Canadian Residency

Canadian Medical Residency

Canadians who have trained in medical schools outside Canada and the US can compete for and obtain medical residency positions in Canada. Medical residency positions are very limited, so use our resources for the best chance at success. Candidates for medical residency are matched to universities through an electronic service called CaRMS (the Canadian Resident Matching Service). To access the match and be successfully selected for a medical residency position, you need to establish eligibility at several points.

Who Can Apply

When applying to CaRMS, you will be asked to demonstrate your citizenship status. Canadian Citizen and Permanent Resident can apply.

To demonstrate your citizenship status, you’ll be required to submit a copy of one of documents to CaRMS by the Rank Order deadline. Visit the CaRMS website for a full list of accepted document types.

Academic Requirements

You will be required to demonstrate:

  • You have earned a medical degree from a school listed on the World Directory of Medical Schools.
  • You meet English Language Proficiency

Examination

Students who plan to begin residency in 2019 are the last class who need to complete the National Assessment Collaboration Examination (NAC) and the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE) to meet basic eligibility requirements. November 2018 is the last MCCEE session.

Going forward, IMGs will not be responsible for the above preliminary tests. Instead, you’ll need to proceed directly to completing the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part 1 before applying to residency programs. This mean future IMGs will enjoy a more streamlined process.

Match to Residency (CaRMS)

You’ll apply for residency positions using the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) Though you can start selecting programs before you’ve gathered all of your materials, it’s important to note that everything must be completed by a specific date in November to be considered on time. The CaRMS has a timeline you may find useful for staying on track.