Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador

CRITERIA APPLICABLE TO ALL MEDICAL GRADUATES

All applicants for a position in a postgraduate medical education training program at Memorial University must meet PGME’s requirements prior to commencing training. Individual postgraduate training programs may have additional specific criteria that will be used to judge applicants’ candidacy and suitability for their program. All applicants offered a postgraduate training position must provide proof of a medical diploma (those in the last year of medical school must submit their most recent marks/transcripts in the interim). 

The most fundamental of all requirements to commence postgraduate training in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is the ability of the applicant to obtain educational registration and licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador (CPSNL). It is important to understand that while the CPSNL’s requirements and regulations may change, without notice, during the CaRMS administration cycle, PGME will not amend any requirements during the match cycle. 

PGME and the CPSNL take no responsibility for updating applicants on any amendments. Applicants who do not appear to meet the preliminary educational registration and licensure requirements at the time of review will have their application disqualified by PGME. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized/certified translation prior to the application submission deadline. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

To maintain the spirit of fairness and equity, PGME has zero-tolerance for submission of altered, falsified, AI-generated* or fraudulent information or documentation, intentionally or otherwise, and such applications will be considered void and, if discovered after the CaRMS match, may result in immediate dismissal or withdrawal of the postgraduate training offer. PGME will not make any exceptions to the admission requirements. To provide transparent access to this opportunity, the requirements set herein will not be changed mid-cycle. 

Examples of unethical uses of AI include: 

• Copying and pasting directly from an AI generator 

• Relying on AI generated content to outline or draft an essay 

• Replacing your unique voice and tone with AI generated content 

• Translating an essay written in another language 

Examples of ethical uses of AI include:  

• Using AI tools, like Grammarly or Microsoft Editor, to review grammar and spelling of your completed essays 

• Generating questions or exercises to help kick start the brainstorming process 

• Using AI to research the R-1 application process 

Consent 

Applicants are required to provide consent to PGME, permitting communication with CaRMS regarding their application, and permitting access and the ability to communicate regarding their application submission for educational registration and a postgraduate training program license with the CPSNL. 

CPSNL Requirements 

IMPORTANT: Should an applicant match to Memorial University, they are urged to respond to the CPSNL’s application package IMMEDIATELY after receiving instructions from the CPSNL. 

Any delays in providing all required documentation, by the appropriate deadline, may result in delays in obtaining educational registration and a postgraduate training program license and commencing postgraduate training. 

Determining Eligibility 

Once applications are received by the program, the individual training program determines the candidacy of the application based on present criteria. These criteria include a combination of individual training program requirements, Memorial University PGME admission requirements, as well as the CPSNL’s educational registration and postgraduate training program license requirements. 

All rank order lists are forwarded from the respective postgraduate training programs to PGME to further assess eligibility. Applicants who do not appear to meet the admission requirements at the time of review will have their application disqualified by PGME. PGME may forward any application, including those of International Medical Graduates (IMG), to the CPSNL for an opinion on their preliminary eligibility for licensure. All screening and assessment of applicant files will take place during designated periods in the selection cycle, through consultation between the respective postgraduate training programs, PGME, and the CPSNL. Rank order lists are approved by PGME, not the postgraduate training programs or the CPSNL. Individual entities (e.g. applicants, programs, friends/relatives, etc.) are advised not to contact the program offices or the CPSNL directly for an opinion or assessment regarding an applicant’s eligibility for the educational register. 

Individuals who are considering the liquidation of major personal assets as part of a move to the province, affiliated with a postgraduate training position, are advised that final acceptance to our program is contingent on clearance from both PGME and the CPSNL. Applicants with an offer for postgraduate training (i.e. matched to a postgraduate training position at Memorial University) are reminded not to commence postgraduate training until they receive confirmation of their educational registration and licensure from the CPSNL. 

To emphasize, discrepancies between the CaRMS application and the application for inclusion on the educational register with the CPSNL will be addressed with a zero-tolerance attitude for submission of altered, falsified, AI-generated* or fraudulent information or documentation intentionally or otherwise. Applications will be considered void, and if discovered after the CaRMS match, may result in immediate dismissal or withdrawal of the postgraduate training offer. 

While extenuating circumstances may be considered on an individual basis as they are identified through the application process, final decisions regarding admission to postgraduate training at Memorial University are the purview of the Associate Dean, PGME. 

Orientation Attendance 

Orientation (program-specific and PGME-wide) will take place during the last week of June. Attendance is required and absences may be permitted only in exceptional circumstances, with prior approval of PGME. 

Putting It All Together 

Applying to postgraduate training can be an intense process, with multiple layers of inquiry: program-specific, the CPSNL registration and licensure eligibility, and PGME admission requirements. Although PGME works closely with the CPSNL, several requirements do differ and, in some instances, in subtle ways. It is the applicant’s responsibility to pay special attention to the differences. 

Applicants are urged to contact their respective program as early as possible, to seek clarification regarding entry requirements, as the CaRMS Match period is time and resource intensive and the responsiveness of PGME will be impacted. PGME assumes no responsibility for such delays. PGME will not discuss applicant files with anyone other than the applicant, the program director, the Office of the Dean of Medicine, CaRMS and/or the CPSNL. 

Once matched to Memorial University we encourage you to commence your application for educational registration and licensure with the CPSNL; please ensure that you follow the CPSNL’s most current guidelines and requirements. 

One stream will be for Canadian Medical Graduates (CMG)/United States Medical Graduates (USMG) without prior postgraduate training. 

The second stream will be open to International Medical Graduates (IMG) (including US Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) graduates) without prior postgraduate training. These positions are identified as IMG positions on the CaRMS site and are only available in Memorial’s Family Medicine program. 

All unfilled first iteration positions, including those from the IMG-Family Medicine stream, will be competitive in the second iteration, i.e. open to all applicants (CMGs, USMGs, and IMGs who fulfill the eligibility criteria). 

Currency of Practice 

Postgraduate medical education is a fast-paced and intense training period with methods and educational content changing over time. Safety and success are best achieved with recent clinical practice experience. Clinical practice is defined as direct patient care for the purpose of making a diagnosis and/or providing treatment. PGME is aware that the CPSNL’s requirements for clinical practice is different, but the following currency of practice requirements have been established by PGME to ensure that necessary clinical skills and medical knowledge are maintained in order to provide safe patient care. 

Active Practice 

Applicants who have had significant breaks or been away from medical school, postgraduate training, or active clinical practice for two years or greater, at any point in time after commencing medical school, will not be considered for postgraduate training at Memorial University. Observing, volunteering, clinical assisting, clinical fellowships, job shadowing, academic studies (EMT-paramedic studies, nursing studies, doctorates, masters, degrees, diplomas, certificates – including graduate diplomas and other professional degrees in medical science program) as well as training/educational experiences completed by individuals under an International Medical Graduate (IMG) assessment program, does not constitute clinical practice or training. 

NOTE: Fellowship training completed in Canada that does not lead to an Area of Focused Competence diploma (of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) will not be considered active practice or training. 

If you had a significant gap (see below) in training or clinical practice, performing a locum(s), and/or returning to training without completing the entirety of the program will not remedy this gap. 

All gaps or breaks in practice or training of two continuous months or more must be explained on the Declaration of Interruptions form. 

Significant Gaps 

A significant gap in training or clinical practice may exist and must be declared if equal to or greater than two continuous months. PGME will appraise the nature and significance of the gaps by: 

• assessing any period or cumulative periods out of practice, 

• evaluating any period between completion of medical training and commencement or resumption of practice, 

• reviewing any period or cumulative periods with a limited or restricted scope of practice, as determined by the actual practice experience of the individual, 
• review of any period or cumulative periods in a non-clinical scope of practice. 

PGME reserves the right to make a final judgement on the substance of the gaps in training/practice and whether the gaps fall short of satisfying the two-year requirement for active practice listed.