First iteration - general

First iteration

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

You must also be a Canadian citizen or hold a valid Canadian permanent resident card.

International medical graduates and graduates of osteopathic medical schools*

If you are an international medical graduate who is attending or has graduated from a school listed with the World Directory, or who is attending or has graduated from a school of osteopathic medicine, you must have:

And also one of the following:

Note: This requirement will grant you access to participate in a CaRMS match but does not automatically make you eligible within all provinces. Provincial eligibility updates are submitted periodically throughout the match year. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they meet the requirements. If provincial eligibility changes after you have registered to participate to a match and you are no longer eligible, please contact help@carms.ca.

Postgraduate training

Only applicants without previous Canadian or US postgraduate training** are eligible to attain a position through CaRMS in the first iteration. If you have previous Canadian or US postgraduate training or plan to participate only in the second iteration of the match, please review the second iteration eligibility information.

* Graduates of osteopathic medical schools who wish to apply to programs in Quebec are not required to pass the NAC.
** Preliminary training in the US is considered accredited postgraduate training for the purposes of R-1 match first iteration eligibility. Applicants with previous preliminary training in the US are therefore not eligible to participate in the first iteration.

Second iteration - general

Second iteration

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

The second iteration is open to eligible applicants who fit one or more of the following categories:

  • Applicants who submitted a rank order list for the first iteration but went unmatched.
  • Applicants who participated in the first iteration but later withdrew participation.
  • Applicants who did not participate in any way in the first iteration.
  • Applicants who are only eligible for the second iteration based on the provincial criteria and previous postgraduate training.

Please note that to participate in the second iteration you must be a Canadian citizen or hold a valid Canadian permanent resident card.

Provincial criteria

Provincial criteria

In addition to being eligible to participate in the match, each province has additional criteria that must be met by applicants applying for positions. Eligibility requirements differ from province to province, so you should carefully review the provincial criteria below when preparing to apply to programs. In addition, you should be sure to review the Association of Faculties of Medicine in Canada (AFMC) motion (in the next tab) and specific program descriptions to learn more.

Summary of intake criteria for international medical graduates (IMGs) by province

Summary of intake criteria for United States medical school graduates

Summary of intake criteria for Canadian medical graduates

Summary of intake criteria for Osteopathic school graduates

Summary of intake criteria for visa holders

Newfoundland and Labrador

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island

Québec

Ontario

Manitoba

Saskatchewan

Alberta

British Columbia

Summary of MCC examination requirements

For detailed information regarding Medical Council of Canada (MCC) examinations, please consult the MCC website. Exam-related questions should be directed to the MCC.

First iteration

Examination Requirements

Exceptions
Is the NAC required for International medical graduates (IMGs) and for United States Osteopathic Medical Graduates (USMGs) for the 2020 R-1 Main Residency Match? Is the MCCQE Part I required for International medical graduates (IMGs) and for United States Osteopathic Medical Graduates (USMGs) for the 2020 R-1 Main Residency Match? Will the province accept the MCCEE instead of the MCCQE Part I for the 2020 R-1 Main Residency Match? Will the province accept the MCCQE Part II instead of NAC for the 2020 R-1 Main Residency Match? Are there any other exceptions?
Newfoundland and Labrador Yes Yes No Yes No
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Yes Yes Yes No No
Québec Yes or MCCQE part II Yes No Yes Yes*
Ontario Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Manitoba Yes Yes Yes No No
Saskatchewan Yes Yes Yes No No
Alberta Yes Yes No No No
British Columbia Yes Yes No No No

* Candidates who have already received their equivalence from the College des medecins du Québec (CMQ).

Second iteration

Examination Requirements

Exceptions
Is the NAC required for International medical graduates (IMGs) and for United States Osteopathic Medical Graduates (USMGs) for the 2020 R-1 Main Residency Match? Is the MCCQE Part I required for International medical graduates (IMGs) and for United States Osteopathic Medical Graduates (USMGs) for the 2020 R-1 Main Residency Match? Will the province accept the MCCEE instead of the MCCQE Part I for the 2020 R-1 Main Residency Match? Will the province accept the MCCQE Part II instead of NAC for the 2020 R-1 Main Residency Match? In second iteration are applicants that were matched prior to 2020 who were not required to take the MCCQE Part I, now required? In second iteration are applicants that were matched prior to 2020 who were not required to take the NAC, now required?
Newfoundland and Labrador Yes Yes No Yes No No
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Yes* Yes Yes Yes ** No*** No
Québec Yes Yes No Yes N/A*** N/A****
Ontario Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Manitoba Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Saskatchewan Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
Alberta Yes Yes No No Yes No
British Columbia Yes Yes No No Yes Yes

* for NEW IMGs in second iteration, NO for IMGs currently in training or already licensed in Canada.
** for IMGs currently in training already licensed in Canada.
***Applicants must have passed the MCCEE or USMLE 1 & 2.
**** Please note: The examinations are not the only conditions that must be met in Quebec. Please consult the Collège des Médecins du Québec (CMQ) website for more details.

AFMC motion

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.
London, Ontario

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