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Getting Ready for Licensure
The following topics/links may help you to evaluate if you are ready to dedicate the
necessary time and resources to preparing for Canadian licensure.
Settlement
- For all matters relating to settling in Canada (finding
housing, employment, registering for a social insurance number, health card etc.) see Settlement.
Language
Finances
- Many IMGs may need to work while pursuing the steps towards
possible licensure. For information on finding health care employment in Canada see Alternatives Careers in Health Care.
- There are many costs involved in licensure, including fees for examinations,
applications, translation, notarizing, language proficiency tests, travel expenses, study
materials, etc.
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Studying
- There may be IMG support groups in your area. In this web
site visit IMG Support Groups.
- You need a realistic study timetable that also accounts for
your work and family commitments.
- The length of time it will take to prepare for the selection
process depends on your unique circumstances:
- Recent medical school graduates may need
relatively less preparation time since they will have just studied the general medical
knowledge covered by the exams.
- Specialists may need to commit a substantial
amount of time to refreshing their knowledge of general medicine.
- IMGs with limited funds may need to work to
support themselves and to pay for the costs
of licensure. Hence, their preparation may take longer because of study-time limitations.
- IMGs who are not fluent in English or French
need to become proficient.
- Some IMGs may be able to save time by taking
some or all of the required program eligibility exams prior to coming to Canada.
- There are many study resources you can access to help
prepare for the exams (medical texts, practice exams, web sites, lectures, IMG preparation
schools, etc.) See Preparation for Exams/Assessment.
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Contact with the Medical System
IMGs report that it is helpful to do observerships, volunteer, or work within the health
care system as a way of both making contacts and becoming more familiar with the Canadian
medical system.
See First Hand Contact.
Supporting Documentation
Documents that you may require during the licensure process include:
- Proof of Immigration (legal) status
- Proof of English/French language proficiency
- Medical Council of Canada Examination results
- Notarized copies of degrees and transcripts
- Curriculum vitae
- Reference letters
- Certified/notarized translations of non-English/French
documents
- Recent passport photograph
- Proof of name change, if applicable
- Specialist requirements, if applicable
- Discipline-specific requirements: Some disciplines may
require personal statements, outline of practice activities, Dean’s letters, surgical
case logs, etc.
- Application fee
For specific provincial documentation details visit IMG Routes To Licensure by Province/Territory. See also Applications.
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Other Issues
- Specific programs and examinations have different
eligibility criteria, that may include a period of prior postgraduate training. You must
be sure you have met the appropriate criteria.
- For some programs throughout the country, you must have
lived 12 months in the province/territory before the program start date, in order to apply.
- If accepted into a program, you may need to be flexible to
move to another location if necessary, and to sign a return of service agreement that
commits you to work in an under-serviced area for a specified period time.
- In order to take the MCCQE Part II Examination, you need to
have successfully completed a minimum of 12 months of postgraduate clinical medical
training. If you have just completed medical school and not fulfilled this residency
training requirement, you will not be able to take this exam in advance of completing a
training/assessment program in Canada.
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