International Medical Graduates
Applicants who apply to any of the six Ontario Family Medicine programs (McMaster University, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, University of Toronto, and Western University) will be evaluated by a joint panel. The panel will assess each candidate’s application and grant a single interview to the successful candidate regardless of the number of Ontario Family Medicine programs that he/she applies to. The panel will provide the final evaluation results of a candidate to the individual Family Medicine program who will then generate a final rank list.
Important Notes
Please note that applications received after November 20th, 2019 at 11:59am will not be considered.
Supporting documents excluding letters of reference that arrive after November 20th, 2019 at 11:59am will not be considered.
Letters of reference that arrive after November 27th, 2019 at 11:59am will not be considered.
You will be able to add sites/streams to your application up until January 26th, 2020 at 11:59pm.
Please refer to the CaRMS website for provincial eligibility information under “CaRMS Ontario Provincial Criteria”. It is important to review the requirements carefully. Details include eligibility, pre-residency orientation program (PRP) and assessment verification period (AVP). The PRP1 is completed at Touchstone Institute on site in Toronto. This phase comprises the PRP core program as well as approximately two additional weeks of education. The curriculum consists of classroom session Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as well as on-line modules. The PRP2 and AVP are completed at the site to which you are matched.
All IMG’s must 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.
Q: I have received an interview offer based on my eligibility and exam scores. Are there other preferential selection criteria that the program directors consider in my ranking?
A: The 6 Family Medicine residency programs prefer applicants who have recent full-time clinical experience (clinical clerkship during medical school or residency or independent practice). Observership is NOT considered clinical experience. Participation in a residency training program in Family Medicine or in clinical practice in family medicine or its equivalent will be favoured in our ranking.
All IMGs will be required to sign an IMG Training Agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that requires IMG’s 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.
More information for IMG ROS can be found here:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/hhrsd/physicians/ros.aspx#IMG
Information about the Ministry’s ROS programs is available at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/hhrsd/physicians/ros.aspx
Reference letters Exactly 3 reference letters dated in 2018 or 2019. Undated reference letters will not be accepted. One reference letter from a family physician is highly recommended. Please ask referees to provide us with an assessment of your: medical knowledge and clinical skills, interpersonal skills, ability to engage and communicate effectively with patients, attitudes toward learning, and commitment to family medicine. Citizenship Canadian Citizenship [Document must be notarized/certified]
Submit one of the following documents to verify your citizenship.• Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence in Canada
• Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)
• Record of Landing, clearly showing the date of landing in CanadaLanguage Proficiency Language Proficiency
Submit one of the following documents to verify your language proficiency.• Examen de l’OQLF
• IELTS
• Letter of language proficiency
• TOEFL – iBTApplicants must be able to communicate in the language of instruction and patient care of the matching school.
IMG’s 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-lbt — 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 must 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.
Custom Resume or CV Level of responsibility (observer, student, resident, other trainee status, independent practice, etc) should be specified for each clinical experience listed in the CaRMS CV. Photo These are unmasked after the file review period and are used as a memory aid only. Medical Student Performance Record Order from your Dean’s office. Medical School Transcript Order from your registrar. If your transcript indicates poor academic standing, course failure (s), or loss of a year for academic reasons, please attach a supplementary statement to the beginning of your e-CaRMS Personal Letter entitled “Transcript Addendum” explaining the above.
Personal Letter Personal letter (under 500 words) describing how your background and experiences have led to an interest and commitment to a career in family medicine, and your understanding of the role of Family Physician in the Canadian health care system. Letters exceeding the 500 word limit will not be reviewed. MCCEE – Statement of results For the 2020 CaRMS match IMGs must have written and passed the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part 1(MCCQE1) or the Medical Council of Canada Evaluation Examination (MCCEE) Medical Council of Canada. The MCCQE1 is preferred in 2020 and will be mandatory for the 2021 CaRMS match. Exam results must be provided by the File Review Opening Date. MCCEE – Supplement Feedback Report. Please submit MCCQE1 supplemental information report (Preferred) or the MCCEE supplemental information report if submitting MCCEE statement of results. NAC examination – statement of results The National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Objective Structured Examination (OSCE) is mandatory for all IMG’s. The results are required by the file review opening date. For more information, go to the National Assessment Collaboration | Medical Council of Canada website. NAC examination – supplemental feedback report A passing score of NAC is required to apply. In the first iteration
Some applicants will be invited for a joint Ontario Family Medicine residency program interview to be held on Friday, January 17.
The six Ontario schools usually receive over 1300 applications and can only offer interviews to a maximum of 300 applicants. Applicants with either MCCEE scores of 324 or lower or NAC scores of 74 or lower or both will not be granted an interview. Approximately 300 of the top candidates who score above these thresholds will be invited for an interview. The selection group is based on a combination of the applicant’s NAC and MCCEE scores. Applicants who are not interviewed will not be ranked by the programs.
In the second iteration
This site will be updated after Match Day, March 3, 2020.
In the First Iteration
To avoid unnecessary travel and time off from work, you only need to attend a single Ontario joint interview. The six Ontario Family Medicine programs will conduct a standardized interview at six locations (Hamilton – David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West, Kingston, London, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and Toronto). Only the Ottawa location will provide interviews in both English and French.
You will be asked to provide us with three preferred interview locations. Applications will only be assigned to Sudbury if it is their first choice. The choice of interview location will not affect eh applicant’s ranking.
Applicants will be asked to provide photographic identification at the time of the interview.
Each Program Director will use your joint interview score to decide on your ranking independently.
In the Second Iteration
This site will be updated after Match Day, March 3, 2020.
