapers etc.)
Telephone
Home
Cellular
Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA)
Available online (http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/esrvc-srvce/tx/ndvdls/myccnt/menu-eng.html) or call 1-800-959-8281 — this is important for student loans and taxes.
*Resident Tip: Save your receipts, as moving expenses can be tax deductible (http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns206-236/219/xpnss-eng.html). Check with the Better Business Bureau before hiring a moving company (www.bbb.org).
Drivers License and Insurance (ICBC)
*Resident Tip: If you update your address online you can update your Medical Services Plan (MSP) at the same time
You must switch to a BC license within 90 days of moving.
Phone: 1-800-950-1498
(Monday to Friday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)In Person: All ICBC locations in B.C.
Basic auto insurance is mandatory in BC and must be purchased from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, additional insurance can be purchased from other providers if you choose.
If you are bringing a vehicle from out of province with you when you move to BC visit http://icbc.com/autoplan/moving to find out about the regulations and insurance requirements.
Your vehicle must be insured in BC within 30 days of bringing it to BC and you must switch to a BC drivers license within 90 days.
Payroll Records and Benefits
If your address has changed since completing your intake paperwork, please update your address with them to ensure you receive your benefit card and other important documents in a timely manner.
Phone: 604-297-8683. Ensure you have your VCH employee # ready
Fax: 604-875-7198
In Person: Records and Benefits 1st Floor – 1795 Willingdon Avenue Burnaby, BC V5C 6E3
Mail: Records and Benefits 1st Floor – 1795 Willingdon Avenue Burnaby, BC V5C 6E3
This includes Health Dental, LTD and Life Insurance.
Resident Doctors of BC
You can update your details on our members portal.
UBC
Update your address online: http://postgrad.med.ubc.ca/current-trainees/resident-management-system/
Utilities
Update, move, or disconnect your services for gas, electricity and water.
N95 Fit Testing
Residents need a fit test prior to starting residency and annually. To arrange a fit test contact:
VGH: https://v2.waitwhile.com/welcome/ft-vgh or contact Ben Loosely at peoplesafety@vch.ca
Providence: Ongoing fit testing sessions, contact OHS@ProvidenceHealth.bc.ca
Interior: Ongoing regular sessions, workplaceinjury.prevention@interiorhealth.ca
Island Health: fit testing can be arranged through OHSPrevention@viha.ca, who will then coordinate with the site they are at or select a site and date through the intranet system.
Northern: workplacehealthandsafety@northernhealth.ca it is also done by an internal system for OHS issues.
Fraser: Fit testing can be arranged through https://fraser-health-prevention.myhealthinfo.ca/index.php
If you aren’t sure who to contact, or which Health Authority is the right area for testing, please contact Resident Doctors of BC and we are happy to assist.
Online Courses And Learning Modules
There are three online courses which all residents are required to complete prior to starting residency:
Infection Control Basics
Information Privacy and Confidentiality
Student Practice Education Core Orientation
There are additional requirements for some of the Health Authorities that must be completed in advance.
New Residents will be paid for their time spent completing mandatory orientation. You will receive pay for 2 full days that takes into account time spent before starting residency for completing mandatory onboarding. One day is for violence prevention and the other for any other courses that the health authority requires. If your orientations total more than 8 hours, kindly reach out to RDBC.
Payroll, Health And Benefits Forms
Payroll and Benefits are administered through PHSA regardless of a resident’s work location. Extended Health and Dental are provided through Pacific Blue Cross. Full details can be found in the Group Benefits Plan, which includes Group Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Dental and Extended Health. Benefits begin after one month of employment (August 1st for those who start on July 1st). Your group benefits number is provided in your resident appointment package.
The Employer as per Article 15 pays the premiums for the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP). Coverage begins 1 month after enrolment (August 1st, if you begin residency on July 1st). MSP coverage for residents who are new to BC can take up to three months due to a mandatory waiting period.
All necessary forms are provided in the Resident Appointment Package. To update your information, such as change of address or dependents, or to inquire about the status of your benefits please contact payroll:
Tel: 604-297-8683 (toll free: 1-866-875-5306, press 2 for Payroll)
Email: payrollvch@phsa.ca
Fax: 604-297-9311
1795 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby BC V5C 6E3
Rural Elective Funding
REAP funds UBC Residents enrolled in Specialty Residency and Family Practice Residency Programs who wish to spend elective time in Rural Subsidiary Agreement Communities.
Please visit the RCCBC site for more information.
UBC
Registration
UBC uses a Resident Management System (RMS) to manage the academic and administrative records of all residents; use this system to access Letters of Offer, update your contact information, review your academic records, and self-report any statutory holidays you’ve worked.
This service and all correspondence with the UBC Postgraduate Medical Education programs or Dean requires a UBC issued email address. This address is where you will receive your offer letter, and you must register before your start date.
You must also pay your registration fee, through the Student Service Centre (SSC).
Policies
UBC has a number of PGME wide policies relating to residency. It is updated periodically throughout the year.