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Checking a plastic surgeon in Canada

In Canada, look for Royal College certification in plastic surgery and a licence from the provincial college where the surgeon practises.

Last checked 18 October 2026
Check a surgeon in Canada

What the titles mean in Canada

Canadian plastic surgeons are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, shown by the letters FRCSC, in the specialty of plastic surgery.

Doctors are licensed by the college in each province, such as the CPSO in Ontario. The provincial register shows their licence and any discipline.

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What we check for Canadian surgeons

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of CanadaFRCSC certification and the specialty it was awarded inIndependent
Provincial college registerLicence status, recognised specialty and any disciplineOfficial register
Canadian Society of Plastic SurgeonsMembership, which requires FRCSC in plastic surgeryIndependent

Society membership is voluntary. Not being a member doesn't mean a surgeon isn't qualified.

How to check it yourself

  1. Find the college for the province where the surgeon practises, such as the CPSO in Ontario. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
  2. Search the surgeon's name and check their licence is active.
  3. Look for plastic surgery as their recognised specialty and any discipline.
  4. If you like, look them up in the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons directory.

Common questions

How do I check a plastic surgeon in Canada?

Check the surgeon holds Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada certification in plastic surgery (FRCSC), then search the register of the provincial college where they practise for licence status and discipline. The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons says only physicians certified in plastic surgery are plastic surgeons, but “cosmetic surgeon” is used more loosely.

Source: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons

What does FRCSC mean?

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. It shows a surgeon passed the Royal College's specialty certification. For plastic surgery, check the specialty is plastic surgery.

Which register do I search?

The college for the province where the surgeon practises. Each province keeps its own register.

I'm considering surgery abroad. What should I check?

The same principle applies everywhere: find the official register in that country and look for specialist registration in plastic surgery. See every country we cover