Main duties

Specialists in clinical medicine perform some or all of the following duties:

• Diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders
• Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
• Prescribe medication and treatment and refer patients for surgery
• Act as consultants to other physicians
• May conduct medical research.

Specialists in laboratory medicine perform some or all of the following duties:

• Study the nature, cause and development of diseases in humans and the structural and functional changes caused by diseases
• Conduct microscopic and chemical analyses of laboratory samples and specimens
• Supervise laboratory activities
• Act as consultants to other physicians.

Specialists in surgery perform some or all of the following duties:

• Assess patients' diseases or disorders to determine appropriate surgical procedures
• Perform and supervise surgical procedures to correct physical abnormalities and deficiencies and repair injuries
• Act as consultants to other physicians.

Employment requirements

Specialist physicians

• A bachelor of science degree or In Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required.

• Graduation from an approved medical school and specific specialty training are required.

• Completion of the certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.

Specialists in clinical medicine

• Four to five years of specialty residency training are required.

• Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.

Specialists in laboratory medicine

• Four to five years of specialty residency training are required.

Specialists in surgery

• Five to six years of specialty residency training are required.

• Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.