Updated November 21, 2017
University of Ottawa
Queen’s University
University of Toronto
McMaster University
Western University
Northern Ontario School of Medicine
2018 cycle Information
General Information
The Ontario Faculties of Medicine and Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care have agreed to the following policies for the 2018 PGY1 match. It is important to note that individual residency programs may have additional specific criteria that are used to review applications. Please carefully review the program specific criteria as well as the provincial criteria listed below.
All matched applicants must meet the criteria for registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) for postgraduate medical education. http://www.cpso.on.ca/.
ANY DELAYS IN PROVIDING ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION TO CPSO MAY RESULT IN A DELAY IN ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION AND A DELAY IN START OF POSTGRADUATE TRAINING BEYOND JULY 1ST.
For purposes of clarity Ontario has accepted the following definitions:
A Canadian Medical Graduate or U.S. Medical Graduate (CMG/USMG) is an individual who received their medical degree from a medical school accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) or the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). From here on in this will be referred to as a CMG.
An International Medical Graduate (IMG) is an individual who received their medical degree from a medical school that is not accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) or the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). From here on in this will be referred to as an IMG.
R-1 First Iteration
There will be two parallel streams – CMG and IMG – with designated positions for each stream. There will be no crossovers or transfers between the two streams.
Eligibility
You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
All Candidates that have previous post-graduate training in the U.S. or Canada which would be creditable for Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or College of Family Physicians of Canada certification are NOT ELIGIBLE for the first iteration. Physicians in practice are not eligible for the R-1 match.
Please be advised that graduates of Osteopathic Medical Schools will be eligible for IMG positions only, and will be required to complete both the MCCEE and NAC OSCE as standard Ontario entry criteria. For more information on accredited Osteopathic programs visit COM Accreditation.
Additional Eligibility Information for IMGs:
The National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is mandatory for all IMGs. The results are required by the file review opening date. For more information click on the following link National Assessment Collaboration | Medical Council of Canada
IMGs must have written and passed the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE) Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination . MCCEE results must be provided by the File Review Date. Please review specific residency program descriptions for more information.
Required Documents for ALL Candidates
Canadian Citizenship:
Proof of current citizenship or permanent resident status must be provided by submitting one of the following verifications to CaRMS by the Rank Order List deadline. (Photocopies acceptable). No other forms of verification are acceptable:
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Birth Certificate issued by an authority in Canada with any photo ID, or
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Canadian Passport, or
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Canadian citizenship certificate, Record of Landing; or
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Permanent Resident Card/Canadian Citizen Card – copies of both sides of card must be provided and legible.
Proof of Medical Diploma (MD):
A copy of medical school marks/transcripts and medical degree/diploma must be submitted. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a translation. Students applying in the last year of medical school will need to submit their most recent marks/transcripts, and will need to provide proof of their MD to CPSO prior to the start of residency training.
Additional Document Information for IMGs
IMGs must be graduates of an acceptable medical school on the World Directory of Medical Schools list.
All IMGs need to have their documents verified through physiciansapply.ca. This process can take several months to complete. Individuals are advised to visit physiciansapply.ca at the point of application.
Language Requirements
Must provide proof of English or French language proficiency through ONE of the following:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 7 in each component, OR
- TOEFL-Ibt – passing score of 93 including a minimum score of 24 on the speaking section, OR
- A pass result in the French proficiency test administered by the Collège des Médecins du Québec, OR
- Candidates for whom their primary and secondary, or medical school education was conducted in English or French, the Ontario medical schools will accept Language Proficiency Attestations as follows:
- Primary and secondary education: Mailed directly from the Senior Academic Administrators of both schools to the program confirming that all of the candidate’s primary and secondary education was conducted completely in English or French
- Medical school: Mailed directly from the Dean of the candidate’s medical school confirming that the language of instruction and patient care was conducted completely in English or French OR
- World Directory of Medical Schools Language Option – If the instruction and the language of patient care at the undergraduate medical school was conducted completely in English or French, then a candidate can submit to the Program a copy or printout of the World Directory of Medical Schools website listing the medical school which clearly states that the language of instruction is English or French.
Please review specific program descriptions for more information.
Return of Service
All IMGs will be required to sign an IMG Training Agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that requires the IMG to return service for a period of five years upon completion of their training in their area of specialty (including Family Medicine). This ROS commitment can be fulfilled anywhere in Ontario with the exception of the following communities: The City of Ottawa, The Greater Toronto Area including the City of Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham and Pickering.
IMGs with pre-existing ROS obligations must disclose these obligations at time of application. IMGs that have active ROS obligations may not be eligible for Ontario-funded training positions. Such individuals should contact the ministry for further information.
The ROS commitment to Ontario must commence within the timeframe set out in the individual’s IMG Training Agreement with Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The location where the IMG returns service must be approved by the ministry as per the terms of their IMG Training Agreement.
For further information concerning return of service, contact:
PROGRAM OFFICER
Health Workforce Education Strategy Unit.
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Tel: (416) 327-8339
Email: PPUProgramOfficer@Ontario.ca
Website: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/rlirp/service.aspx
Pre-residency orientation programs
All IMG candidates accepted to all residency programs will be required to complete either the Pre-Residency Program (PRP) or the Pre-Residency Program for Family Medicine (PRPFM) prior to entering into a residency program. Matched IMGs will be expected to attend these programs in Toronto, several weeks in advance of the start of their residency program. In some cases, this may result in a delay of the start date of the residency. Additional information on the PRP and PRP FM programs can be found at the following link: Touchstone Institute.
Assessment verification period
All IMG candidates accepted to residency training programs will be required to undergo an Assessment Verification Period (AVP). This assessment period is normally 12 weeks in length and is required by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to obtain an educational license to enter a residency program. Postgraduate Education Certificate of Registration
IMGs that have failed an AVP and are reapplying through CaRMS are ineligible to apply for training in the same specialty in Ontario, but may apply to a different specialty in the first and/or second iteration. IMGs who have withdrawn from a program prior to completion of an AVP must declare so upon application.
R-1 Second Iteration
All positions unfilled after the first iteration will be blended into a single stream for the second iteration. The second iteration positions will not have separate CMG or IMG streams and will be open to all eligible candidates. Residents in current PG positions can access the second iteration as a way of changing programs or specialties. Please review the national transfer guidelines for more information. AFMC National Transfer Guidelines
Additional Ontario Information:
- Permanent Residents: Successful applicants who hold Permanent Resident status in Canada will be required to disclose their Country of Citizenship to the postgraduate medical education office in order to comply with current reporting requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.
- Matched applicants: CaRMS will provide their electronic data file to the matched university’s postgraduate education office. The postgraduate office will share the information with the Ontario Physician Human Resource Data Centre, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario, teaching hospitals and other training sites, and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
- Changes:The Ontario Faculties of Medicine and Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care reserve the right to make changes to the information published on the CaRMS website pertaining to Ontario postgraduate training without prior notice.
- Failure to meet or provide proof of any of the stated requirements may result in applicant file not being reviewed.
