Professional corporationPhysicians · GPs and specialists
Professional corporation for physicians
Practise medicine through a corporation within your college’s rules: compliant name, restricted shareholding, notice to the college, permit to practise as a corporation. We prepare the full file, reviewed by a lawyer, and file it with the registry and then the college.
What sets a medical corporation apart
A professional corporation is still an ordinary corporation, with four constraints added by the college’s rules. Miss them and the permit is refused after you’ve paid the registry.
Permit to practise as a corporation
Depending on the province, a specific certificate or permit is issued to the corporation (Ontario: CPSO certificate of authorization). Without it, the corporation can’t bill medical services.What we do: permit application filed, file tracked, annual renewal reminder.Restricted shareholding
Voting shares are reserved to physicians who are college members. Depending on the province, a spouse, children or a family trust may hold non-voting shares; others forbid it.What we do: share structure compliant with your college, proposed before filing, reviewed by a lawyer.Regulated name and purpose
The name often must include the physician’s name and a term like “Medicine Professional Corporation”. The purpose is limited to practising medicine and related activities.What we do: name checked against college rules in addition to Nuans and the registry.By province: the college, the permit, the rules
Medicine is provincially regulated: a medical corporation is always provincial, never federal. Registry fees come on top of college fees.
| Province | College | Permit to practise as a corporation | Registry fee | College fee | Non-physician shareholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | Collège des médecins du Québec | Notice to the Collège, entry in the register of corporations | $397 | [amount] | Spouse, relatives, trust: non-voting shares [to verify] |
| Ontario | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario | Certificate of authorization, renewed annually | $300 | [amount] | Family members: non-voting shares [to verify] |
| British Columbia | College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC | Health profession corporation permit | $350 | [amount] | [to verify] |
| Alberta | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta | Professional corporation permit | $291.75 | [amount] | [to verify] |
How it works
Registry first, college second
Two filings in sequence. The corporation exists from the registry certificate; it can only practise medicine after the college authorizes it.
- Check eligibilityValid licence, no incompatible disciplinary restriction, your college’s shareholding rules.You · 2 min
- Compliant nameE.g. “Dr. Marie Lavoie Medicine Professional Corporation”. Checked with the registry and against college rules.You · 3 min
- Share structureVoting shares reserved to the physician; non-voting classes for authorized holders where allowed. Proposed, then reviewed by a lawyer.You · 5 min
- Sign and file with the registryReview with registry and college fees, e-signature, filed the same day.Incorpo · same day
- Certificate of incorporationReceived from the registry (1–3 days in Quebec, a few hours in Ontario). The corporation exists but can’t practise yet.Registry · 1–3 d
- College notice and permitFile sent to the college with articles, shareholder register, attestation. Timing depends on the college.College · [n] weeks
- Billing and complianceRAMQ/OHIP billing number moved to the corporation, tax registrations, permit renewal calendar.[n] days
Price of a medical corporation
Premium recommended: shareholders’ agreement (essential with a spouse or trust as shareholder) and 30 minutes with an expert to review the structure. Registry and college fees extra, at cost.
Plan details →Complete
- Fees
- $299
- Professional corporation supplement
- [amount]
- REQ fee (Quebec)
- $397
- College fee
- [amount]
- Total before tax
- $696 + [amount]
Premium
- Fees
- $499
- Professional corporation supplement
- [amount]
- REQ fee (Quebec)
- $397
- College fee
- [amount]
- Total before tax
- $896 + [amount]
Physicians’ questions
Reviewed by David Roy, lawyer, and Sophie Lemieux, CPA. Shareholding rules vary by college: confirm yours.
Does incorporating protect me from a malpractice suit?
No. Professional liability stays personal, covered by your insurance (CMPA). The corporation limits business liability: lease, equipment, debts, employees.
Can my spouse be a shareholder?
Depends on the province and college. Several allow non-voting shares for a spouse, children or a family trust; others forbid it. We check the applicable rule before filing.
What’s the tax advantage for a physician?
Deferral: income left in the corporation is taxed at the small-business rate up to the SBD limit, the rest at your pace. Family income splitting is tightly limited by the tax on split income rules.
Can I incorporate federally?
In practice no: medicine is regulated provincially and colleges require a corporation under their provincial statute. We only offer provincial jurisdictions for medical corporations.
How long before I can bill through the corporation?
The registry takes 1–3 days; the college, [n] weeks. Then allow for moving your billing number. Plan [n] to [n] weeks in total.
Can two physicians share a corporation?
Yes, if both are college members. A shareholders’ agreement (Premium plan) covers exit, death and income sharing.
Your medical corporation, compliant with your college’s rules
File reviewed by a lawyer, filed with the registry then the college. We tell you before you pay whether your share structure works.