Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment
Overview
PLEASE NOTE: Effective June 1, 2026, the currency of practice requirement is changing from three (3) months of currency in the last three (3) years to six (6) months of currency in the last three (3) years.
The Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) is a practice ready assessment program that ensures international family physicians possess the appropriate clinical skills and knowledge to provide quality patient care in Canada. The assessment encompasses a global review of practice including communication skills, information gathering, learning techniques, prescribing, case management and readiness for independent practice.
SIPPA is comprised of two parts:
Orientation to Family Practice in Saskatchewan
Clinical Field Assessment (CFA)
There are typically three (3) iterations of SIPPA per year (Spring, Summer, and Fall); the number of seats per iteration vary.
Candidates who are selected for SIPPA are:
Provided accommodation for the duration of the in-person orientation and CFA; and
Provided an honorarium while participating in SIPPA; and
Required to sign a three-year return of service (ROS) agreement to provide service in a specific underserved rural community in Saskatchewan.
The community is assigned by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and approved by the Ministry of Health.
A sample of the ROS agreement can be found here (PDF).
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. Entry into SIPPA is a competitive process and even if you meet all the requirements, there is no guarantee of selection.
The road to SIPPA
A successful applicant will pass 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
Selection for SIPPA
Complete SIPPA program
Practice as a family physician in Saskatchewan
1. Meet Pre-Screen Checklist requirements
WHAT IS A PRE-SCREEN CHECKLIST?
The Pre-Screen Checklist is to help review whether or not you meet the pre-screen eligibility criteria prior to having to commit to a fee for an official ruling.
NOTE: Meeting the Pre-Screen Checklist requirements does not guarantee selection for SIPPA. Requirements must be kept current and up to date until the time that you are selected for and begin the CFA.
Successful completion of post-graduate/internship/residency program in Family Medicine that is a minimum of 12 months in duration. The following rotations are required*:
General Surgery, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Psychiatry.
*If you do not have the required rotation, you must be able to prove your experience in that rotation as part of your practice as a family doctor.
Practice Experience:
Practiced a minimum of 26 weeks of full-time family medicine within the last three (3) years (Please note that effective June 1, 2026, this requirement is increasing from three (3) months in the last three (3) years to six (6) months in the last three (3) years).
Can be met by any combination of the following:
ELIGIBILITY
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
Most Responsible Physician (MRP)
Family medicine practiceGP-Specialist: minimum 20 hours per week in family medicine practice
Full-scope family medicine
Clinical Assistant/Associate Physician
Licensed in CanadaIsolated 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
If your post-graduate/internship/residency training program was less than 24 months in duration, you are also 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.
Our team will review your information and advise you further.
Once you have provided a satisfactory Pre-Screen Checklist and CV, we will invite you to submit the Review of Qualifications (ROQ) to CPSS.
NOTE: You can submit a Pre-Screen Checklist at any time, even if you don’t yet meet requirements.
2. Submit a Review of Qualifications (ROQ) to CPSS
WHAT IS AN ROQ?
A Review of Qualifications (ROQ) is how physicians apply for licensure to practice medicine in Saskatchewan. The ROQ will ask you to provide detailed information on:
Medical degree;
Post-graduate/internship/residency training;
Passed exams;
Practice Experience; and more!
NOTE: Submitting an ROQ does not guarantee selection for SIPPA.
HOW DO I SUBMIT AN ROQ?
The ROQ is located through the Application for Medical Registration (AMR) housed on physiciansapply.ca.
Do not submit an ROQ without being invited to do so.
Ensure you select the ROQ for Saskatchewan.
You will be prompted to pay the applicable fees before you are able to submit the ROQ.
Ensure that you have shared your physiciansapply.ca account and individual uploaded documents with CPSS.
If you don’t submit the ROQ within 3 months of invitation, you will be required to complete a new Pre-Screen Checklist.
3. Pass the Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) exam.
WHAT IS THE TDM?
The Therapeutics Decision Making (TDM) examination aims to assess the competence of candidates at the level required of a family physician practising independently and safely 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.
THINGS TO NOTE:
The TDM has three (3) sittings per year (usually January, May/June, and September).
A pass result will be valid for a period of three (3) years.
Candidates are allowed a maximum of four (4) attempts at the TDM, which includes a maximum of two (2) 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.
HOW DO I WRITE THE TDM?
Access to the TDM is by invitation only.
Candidates are eligible to be invited to the TDM if they upload a Pre-Screen Checklist to their saskdocs profile and:
the Pre-Screen Checklist is satisfactory and the candidate has been invited to submit an ROQ; or,
the only requirement they are missing is the NAC OSCE.
Invitations are issued by SIPPA approximately 2-3 months prior to the exam sitting.
4. Obtain Preliminary Ruling from CPSS
A Preliminary Ruling from CPSS indicates that 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 (ELP, currency of practice, etc.) expire, whichever comes first.
NOTE: Obtaining a Preliminary Ruling from CPSS does not guarantee selection for SIPPA.
HOW DO I OBTAIN A PRELIMINARY RULING?
CPSS will review your ROQ and work with you to provide the documentation required to make a ruling on your file.
Ensure that you are reading emails from CPSS carefully and providing them everything they request.
Once CPSS is satisfied with your file, they will issue the Preliminary Ruling by email to you, SIPPA, and SHA.
5. Selection 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.
SELECTION TO INTERVIEW
SIPPA and the SHA will review all eligible candidates to determine who will move to the interview stage.
Updated and/or additional documentation may be requested at this point.
Invitations to interview are sent by SIPPA and/or the SHA by email.
Candidates who are not selected to move to the interview stage will also be informed by email; however, this email may not be sent until a later date.
SELECTION FOR SIPPA
Once all the interviews have been completed, SIPPA and the SHA will review all interviewed candidates to determine who will be selected for SIPPA.
Invitations for SIPPA are sent by SIPPA and/or the SHA by email.
Candidates who are not selected for SIPPA will also be informed by email; however, this email may not be sent until a later date.
NOTE: Candidates selected for SIPPA are responsible for their transportation during both the Centralized Orientation and Clinical Field Assessment (CFA). Most communities are small and do not have any public transportation available.
I was selected for SIPPA. What do I do now?
Respond to the invitation email(s) to accept your seat.
In the following days, you will begin to receive emails from multiple organizations (e.g. SIPPA, SHA, CPSS) requesting documentation.
This documentation is for (among other things):
Licensing;
Vehicle rental, privileging, banking information (for honorarium);
Accommodations;
Return of Service, etc.
Please read every email carefully and ensure you are providing the correct documentation to the correct organization.
NOTE: Approximately half of candidates will have their assigned community listed on the ROS. Those remaining will receive an amendment to their ROS prior to the completion of the CFA that indicates the assigned community.
6. Complete SIPPA
Orientation to Family Practice in Canada
Online orientation: Approx. three (3) weeks in duration
In-person orientation: One (1) 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 (2) 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.