How to Become a Locum Doctor in Ontario: Steps, CPSO & CMPA

A step-by-step overview of becoming a locum physician in Ontario: CPSO registration, CMPA coverage, billing basics, and finding your first shift.

Becoming a locum physician in Ontario is less about a special credential and more about getting a handful of essentials in order: your regulatory registration, your medical-legal protection, your ability to bill, and a reliable way to find shifts. This guide walks through the general steps. It is educational information, not legal or professional advice — always confirm the current requirements that apply to you with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA).

Step 1 — Get (or confirm) your CPSO registration

Every physician practising in Ontario must hold a certificate of registration with the CPSO that authorizes their class of practice. There is no distinct “locum licence” — you do locum work under the registration you already hold. If you are new to Ontario or moving from another province, plan for the CPSO application and any assessment steps, which can take time.

Check that your certificate is active and in good standing.
Understand any terms, conditions, or limitations attached to your registration.
Family physicians can review certification expectations through the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Step 2 — Confirm your CMPA coverage

Medical-legal protection is essential. Most Ontario physicians hold CMPA membership, and your membership category needs to reflect the type of work and setting you will actually be doing. Because locum assignments may put you in different clinics, hospitals, or scopes than your usual practice, contact the CMPA to confirm your coverage matches the work before your first shift.

Step 3 — Sort out billing

How you get paid shapes what you need to set up. Two common models:

Fee-for-service (OHIP): you bill the Ontario Health Insurance Plan for the services you provide, using an OHIP billing number, often with an overhead split retained by the host clinic. The OHIP Schedule of Benefits sets out the fee codes.
Sessional, hourly, or daily rate: the clinic or hospital pays an agreed rate for your time, and billing may be handled by the site. This is common in some hospital and virtual-care settings.

To understand how these translate into take-home pay, see our Ontario locum pay guide.

Step 4 — Prepare the practical details

Before a first shift, get organized so you can walk in and work:

Know the clinic's EMR and ask for a login and a brief orientation in advance.
Clarify scope, hours, on-call expectations, and how results and referrals are handled.
Confirm the payment arrangement and any overhead split in writing before you start.
Keep your registration, CMPA, and billing details handy for onboarding.

Step 5 — Find your first shifts

Locums find work through colleagues, hospital and clinic networks, regional programs that support underserved communities, and locum-matching platforms. A marketplace can shorten the search by putting available shifts and coverage needs in one place. PRN Doc connects Ontario physicians directly with clinics — you can join free to see what is available. For the bigger picture of how locum work fits into a Canadian career, read our complete guide to locum tenens in Canada, and if you are focused on the Toronto area, see family physician locum jobs in the GTA.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need before I can work as a locum in Ontario?

At a high level you need a valid certificate of registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) that authorizes your practice, appropriate CMPA membership, and the ability to bill for your services (typically an OHIP billing number for fee-for-service work). Confirm the exact requirements for your situation with the CPSO and CMPA.

Do I need a special CPSO licence just for locum work?

Locum work is done under a CPSO certificate of registration authorizing the relevant class of practice — it is not a separate "locum licence." The class and any terms, conditions, or limitations that apply depend on your training and circumstances. Verify your specific registration status with the CPSO.

How do I get an OHIP billing number?

Physicians who bill the Ontario Health Insurance Plan on a fee-for-service basis register with the provincial billing system to obtain a billing number. Some locum arrangements instead pay a sessional or hourly rate, in which case billing may be handled differently. Confirm current processes through Ontario's Ministry of Health resources.

How do I find my first locum shift?

Common routes include locum-matching marketplaces, hospital and clinic networks, professional colleagues, and regional programs that support coverage for underserved communities. PRN Doc connects Ontario physicians directly with clinics that need short-term coverage.

Can international medical graduates work as locums in Ontario?

Any physician working in Ontario must hold appropriate CPSO registration, which involves education, examination, and assessment requirements administered through the CPSO and the Medical Council of Canada. Pathways differ by background, so confirm your eligibility directly with the CPSO before planning locum work.