RESIDENTS

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) Coming to Canada

The Licensure Process for IMGs *

International medical graduates (IMGs) looking to begin the process of obtaining a licence to practise medicine in Ontario are encouraged to contact the medical regulatory authority of this province: College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). They should also contact the international medical graduate program. There are general steps that IMGs should take before arriving in Canada, and steps they should take after their arrival.

Steps IMGs can take BEFORE arriving in Canada *

You can start the licensure process from outside Canada by:
1.Confirming that your medical degree is from a recognized medical school (FAIMER)
2.Taking an online self-assessment exam
3.Submitting your credentials with the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) Physician Credentials Repository
4.Taking the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE)**

**NOTE: IMGs must pass the MCCEE to apply for a residency position through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). The MCCEE is offered in 500 sites in 80 countries. If IMGs have obtained Canadian or American board specialty certification, they may apply to the MCC for an exemption from the MCCEE.

Steps IMGs should take AFTER their arrival in Canada *

All provinces have the right to request additional assessments to qualify for residency positions in their province. These assessments may include the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) examination, which is only administered in Canada. Candidates must take the MCCEE before being eligible to take the NAC examination, and certain jurisdictions may add region-specific eligibility criteria. IMGs may be required to pass the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I and Part II (additional fees apply). Candidates may also take a self-assessment exam to help prepare for the multiple-choice component of the MCCQE Part I. This self-assessment is offered over the Internet and can be completed before arriving in Canada. The MCCQE Part I and the MCCQE Part II are administered in Canada and are also required for graduates from Canadian faculties of medicine. All jurisdictions also require a minimum of two years of postgraduate training for licensure. When IMGs pass the MCCQE Part II, they are awarded the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada. The Licentiate is required for candidates to meet the Canadian Standard for full licensure, as defined through the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada. IMGs who are considering practising or completing their medical training in Canada should be aware of the requirements for medical liability protection in Canada. For more information, please contact the Canadian Medical Protective Association.

*The above details were obtained from the Medical Council of Canada. Another great resource is from the CPSO: IMGs Basic Steps to Independent Practice in Ontario.

Medical Council of Canada:
Medical Council of Canada - licensing route

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada:
https://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/credentials-exams/assessment-international-medical-graduates-e

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Physicians/Registration/International-Medical-Graduates
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Physicians

Canadian Resident Matching Service:
http://www.carms.ca/en/

Canadians Studying Abroad (CSAs)

Steps CSAs can take BEFORE applying to Residency Programs in Canada *

For Canadians studying med school abroad and wanting to apply for post grad residency training in Canada, you can begin with CaRMS (Canadian Residency Matching Service).

To help you get started, they have laid out some basic steps:
Step 1: Apply for electives in Canada at least one year in advance of your final year of study. This is not mandatory, but doing an elective in Canada can increase your chances of matching. If possible, apply for electives in Canada at least a year in advance of your final year of study.
Step 2: Register on physiciansapply.ca Physiciansapply.ca validates documents required for the licensure and certification of IMGs, maintains a repository of verified credentials and shares relevant documents with CaRMS.
Step 3: Schedule and write your Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE) Taking the MCCEE is mandatory for registration with CaRMS. The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) offers a self-administered evaluating examination that can help you practice.
Step 4: Register with CaRMS. CaRMS provides information on all available training programs, offers an electronic application on a web-based platform, and collects all supporting documents to help you build an electronic application portfolio. CaRMS then uses an algorithm to match applicants and programs.
For more details, click here.

Medical Council of Canada:
http://mcc.ca/about/mcc-and-route-to-licensure/licensure-process-for-imgs/

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada:
http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/credentials-exams/exam-eligibility/assessment-imgs/approved-jurisdiction-route-international-medical-graduates-e
http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/credentials-exams/exam-eligibility/assessment-imgs/per/obtaining-license-to-practice-in-canada-e

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Physicians/Registration/International-Medical-Graduates
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Physicians

Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS):
http://www.carms.ca/en/

Canadian Medical Graduates (CMGs)

Now what?

If you are completing your medical degree and want to apply for post graduate residency training in General Surgery, you will need to apply for an R-1 Main Residency Match via CaRMS (Canadian Residency Match Service) for CMGs. (Usually, current-year Canadian graduates are automatically registered by their medical schools.)

Eligibility:

To participate in the first iteration of the R-1 match, you must be:

• a medical student or graduate who has obtained or is in the process of obtaining a medical degree by July 1 of the match year from an institution that meets one of the required criteria
• a Canadian citizen or hold a valid Canadian permanent resident card.

NOTE: If you are attending or have graduated from a school of osteopathic medicine, or are attending or have graduated from a school listed with the World Directory of Medical Schools (formerly FAIMER’s IMED), you must also have: 1.Written and passed the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE); or 2.Be scheduled to write the September OR November, 2014 MCCEE.*
NOTE: Only applicants without previous Canadian or US postgraduate training are eligible to attain a position through CaRMS in the first iteration. If you have previous Canadian or US postgraduate training or plan to participate only in the second iteration of the match for another reason, please review the second iteration eligibility information.
For more information, visit CaRMS.

Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS):
http://www.carms.ca/en/

Medical Council of Canada:
http://mcc.ca/about/mcc-and-route-to-licensure/licensure-process-for-imgs/

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada:
http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/credentials-exams/exam-eligibility/assessment-imgs/approved-jurisdiction-route-international-medical-graduates-e
http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/credentials-exams/exam-eligibility/assessment-imgs/per/obtaining-license-to-practice-in-canada-e

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario:
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Physicians/Registration/International-Medical-Graduates
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Physicians

Resources for Canadians interested in residency training/fellowships outside of Canada:

United Kingdom:
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges: Medical Training Initiative

Australia:
Medical Board of Australia: IMG Assessment Pathways

United States:
National Resident Matching Program The Match
Fellowship/Specialties Matching Services

Ireland:
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland: International Training Programs(resident/fellow)

Guide to Going Abroad:
www.bma.org.uk

BLOGS:
Canadian's journey through red tape and perspective of his residency training in the U.S.:
http://canadianimgmatch.blogspot.ca/

International Credentialing

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada:
Obtaining a license to practice in Canada
https://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/credentials-exams/assessment-international-medical-graduates-e

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario:
Obtaining a license to practice in Ontario
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Physicians