The Royal College is a national, professional association established in 1929 by a special Act of Parliament to oversee postgraduate medical education. It ensures that the training and evaluation of medical and surgical specialists attain the highest standards. The Royal College recognizes 79 disciplines, granting Fellowships in 29 specialties, 34 subspecialties, three special programs and 13 Areas of Focused Competence (AFC-diplomas).
The Royal College requires Fellows worldwide to maintain their competence throughout their careers; it acts and speaks out in support of the most appropriate context for the practice of specialty care and the best patient care. The Royal College accredits the residency programs at 17 universities across Canada and also accredits the learning activities that physicians pursue in their continuing professional development programs. The Royal College verifies that a physician has met all the requirements necessary for Royal College certification.
