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Specialist Physicians (3111)

Among the occupations currently in highest demand in All of Québec

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Qualification and skills most often required

Un doctorat en médecine et un diplôme postdoctoral dans une spécialité sont exigés. L’adhésion au Collège des médecins du Québec est obligatoire. Il faut vérifier auprès du Collège des médecins les conditions d’admission ainsi que les modalités particulières qui s’appliquent aux personnes diplômées à l’extérieur du Québec. L’empathie, la capacité de travailler en équipe ainsi que des aptitudes à analyser, à résoudre des problèmes, à communiquer et à vulgariser sont recherchées. Le bilinguisme est demandé.

Reason for labor demand

Le vieillissement et la croissance de la population influent sur la demande de services en soins de santé. Les employeurs éprouvent des difficultés de recrutement en raison de la demande de remplacement, car les médecins spécialistes nouvellement formés ne suffisent pas à compenser les départs à la retraite. Les régions connaissent des difficultés à attirer et à retenir cette main-d’œuvre.

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Job titles

Nature of work

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.

Fields of interest

  • Managing, organizing, administrating
  • Providing others with care and assistance

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.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Employment requirements

  • * Specialist physicians
  • * A bachelor of science degree orIn 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 andLicensing 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.

Skill type

  • Health occupations

Skill level

  • Professional

More information

  • * Progression to management positions, such as director of laboratory medicine or chief of surgery, is possible with experience.

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Professional associations