Unit Group
3111 Specialist physicians
This unit group includes specialist physicians in clinical medicine, in laboratory medicine and in surgery. Specialists in clinical medicine diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders and act as consultants to other physicians. Specialists in laboratory medicine study the nature, cause and development of diseases in humans. Specialists in surgery perform and supervise surgical procedures. Specialists in clinical medicine usually work in private practice or in a hospital while those in laboratory medicine and in surgery usually work in hospitals. Residents in training to become specialist physicians are included in this unit group.
Example Titles
anatomical pathologist
anesthetist
cardiac surgeon
cardiologist
clinical immunologist-allergist
dermatologist
diagnostic radiologist
emergency physician
endocrinologist
gastroenterologist
general pathologist
general surgeon
geriatrician
hematologist
hematopathologist
medical biochemist – physician
medical microbiologist
nephrologist
neurologist
neuropathologist
neurosurgeon
obstetrician-gynecologist
oncologist
ophthalmologist
orthopedic surgeon
orthopedist
otorhinolaryngologist
pediatric surgeon
pediatrician
physiatrist
plastic surgeon
pneumologist
psychiatrist
radiation oncologist
respirologist
rheumatologist
thoracic surgeon
urologist
vascular surgeon
View all titles
Main duties
Specialists in clinical medicine perform some or all of the following duties:
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Diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders
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Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
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Prescribe medication and treatment and refer patients for surgery
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Act as consultants to other physicians
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May conduct medical research.
Specialists in laboratory medicine perform some or all of the following duties:
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Study the nature, cause and development of diseases in humans and the structural and functional changes caused by diseases
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Conduct microscopic and chemical analyses of laboratory samples and specimens
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Supervise laboratory activities
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Act as consultants to other physicians.
Specialists in surgery perform some or all of the following duties:
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Assess patients’ diseases or disorders to determine appropriate surgical procedures
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Perform and supervise surgical procedures to correct physical abnormalities and deficiencies and repair injuries
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Act as consultants to other physicians.
Employment requirements
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Specialist physicians
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A bachelor of science degree
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or
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In Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required.
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Graduation from an approved medical school and specific specialty training are required.
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Completion of the certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
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and
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Licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.
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Specialists in clinical medicine
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Four to five years of specialty residency training are required.
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Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.
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Specialists in laboratory medicine
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Four to five years of specialty residency training are required.
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Specialists in surgery
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Five to six years of specialty residency training are required.
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Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.
Additional information
- Progression to management positions, such as director of laboratory medicine or chief of surgery, is possible with experience.
Classified elsewhere
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Allied primary health practitioners (3124)
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Chiropractors (3122)
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General practitioners and family physicians (3112)
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Managers in health care (0311)
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Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (3125)
