R-1 Summary of language proficiency requirements

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

LANGUAGE EXAM	Newfoundland and Labrador1	Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI	Quebec	Ontario2	Manitoba3	Saskatchewan4	Alberta5	British Columbia6
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General*			See program descriptions
IELTS ACADEMIC** On a computer/paper at a test venue Online from home			See program descriptions
IELTS INDICATOR			See program descriptions
Letter of language proficiency***			See program descriptions
Occupational English Test (OET) Medicine**** On a computer/paper at a test venue At home			See program descriptions
TOEFL IBT			See program descriptions
TOEFL CBT			See program descriptions
TOEFL PBT			See program descriptions
World Directory of Medical School (FAIMER) print out			See program descriptions

*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, or from an allopathic medical school in the United States prior to July 1, 2025 where English is the language of instruction are exempt from providing proof of language proficiency. Canadian medical graduates from the University of Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, and the University of Ottawa French stream, are required to meet the English language proficiency requirements. Exams must be completed within 24 months of the residency start date (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: French-speaking applicants from a francophone Canadian institution will not be required to provide results of an English Language Proficiency examination.
4. SASKATCHEWAN: Applicants who completed their medical education at an English medical school in Canada or the United States are not required to submit proof of English language proficiency. Canadian applicants with medical education from the University of Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, and the University of Ottawa (French stream) are required to meet the English language proficiency requirements.
5. ALBERTA: Applicants who completed their medical education in Quebec or at the University of Ottawa (French Stream) are required to provide proof of English Language Proficiency as determined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA). Applicants should not contact the CPSA directly about their eligibility for licensure. Exams must be completed within 24 months of the residency start date.
6. BRITISH COLUMBIA: If you graduated from an English medical school in Canada including McGill, you are exempt from providing proof of language proficiency. Candidates who attended medical school in Quebec or the University of Ottawa where the language of instruction or the primary language of patient care was not English, must fulfill the English language proficiency requirements.

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

LANGUAGE EXAM	Newfoundland and Labrador1	Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI	Quebec	Ontario	Manitoba2	Saskatchewan3	Alberta4	British Columbia5
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General*			See program descriptions
IELTS ACADEMIC** On a computer/paper at a test venue Online from home			See program descriptions
IELTS INDICATOR			See program descriptions
Letter of language proficiency***			See program descriptions
Occupational English Test (OET) Medicine**** On a computer/paper at a test venue At home			See program descriptions
TOEFL IBT*****			See program descriptions
TOEFL CBT			See program descriptions
TOEFL PBT			See program descriptions
World Directory of Medical School (FAIMER) print out			See program descriptions

*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

***** TOEFL IBT: must have minimum score of 93 with a minimum score of 24 on the speaking section. The TOEFL iBT Home Edition will be accepted as a substitute for the TOEFL iBT.

1. NEWFOUNDLAND:
   • Other secondary/post-secondary education in English (regardless of citizenship), and medical elective rotations/experiences in English (including those in Canada), will not satisfy the language proficiency requirements. Exams must be completed within 24 months of the residency start date (July 1).
   • 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, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Virgin Islands (United Kingdom), Virgin Islands (United States).
   • IMGs who are currently practicing in Canada as a family physician or Royal College specialist (must have CFPC or RCPSC certification), 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 pgmeimg@mun.cain advance of the application deadline, to determine they meet this criteria for exemption. Applicants currently in a clinical fellowship program are not exempted.

2. MANITOBA: Candidates are exempted from English language proficiency testing if their undergraduate medical education was taken in English in one of the below 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: 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.
4. ALBERTA:Applicants are required to provide proof of English Language Proficiency as determined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA). Applicants should not contact the CPSA directly about their eligibility for licensure. Exams must be completed within 24 months of the residency start date.
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.