R-1 Summary of MCC Examination Requirements

NOVA SCOTIA, NEW BRUNSWICK and PEI:  To obtain a postgraduate training license in Nova Scotia after the conclusion of the match, Canadian Medical Graduates must have registered and challenged the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part 1 (MCCQE 1) by July 1, 2026. Those unsuccessful in the exam are subject to the decision of the regulatory authority regarding licensure.

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 for eligibility requirements.
• If you graduated on or after July 1, 2025, you are considered an International Medical Graduate (IMG). Refer to the IMG tab for eligibility requirements.

Combined degree exception for applicants at an LCME accredited institution:

Medical students or graduates who have obtained or are in the process of completing a combined medical degree from an allopathic medical school in the U.S., such as an MD-PhD, will be considered Canadian Medical Graduates (CMGs) within the residency application process under the LCME-CACMS agreement in effect prior to July 1, 2025 provided they meet the following conditions:

• They began the MD component of their program Dec 31, 2020 or earlier;
• They complete the combined program before June 30, 2028.

An official transcript from the medical school confirming the MD start date and expected completion date will be required to prove eligibility for an exemption.

This exemption is being granted to accommodate learners who started their combined degree program prior to the announcement of the LCME-CACMS split, had already planned to return to Canada upon completing their combined program, and are affected by the timing.

1. NEWFOUNDLAND/QUEBEC:  MCCQE Part II; or Certificate of Registration of the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC).
2. NOVA SCOTIA:
   • United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps 1, 2 and 3; OR
   • National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Parts I, II and III; OR
   • Federation Licensing Examination (Flex) Components 1 and 2; OR
   • Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA) Levels 1 and 2

3. QUEBEC:
   • Graduates with the diploma of doctor of osteopathy awarded before July 1, 2025 do not have to obtain the recognition of the equivalence of the medical diploma by the CMQ. These graduates do not require the MCCQE Part I, the NAC, or the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) in order to apply.
   • Graduates with the diploma of doctor of osteopathy awarded on or after July 1, 2025 must obtain recognition of equivalence of their MD from the CMQ.
   • Particular stream: If an IMG is already training in Canada or in the United States, there are no MCC examination requirements for this match.

4. QUEBEC: The examinations are not the only conditions that must be met in Quebec. Please consult the CMQ website for more details.
5. ONTARIO: MCCQE Part II