Certification Programs
The Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine
The Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) was established in 1979 to recognize proven competence in physics as applied to medicine. Candidates with suitable educational background and experience become members of the college by passing written and oral examinations. CCPM certification is becoming widely accepted in Canada and other countries and is often required at senior levels in medical physics.
Individuals seeking certification from CCPM must meet certain requirements. Applicants for Membership must hold a suitable graduate degree, and must meet a minimum requirement for patient-related work experience. Details of the requirements for Membership can be found on the CCPM webpage.
Medical Physicist Certification FAQs
Q: What is a CAMPEP accredited program?
A: It is an educational program that has been reviewed and accredited by CAMPEP, the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs, a nonprofit organization whose objectives is to ensure a program or institution has met a defined standard in quality education.
For more information visit: http://www.campep.org/
Q: What is certification?
A: Medical physics is not yet a regulated profession in any province; therefore certification is not legally required in order to practice medical physics. However, most employers of medical physicists in Canada require certification as a condition of employment or career progression. In the future, certification may become a legal requirement. In Canada, certification is offered by the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM), in the following subspecialties: Radiation Oncology Physics; Diagnostic Radiological Physics; Nuclear Medicine Physics; and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Certification can also be obtained through the American Board of Radiology (ABR). These organizations identify through certification individuals who have acquired, demonstrated, and maintained a requisite standard of knowledge, skill and understanding essential to the clinical practice of medical physics.
Q: Does CCPM require prospective members to have come from CAMPEP accredited programs?
A: CCPM requires that all applicants for certification in the Radiation Oncology Physics subspecialty must have successfully completed either a CAMPEP accredited residency program or a bridging program. Candidates intending to enter a CAMPEP accredited residency program should be graduates of a CAMPEP accredited graduate program. A As of April 2022, there are 13 CAMPEP accredited graduate programs in Canada, and 13 CAMPEP accredited radiation oncology physics residency programs, with more programs under assessment.
Bridging programs are intended for internationally trained, practicing medical physicists who do not meet CAMPEP requirements for membership. For more information, please refer to Section G of the CCPM Regulations.
For the other subspecialties (Nuclear Medicine Physics, Diagnostic Radiology Physics, and Magnetic Resonance Physics) there are currently no specific plans for requiring CAMPEP-accredited training programs for CCPM certification, however, as of April 2022, there are 2 CAMPEP accredited imaging residency programs in Canada that also offer a nuclear medicine physics option.