Frequently Asked Questions

The initial screening for SIPPA is administered by saskdocs, based on criteria developed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan, SIPPA and saskdocs.


SIPPA is a Practice Ready Assessment program and beyond meeting the minimum requirements set out by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan, applicants must have a minimum of three months currency of practice in the last three years.

The College of Medicine-SIPPA will credit the following as currency of practice:

  • Most Responsible Physician (MRP) with generalist scope including mixed specialist/generalist practice. May include telemedicine as a component of practice, however the majority of the clinical practice must be direct (in-person) practice.
  • Post graduate training with a generalist scope. May include rotations in Family Medicine, Emergency, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Psychiatry. Other post graduate training will be considered on a case by case basis.
  • Licensed Clinical Associate/Assistant with a generalist scope. Isolated surgical assist will not be credited.

Physicians who have 12 months or more continuous, recent, licensed clinical experience in the past five years are significantly more competitive in the College of Medicine-SIPPA selection process.

Physicians who have significant gaps in their practice (i.e. one or more years away from full-time practice), or have practiced episodically (i.e. practicing one to three months yearly) over the past five or more years, or have no currency beyond the minimum required for SIPPA eligibility are significantly less competitive.

 Selection into SIPPA is competitive and if even you meet the above currency, we cannot guarantee selection.

If you have successfully completed an approved 24 month Family Medicine training program within the past three years and three months of your program are within the three years immediately prior to application, you may not be required to have additional “currency of practice” to meet the requirements for eligibility for SIPPA.

Due to the discontinuation of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part II (MCCQE2) exam, the NAC Examination (NAC OSCE) is an accepted examination to meet the current SIPPA pre-screen eligibility requirements. 

July 24, 2023 - Effective immediately, a PASS standing on the NAC Examination (NAC OSCE) will be accepted to meet the SIPPA pre-screen eligibility requirements. This change applies to all sittings of the NAC examination, March 2013* forward.

A PASS standing on either the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part II (MCCQE2) exam OR the NAC Examination (NAC OSCE)* will be accepted to meet this SIPPA pre-screen eligibility requirement.

Selection into SIPPA is a competitive process and meeting the minimum requirements, including a pass standing on the NAC OSCE or MCCQE2, does not guarantee selection for the SIPPA program. Details about these examinations can be found on the Medical Council of Canada’s website at www.mcc.ca.

Candidates who wish to be selected for SIPPA must be successful in the Therapeutic Decision Making Exam to be eligible to participate in the Orientation to Family Practice in Saskatchewan and the Clinical Field Assessment. For information on limited exam attempts, please see the Medical Council of Canada website. 

Recent emergency knowledge and skills are important for physicians working in rural Saskatchewan. Applicants with up to date emergency knowledge and skills, including ACLS, PALS and ATLS, is an asset.

SIPPA selects physicians to support underserviced practices in rural Saskatchewan. Physicians will be assessed in the full scope of Family Practice including Emergency Medicine and inpatient hospital care. Physicians applying to SIPPA should ensure that they have adequate experience to be safe and competent on-call in the emergency department and caring for inpatients at their local hospital.

Selection for SIPPA is very competitive, meeting the minimum criteria for eligibility does not guarantee selection into the program. Applicants with recent relevant clinical practice and/or education and post-graduate training are more likely to be successful.

Yes, contact saskdocs.

No, SIPPA is not an abbreviated Family Medicine Residency training program or GP refresher course.

SIPPA is a competency assessment program and assessors are under no obligation to provide feedback to candidates or remediate any deficiencies.

Unsuccessful candidates are eligible to enter the SIPPA program on one more occasion only, after a period of six months from their initial failure. The candidate must meet all SIPPA eligibility requirements, must reapply through saskdocs and be reselected for SIPPA.

Yes, Section 9 of the SIPPA Candidate Agreement outlines the eligibility and process for candidate appeals.

No, there are further requirements after the successful completion of SIPPA prior to being granted a full license to practice medicine in Saskatchewan; please contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan with any questions you may have regarding physician licensure in Saskatchewan.