Alberta

CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO ALL MEDICAL GRADUATES

Failure to meet eligibility/licensing criteria or failure to provide proof of any of the stated requirements may result in the applicant’s file being disqualified and removed at any point during the match.

To provide transparent access to this opportunity, the requirements set herein will not be changed mid-cycle.

U.S. Allopathic Medical Graduates (USMG)

Medical students or graduates who have obtained or are in the process of obtaining a medical degree from an allopathic medical school in the U.S can either be considered Canadian Medical Graduates (CMGs) or International Medical Graduates (IMGs) within the residency application process, depending on their graduation date. This differentiation is due to changes made in the joint accreditation process of medical schools in the U.S and Canada.

• If you graduated from a U.S. allopathic medical school before July 1, 2025, you are considered a Canadian Medical Graduate (CMG). Refer to the CMG tab.
• If you graduated on or after July 1, 2025, you are considered an International Medical Graduate (IMG). Refer to the IMG tab.

AHS Requirements

Please be aware that Alberta Health Services (AHS) determines immunization requirements for all healthcare workers who provide services on AHS, Alberta Precision Laboratories, Covenant Health, Carewest, and Capital Care property. This applies to resident physicians. Immunization requirements are subject to change as per AHS policy.

Matched applicants must meet all AHS requirements to start training July 1, 2026, including, but not limited to:

• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search
• Compliance with AHS Immunization Policy

CPSA Registration

All applicants must meet the criteria for registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) for postgraduate medical education, including English Language Proficiency. Once matched, any delays in providing all required documentation to CPSA may result in a delay in the issuance of a certificate of registration and a delay in the start of postgraduate training beyond July 1, 2026.

Mandatory PGME Orientation

Matched applicants must attend a mandatory PGME Orientation at the matched University prior to commencement of training. The PGME Orientation is scheduled in accordance with Alberta’s Resident Physician Agreement. The purpose of this orientation is to provide critical onboarding information in addition to ensuring there is support for matched applicants as they transition into residency.  

Attendance is required in person: Matched applicants should not book holidays/vacations for the last week of June and must be able to attend the PGME orientation as scheduled:

• University of Calgary: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
• University of Alberta: Thursday, June 25, 2026

Absences are only permitted in exceptional circumstances with prior approval by the matched PGME Office.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

To maintain the spirit of fairness and equity, PGME does not tolerate the submission of altered, falsified, AI-generated, or fraudulent information or documentation, intentionally or otherwise. Such applications will be considered void and, if discovered after the CaRMS match, may result in immediate dismissal or withdrawal of the postgraduate training position.

• Canadian Medical Graduate (CMG) Stream; and
• International Medical Graduate (IMG) Stream.

Each stream will have designated positions. Apart from Family Medicine, there will be no cross-over or transfer between the two streams.

• The R-1 match cannot be used for re-entry (i.e. licensed physicians/physicians in practice who wish to re-train in a different discipline).
• Applicants with a sponsoring agency (i.e. Sponsored Trainees) other than the Department of National Defense (DND) are not eligible.