Please note that the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) has temporarily suspended the recognition of new disciplines (i.e., new applications for AFC discipline recognition will not be accepted) at the national level. Please refer to the official memorandum for more details (by clicking the hyperlink icon below this note to access the attachment).
At the PGME level, initial university applications will continue to be accepted for disciplines that are already recognized by the RCPSC. The status of recognized AFC disciplines can be confirmed via the RCPSC Information by Discipline.
Area of Focused Competence (AFC) are diploma programs accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC; Royal College). These programs address societal and patient population needs in specialty medicine that are not addressed by existing specialty and subspecialty disciplines. AFC programs also recognize areas of supplemental or advanced training. Learners who successfully complete all AFC requirements and annually maintain their Diplomate status with the RCPSC receive the added qualification of the “Diploma of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (DRCPSC).”
AFC programs must undergo two levels of approval for university launch:
National Level – The AFC discipline must be recognized by the Royal College
NOTE: If the AFC program has not yet been recognized by the RCPSC, you will need national support. Please refer to the RCPSC AFC Recognition Process for the next steps on how to apply. Gaining recognition from the RCPSC can typically take one to two years.
For a list of currently recognized AFC diploma programs, please visit the Royal College website
University Level – Once the discipline is recognized by the Royal College, interested faculty members may apply to the Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) office to assess the feasibility of launching the program at the university
Undertaking the implementation of an AFC program requires a significant commitment from the supporting department(s) and PGME. To ensure this commitment – both in terms of time and resources – has been fully assessed and approved by the department(s), PGME has established the process in the order outlined below. Please be advised that this process must be followed sequentially and cannot be altered or omitted.
The entire process at the University of Toronto is highly thorough and robust, often taking approximately 18 to 24 months from the approval of the initial university application to program activation. This involves collaboration with various teams within PGME. Throughout the entire process, the AFC Project Coordinator (pgme.afc@utoronto.ca) will be the primary contact, guiding you through each step.
