Moonlighting

Currently, Ontario is experiencing health human resource challenges, and the Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine (COFM) wish to assist in managing these challenges while maintaining:

• a positive balance between education and service.
• a strong academic focus in Ontario postgraduate medical education programs.
• clarity regarding the resident’s role in the clinical setting.

Practising with a Restricted Registration (formerly called Moonlighting) is defined as: residents registered in postgraduate medical education programs leading to certification with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada who provide clinical services for remuneration outside of the residency program with a restricted registration from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

The Ontario Faculties of Medicine support Restricted Registration for residents provided that:

• it does not affect the ability of the resident to successfully participate in their postgraduate program, and
• it does not undermine the educational environment.

The process for obtaining Restricted Registration is well defined in the Restricted Registration Program and includes approval for participation by the Program Director and Postgraduate Dean, as well an appropriate supervision within the approved clinical environment.

Ontario Faculties of Medicine cannot restrict residents with an independent practice certificate of registration who are in a residency training program from providing clinical service outside the postgraduate education program; however it is critical that this activity not interfere with the training program. The resident should inform the program director (PD) of the provision of additional clinical service so that the PD can monitor its effect on the resident as well as the program.

June, 2010



Residents are not encouraged to moonlight.  Residents with unrestricted CPSO licenses cannot be prevented from working in a non-educational clinical setting for extra remuneration.  It is important that this activity not impact on their ability to take full advantage of their Residency educational experience.  Residents with CPSO educational registration can only "moonlight" by applying for Restricted Registration through the CPSO.  Information about Restricted Registration can be found at www.restrictedregistration.ca

The minimum requirements for participation in Restricted Registration are:

• Residents must have a minimum of 18 months of postgraduate training
• Residents must have the approval of their Program Director and Postgraduate Dean
• Residents can only do work in areas where they have already successfully completed a rotation
• Residents cannot work extra shifts for money on the same rotation they were assigned to in their residency
• Residents are not allowed to do shifts for money which would put them above the maximum allowable work restrictions of the PAIRO/CAHO Agreement
• Residents must have at least 12 hours off before a regular resident work shift.

January 2011