FSRM summary of language proficiency requirements

Language proficiency documents must be valid by (not expired) up to July 1, 2026, unless otherwise indicated below.

*CELPIP: must have minimum score of 9 in each of the four skills in the same sitting

**IELTS ACADEMIC: must have minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four skills in the same sitting

***Letter of language proficiency is a letter from your Dean attesting that your medical school program of instruction was completed solely in English or French.

****OET MEDICINE: must have minimum grade of B in each of the four skills in the same sitting

1. NEWFOUNDLAND:
   • Applicants who graduated from a medical school in Canada where English is the language of instruction OR are completing an accredited core Internal Medicine, Psychiatry or Family Medicine postgraduate training program in Canada (or the United States for Internal Medicine and Psychiatry residents) where English is the language of instruction, are exempt from providing proof of language proficiency.
   • Applicants who graduated from a medical school in Canada where the language of instruction is not in English (e.g. French) or the stream is not in English (e.g French-Stream, Spanish-Stream), AND are completing an accredited core Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, or Family Medicine postgraduate training program in Canada (or the United States for Internal Medicine and Psychiatry residents) where the language of instruction is not in English, PGME requires proof of proficiency in the English language by one of the accepted assessments.
   • Proof of language proficiency documents cannot be older than 24 months by the start of residency (July 1).

2. ONTARIO: Applicants must be able to communicate proficiently in the language of instruction and patient care of the matching school and training site.

3. MANITOBA: If you graduated from an English medical school in Canada, you are exempt from providing proof of language proficiency.
   • Candidates who attended medical school in Canada where the language of instruction or the primary language of patient care was not English, are exempt from providing proof of language proficiency.
   • Candidates are exempted from English language proficiency testing if the language of instruction and patient care throughout the entire undergraduate medical education curriculum was in English.

4. SASKATCHEWAN:
   • Applicants who completed their medical education at an English medical school in Canada or the United States are exempt from providing proof of language proficiency.
   • Canadian applicants with medical education from the University of Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, and the University of Ottawa (French stream) must fulfill the English Language Proficiency requirements of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan.
   • Please direct any questions about language requirements or eligibility to toews@usask.ca.

5. ALBERTA: Applicants who are training at Quebec medical schools or the University of Ottawa (French Stream) are required to provide proof of English language proficiency as determined by the CPSA. Applicants should not contact CPSA directly about their eligibility for licensure.

6. BRITISH COLUMBIA:
   • Applicants are considered to have met the English Language proficiency requirements if the language of instruction at medical school was English, and the primary language of patient care was English.
   • English Language Proficiency Requirements for graduates of Quebec Medical Schools: Candidates who attended medical school in Quebec where the language of instruction or the primary language of patient care was not English, must fulfill the English Language Proficiency requirements of the  College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.

Language proficiency documents must be valid by (not expired) up to July 1, 2026 unless otherwise indicated below.

 *CELPIP: must have minimum score of 9 in each of the four skills in the same sitting

**IELTS ACADEMIC: must have minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four skills in the same sitting

***Letter of language proficiency is a letter from your Dean attesting that your medical school program of instruction was completed solely in English or French.

****OET MEDICINE: must have minimum grade of B in each of the four skills in the same sitting

1. NEWFOUNDLAND:
   • IMGs that are currently practicing in Canada with FRCPC or CCFPC designation and are providing the majority of their patient care in English, may be exempt from providing up-to-date language proficiency testing. Any applicant in this situation should write to pgme@mun.ca in advance of the application deadline, to determine if you meet this criteria for exemption. Applicants currently in a clinical fellowship program are not exempted.
   • IMGs who completed both their basic medical education and patient care experience in one of the following countries are exempt from providing proof of proficiency: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Kitts and Nevis, Lucia, Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, Virgin Islands (United Kingdom), Virgin Islands (United States).
   • Applicants who complete undergraduate medical education outside of Canada are considered IMGs; therefore, if an applicant completes undergraduate medical education (in part or in full) in a country not recognized as having English as the first language, i.e. not listed above, AND is completing an accredited core Internal Medicine or Family Medicine postgraduate training program in Canada (or the United States for Internal Medicine residents) where the language of instruction is not in English, they must provide proof of proficiency in the English language.
   • Note that elective rotations/experiences – regardless of length or location (including Canada) – will not satisfy the language proficiency requirements, nor will completion of any other non-medical schooling in English. Applicants must provide proof of passing one of the accepted assessments.
   • Proof of language proficiency documents cannot be older than 24 months by the start of residency (July 1).

2. MANITOBA: Candidates are exempted from English language proficiency testing under the following circumstances:
   • the language of instruction and patient care throughout the entire undergraduate medical education curriculum was in English. A letter of attestation directly from the Dean of the candidate’s medical school confirming that the majority of the language of instruction and patient care was conducted in English is required; OR
   • their undergraduate medical education was taken in English in one of the following countries that have English as a first and native language: Australia, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands – Caribbean Islands: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Grenadines, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago

3. SASKATCHEWAN:
   • IMG applicants are not required to provide a language exam if their medical education was obtained in one of the following countries or Caribbean Islands: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Grenadines, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Kitts & Nevis, Lucia, Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, U.S. Virgin Islands.
   • Applicants whose medical education was in a country not listed above must fulfill the English Language Proficiency requirements of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan.
   • Applicants should not contact CPSS directly about their eligibility for licensure. Please direct any questions about language requirements or eligibility to toews@usask.ca. 

4. ALBERTA: Unless exempt, applicants need to submit an academic version of an English Language Proficiency (ELP) test as per the CPSA’s English Language Proficiency requirements.

5. BRITISH COLUMBIA: Applicants are considered to have met the English Language proficiency requirements if the language of instruction at medical school was English, AND the primary language of patient care was English. Complete details of the English Language Proficiency requirements can be found on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC website.