Updated October 17, 2023

University of British Columbia

2024 Cycle Information

Criteria applicable for all medical graduates; for specific information, please see tabs.

The 2023 provincial criteria is currently under review.

Please note that the criteria on this page is from the 2022 match. Updated criteria will be posted on this page in the upcoming months, once it has been reviewed by the province.

CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO ALL MEDICAL GRADUATES

GENERAL INFORMATION The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and the BC Ministry of Health have agreed to the following policies for the R-1 Match. It is important to note that individual programs may have specific criteria that are used to review applications. Applicants are responsible for reviewing program-specific criteria, as well as the provincial criteria listed below, to ensure they meet all required eligibility criteria.

All matched applicants must meet the criteria for registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (the College) for postgraduate medical education (https://cpsbc.ca/). Any delays in providing all required documentation to the College may result in a delay in the issuance of a certificate of registration and a delay in the start of post-graduate training beyond July 1, 2024.

LICENSING BODY College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC)
MATCH STREAMS The first iteration of the CaRMS match will include three parallel streams:

  • Canadian Medical Graduate (CMG) stream;
  • International Medical Graduate (IMG) stream, and
  • A new blended Canadian Medical Graduate (CMG) and International Medical Graduate (IMG) Competitive RoS Stream.

Please see the Ministry of Health website here for more information.

Each stream will have designated positions. There will be no cross-over or transfer between the three streams.

RESTRICTIONS Please be aware the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) in British Columbia has mandated that all hospital and health care employers establish, implement and ensure compliance with a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy effective October 26, 2021. Residents matched to any University of British Columbia residency program must ensure they are able to comply with the PHO directive in order to start training on July 1, 2024.

All CMGs/USMGs/IMGs who have previous post-graduate training in the United States or Canada which would be creditable for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada certification are ineligible for the first iteration.

CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS See the Summary of citizenship requirements.
PROOF OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY See the Summary of language proficiency requirements.
MEDICAL COUNCIL OF CANADA EXAMS See the Summary of MCC examination requirements.

ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR CANADIAN MEDICAL GRADUATES

RETURN OF SERVICE (ROS) REQUIREMENTS No return of service is required in the first iteration for those who match to the Canadian Medical Graduate (CMG) stream.

NewCompetitive RoS Stream –Return of Service Location

A Return of Service (ROS) commitment is attached to the new Competitive RoS Stream. To fulfil this commitment, the participant provides government-funded health services for a defined term. The ROS begins following completion of residency and is a three-year term for Royal College program participants.

For further information, please review the program website: www.gov.bc.ca/moh-returnofservice or contact the program via email at ReturnofService@gov.bc.ca.

For the 2024 R-1 match, Royal College program participants matched to these residency positions will fulfil their ROS in British Columbia as detailed on the program website and ROS contract: www.gov.bc.ca/moh-returnofservice.  The ROS will occur in a location that is identified by the participant and approved by the Ministry of Health.

Return of Service Contract

Accepting a Competitive RoS Stream residency position requires executing the ROS contract. The ROS contract must be signed before the matched applicant can commence their residency. Templates of the ROS contracts are available for review on the program website: www.gov.bc.ca/moh-returnofservice.

MEDICAL EDUCATION The list of required documents showing proof of Medical Education should be outlined in program descriptions.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION N/A

ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES

RETURN OF SERVICE (ROS) REQUIREMENTS A Return of Service (ROS) commitment is attached to all positions within UBC’s IMG stream and the new Competitive RoS Stream.

To fulfill this commitment, the participant provides government-funded health services in a community of need. The ROS begins following completion of residency and is a two-year term for Family Medicine participants and a three-year term for Specialty Medicine participants.

The IMG stream ROS requirements differ from the new Competitive RoS Stream requirements. The ROS commitment is linked to the stream that the participant matches to via CaRMS. For further information, please review the program website: www.gov.bc.ca/moh-returnofservice or contact the program via email at ReturnofService@gov.bc.ca.

IMG Stream – Return of Service Location

For the 2024 R-1 match, each IMG ROS is allocated to a designated regional health authority. The ROS will occur in a community of need and clinic/facility that is identified by the participant’s designated health authority.

Family medicine participants fulfil their ROS in the same health authority as their training site. Royal College program participants will fulfil their ROS in a health authority determined by the Ministry of Health and detailed on the program website: www.gov.bc.ca/moh-returnofservice.

New Competitive RoS Stream – Return of Service Location

For the 2024 R-1 match, Royal College program participants matched to these residency positions will fulfil their ROS in British Columbia as detailed on the program website and ROS contract: www.gov.bc.ca/moh-returnofservice. The ROS will occur in a location that is identified by the participant and approved by the Ministry of Health.

Return of Service Contract

Accepting an IMG or New Competitive RoS Stream position requires executing the ROS contract. The ROS contract must be signed before the matched applicant can commence their residency. Templates of the ROS contracts are available for review on the program website: www.gov.bc.ca/moh-returnofservice.

MEDICAL EDUCATION IMGs must be graduates of an acceptable medical school on the World Directory of Medical Schools which have a Canadian Sponsor note.

The list of required documents showing proof of Medical Education should be outlined in program descriptions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IMG Orientation

To help ensure a smooth transition to residency, all IMGs who are successful in obtaining a residency position in B.C. will be required to participate in a week-and-a-half-long orientation hosted in Vancouver in June 2024.

Over the course of the mandatory orientation, incoming IMG residents will receive exposure to a number of Canadian medical practices that are fundamental to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care in B.C.

Further details and FAQ’s of the mandatory IMG orientation can be found on the UBC International Medical Graduate office website.

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