Eligibility criteria

BASIC ELIGIBILITY

To participate in the R-1 match, you must:

1. be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. Some exceptions may apply.
2. be a medical student or graduate who has obtained, or is in the process of obtaining, a medical degree by July 1 of the match year from an institution that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education/Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (LCME/CACMS).

FIRST AND SECOND ITERATION

The R-1 match is run in two phases, called iterations.

• The first iteration of the match is open to applicants who have had no previous RCPSC/CFPC/ACGME accredited postgraduate training. Preliminary training in the United States is considered accredited postgraduate training for the purposes of R-1 match first iteration eligibility.
• The second iteration of the match is open to:
  • applicants that were eligible for the first iteration but did not apply or did not match; and
  • applicants who are only eligible for the second iteration based on the provincial criteria and previous postgraduate training.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

You will be required to have obtained your Medical Identification Number for Canada (MINC) and enter it into your application.

In addition to basic eligibility requirements, there are also individual provincial requirements established at the provincial level. Refer to the provincial criteria of the province you are interested in training in, as well as the program descriptions for more information.

Potential additional requirements  

• Proof of language proficiency requirement (Refer to the Summary of language proficiency requirements)
• The Casper test (refer to the program descriptions)
• The Family Medicine Professional Choices Assessment (FMProC)

BASIC ELIGIBILITY

To participate in the R-1 match, you must:

1. be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. Some exceptions may apply.
2. be a medical student or graduate who has obtained, or is in the process of obtaining, a medical degree by July 1 of the match year from an institution that meets one of the following criteria:
   • A school of osteopathic medicine; or
   • An international medical school listed with the World Directory of Medical Schools that is recognized in Canada.

3. have written and passed:
   • the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination; and
   • the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part I

Some provinces may allow exceptions to either exam. Refer to the Summary of MCC Examination requirements.

FIRST AND SECOND ITERATION

The R-1 match is run in two phases, called iterations.

• The first iteration of the match is open to applicants who have had no previous RCPSC/CFPC/ACGME accredited postgraduate training. Preliminary training in the United States is considered accredited postgraduate training for the purposes of R-1 match first iteration eligibility.
• The second iteration of the match is open to:
  • applicants that were eligible for the first iteration but did not apply or did not match; and
  • applicants who are only eligible for the second iteration based on the provincial criteria and previous postgraduate training.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

You will be required to have obtained your Medical Identification Number for Canada (MINC) and enter it into your application.

In addition to basic eligibility requirements, there are also individual provincial requirements established at the provincial level. Refer to the provincial criteria of the province you are interested in training in, as well as the program descriptions for more information.

Provincial assessments

If you are interested in applying to the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, or Quebec, you are required to complete an assessment before you are able to apply through CaRMS:

• British Columbia: UBC Clinical Assessment Program.
• Alberta: Alberta International Medical Graduate Program.
• Quebec: Recognition of the equivalence of an M.D. degree

Potential additional requirements  

• Proof of language proficiency requirement (Refer to the Summary of language proficiency requirements)
• The Casper test (refer to the program descriptions)
• The Family Medicine Professional Choices Assessment (FMProC)

In addition to basic eligibility requirements, there are also individual provincial requirements that may differ between provinces as provincial governments are responsible for the management, organization and delivery of health care services for their province and may have differing regulations in place.

Refer to the provincial criteria of the province you are interested in training in, as well as the program disciplines and locations you are interested in applying in by consulting program descriptions and for more information. 

Provincial requirements by province

Summary of citizenship requirements

Summary of MCC examination requirements

Summary of language proficiency requirements

Summary of eligibility for practicing physicians

Individual provincial criteria

Newfoundland and Labrador

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island

Québec

Ontario

Manitoba

Saskatchewan

Alberta

British Columbia

The Association of Faculties of Medicine (AFMC) is the academic partnership of Canada’s Faculties of Medicine and is the national voice for academic medicine in Canada. The resolutions outlined below partially inform the eligibility criteria for the match.

AFMC motion

Since Canadian medical schools are the principal source of the physician workforce for Canada

Be it resolved by the AFMC Board of Directors:

• That all graduates of Canadian medical schools be assured access to a residency position in Canada to complete training necessary to enter practice,
• That access to postgraduate training organized by the Residency Match in Canada be through a defined and transparent process for eligible graduates of LCME/CACMS accredited medical schools and also for eligible graduates of international medical schools*,
• That these processes must be defined by July 1 of the calendar year to ensure proper implementation can occur,
• That we affirm that eligibility for a postgraduate training program is determined by each Canadian medical school,
• That participation in the first iteration of the Canadian Residency Match be restricted to eligible graduates of LCME/CACMS accredited schools or international medical schools, who have had no previous RCPSC/CFPC/ACGME accredited postgraduate training.

Approved by AFMC Board, May 2nd, 2006

R-1 Match Policies

1. Letter of reference policy
2. Interview format policy
3. Transcript translation policy
4. Applicant release policy
5. Match Violation Policy