Frequently Asked Questions
About The College
The College regulates physicians and other authorized health professionals in Prince Edward Island in the public interest. Its responsibilities include licensing qualified practitioners, establishing standards of practice, investigating complaints, monitoring professional conduct, and supporting safe, ethical, and competent healthcare.
No. The College is a regulatory body whose primary responsibility is public protection. It does not act as an advocacy organization for physicians.
The College operates independently under provincial legislation. While it works closely with government, healthcare organizations, and other stakeholders, its regulatory decisions are made independently.
Finding Care
The College does not assign patients to physicians or manage access to primary care services. Information about finding a family physician should be obtained through provincial healthcare resources. To register yourself or a family member for a Family Doctor, please call 1 (855) 563-2101 or visit the Government of PEI Website.
No. The College cannot influence appointment schedules, wait lists, referrals, or treatment decisions.
No. Referrals must be made through your healthcare provider.
No. The College does not recommend or endorse individual physicians.
Physician Information
The College maintains a public register that allows members of the public to verify a physician’s registration status and licence information.
Depending on legislative requirements, the register may include:
- Registration status
- Licence category
- Practice location
- Specialties
- Conditions or restrictions, where applicable
- Certain disciplinary findings
Complaints
You may wish to file a complaint if you believe a regulated healthcare professional has provided unsafe care, acted unprofessionally, breached professional standards, or engaged in misconduct.
No. You do not need legal representation to file a complaint with the College.
No. There is no cost to file a complaint.
Yes. Family members, caregivers, legal representatives, or other individuals may be able to submit a complaint on behalf of a patient, subject to consent and privacy requirements.
Generally, no. The healthcare professional involved must be informed of the complaint and given an opportunity to respond.
The length of an investigation varies depending on the complexity of the matter, the information required, and the number of individuals involved.
No. The College cannot order compensation, refunds, or damages.
Not necessarily. A difference in medical opinion does not automatically constitute professional misconduct or incompetence. Each complaint is assessed based on the available evidence and applicable professional standards.
Information about review or appeal options will be provided where applicable under provincial legislation.
Medical Records and Privacy
Requests for medical records should generally be made directly to the physician, clinic, or healthcare facility that holds the records.
The College cannot obtain records on your behalf unless they are required as part of a complaint investigation.
Physicians must comply with applicable privacy legislation and professional obligations. In certain circumstances, limited information may be withheld if permitted by law.
You may wish to contact the healthcare provider directly. Depending on the circumstances, you may also contact the College or the appropriate privacy authority.
Professional Standards
Physicians must comply with legislation, College standards, ethical obligations, professional guidelines, and accepted standards of medical practice.
Informed consent is the process through which a patient receives sufficient information to make a voluntary decision regarding treatment or care.
In certain circumstances, yes. Physicians must follow professional standards and take reasonable steps to ensure continuity of care when ending a physician-patient relationship.
Physicians must provide care in accordance with professional obligations, applicable laws, and ethical standards. Certain circumstances may permit a physician to decline providing a specific service.
Registration and Licensing
Applicants must meet educational, training, examination, character, competency, and other registration requirements established by the College.
Yes. The College assesses applications from internationally trained physicians in accordance with applicable registration requirements and pathways.
A Certificate of Professional Conduct is a document issued by a regulatory authority that confirms a physician’s registration history and professional standing.
The Atlantic Registry is a collaborative licensing initiative that allows eligible physicians to practise across participating Atlantic provinces through a streamlined registration process.
Public Protection
The College protects the public by:
- Licensing qualified practitioners
- Setting professional standards
- Monitoring competence
- Investigating complaints
- Addressing concerns about conduct and practice
- Taking disciplinary action when necessary
If there is an immediate risk to health or safety, contact emergency services or the appropriate healthcare authority immediately.
You may contact the College to discuss your concerns and determine whether a complaint or report may be appropriate.
Website and Public Register
The College strives to keep information current; however, registration status and practice information may change. The public register should be used as the official source of registration information.
If you believe information on the public register is inaccurate, please contact the College.