Exemption from Canadian Exams

[j802002]

Hi,

I've been reading that graduates of certain non Canadian medical schools are exempt from the Qualifying and Licensing exams in Canada. I was wondering which schools are on this list, how they are added and how a school can go about being added to this list.

Has anyone heard anything about the possibility of Canadian citizens being exempted from Canadian medical council exams if they pass Step I and II of the USMLE?

Thanks

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[NewCanadian]

Hi,

I've been reading that graduates of certain non Canadian medical schools are exempt from the Qualifying and Licensing exams in Canada. SNIP
Has anyone heard anything about the possibility of Canadian citizens being exempted from Canadian medical council exams if they pass Step I and II of the USMLE?

Being a Canadian Citizen does not provide you with any exemption from writing the licensing examinations (Evaluating Exam for IMGs, the Qualifying Exam Part I and Part II). Some provinces, e.g., New Brunswick, can licence you temporarily, with conditions. If you want a permanent licence, i.e., certificate of independent practice, you have to obtain LMCC and a certificate from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in your specialty (or certificate from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in Family Medicine.)
See website www.fmrac.ca. It is a gateway to licensing authorities across Canada. Check each jurisdiction for its requirements for medical licensure.

 

[Med4ever]

I believe if u gradauted form a u.s medical school u dotn need to write the exams. Other then a D.O school I believe. I may be wrong.

Being a Canadian Citizen does not provide you with any exemption from writing the licensing examinations (Evaluating Exam for IMGs, the Qualifying Exam Part I and Part II). Some provinces, e.g., New Brunswick, can licence you temporarily, with conditions. If you want a permanent licence, i.e., certificate of independent practice, you have to obtain LMCC and a certificate from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in your specialty (or certificate from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in Family Medicine.)
See website www.fmrac.ca. It is a gateway to licensing authorities across Canada. Check each jurisdiction for its requirements for medical licensure.

 

[docbill]

I believe if u gradauted form a u.s medical school u dotn need to write the exams. Other then a D.O school I believe. I may be wrong.

The only canadian medical graduates are may be exempt from these exams are Quebec students. They have their own school exams and seperate college for licensing.

At this time, all US medical graduates (including DOs) have to write these exams. THere are rumours about these requirements being droped if one is a US medical graduate (not IMG) and have taken the USMLEs. But I suspect that would be far from soon.. plus it may be limited to GP licensing only.

 

[NewCanadian]

I believe if u gradauted form a u.s medical school u dotn need to write the exams. Other then a D.O school I believe. I may be wrong.

Partly true.

Take the Province of Ontario as the example.
The graduate of a U.S. Medical School (LCME accredited) is not subject to the MCC EE (Evaluating Examination for International Medical Graduates).
The medical graduate in both Canada and the U.S. is subject to the Qualifying Examination Part I and Part II.

Reference: http://www.cpso.on.ca/. See information for physicians, requirements for independent practice certificate.

In Ontario, an American DO is considered equivalent to an MD in Canada and an MD in the US. A graduate of a US osteopathic school is also subject to the QE I and II.
A graduate of a US osteopathic school can, at this time, write the certification examination in Family Medicine if they have completed an accredited program in Family Practice in the US or Canada. However, at this time, a US osteopathic physician does not have access to the RCPSC certification examinations if they have completed an accredited training program in a medical specialty.

 

[NewCanadian]

The only canadian medical graduates are may be exempt from these exams are Quebec students. They have their own school exams and seperate college for licensing.

At this time, all US medical graduates (including DOs) have to write these exams. THere are rumours about these requirements being droped if one is a US medical graduate (not IMG) and have taken the USMLEs. But I suspect that would be far from soon.. plus it may be limited to GP licensing only.

Quebec does indeed have its own system, including stringent examinations in the French language.

Clarify, please.
I differentiate between
(a) Canadian medical graduate = graduate of Canadian medical school.
(b) Canadian, medical graduate = Canadian who is graduate of a medical school somewhere.
To which do you refer?

See CPSO, Members' Dialogue, May/June 2004
http://www.cpso.on.ca/Publications/Dialogue/dialtoc.htm
"Tackling the Doctor Shortage". 15 Recommendations are published, including #6 "Recognition/equivalency of screening examinations"

 

[docbill]

Sorry I should have been clear,

Canadian medical graduate = graduate of Canadian medical school (In this catagory on is normally a Canadian resident or citizen). So only Quebec medical students don't have to write the Canadian exams. They can, and I think half do.

Recommendation #6 is exactly the one I am refering to. I am not sure if they want to make this open to Canadian citizens studying in the US only or for all IMGs. I am glad to see that they included COMLEX and USMLE in those requirements.

If they wish to open it to all, I would suggest they add a year or two of post-graduate training to all of those who lack experience, prior to licensing.



Recommendation #6

Recognition/equivalency of screening examinations

a) Explore recognition of the Unites States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), Federal Licensing Examination (FLEX), Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) immediately as equivalent to the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) for purposes of registration.

The College believes that the standards set by these examinations are equivalent to our own Ontario standards. Accordingly, we should recognize them as such and require no further training or assessment of applicants who hold these qualifications.

 

[NewCanadian]

Recommendation #6 is exactly the one I am refering to. I am not sure if they want to make this open to Canadian citizens studying in the US only or for all IMGs. ...If they wish to open it to all, I would suggest they add a year or two of post-graduate training to all of those who lack experience, prior to licensing...[/I]

I wish I were a fly on the wall of the licensing committee...

Nevertheless, it seems to me that the CPSO is nearly ready to licence an individual who has:
- completed a MD at a recognized medical school. In the US, of course. Which others? I just don't know. I could only speculate at this time... Europe? Australia? UK?
- completed an accredited residency in the US (specialty or family medicine)
- has a "unrestricted" medical licence in the US and is Board Certified.
- does not have LMCC or RCPSC / CFPC certificate.

It remains to be seen if the CPSO issues an Independent Practice Certificate right away, or, if it issues some kind of temporary document, pending the individual writing and passing the Canadian exams. We'll just have to wait and see.

As for physicians whose entire training - MD and postgrad - took place in other locations: the concept of asking them to complete one or two years of postgrad training is a good one, at the very least the IMGs can prove their worth. I understand that the Ontario IMG program/process does use the concept, and I like it, even though it is quite expensive. My personal view is yes, ask them to do one year to demonstrate their skill and to integrate into the Canadian health care system.

 

[Trisomy 8]

deleted

 

[NewCanadian]

....Having said there, may be exceptions to the rule, but those are exceptions..... U.S. BOARD CERTIFIED, fully qualified specialists who come to Canada to work. ...QUOTE]

Note to those interested:
See the Medical Council of Canada website www.mcc.ca for information about an exemption of the MCC Evaluating Examination - available to Diplomates of the American Board of [specialty]. They must apply for the exemption.

If I understand the news correctly, a physician who had completed a medical degree outside US/Canada, and then had completed specialty training in the US, and who is now a Diplomate of the relevant specialty board, can apply to the MCC for an exemption of the Evaluating Examination (for IMGs). This is good news and reduces the overall cost of challenging Canadian medical examinations.

As I understand it, the US diplomate would still be subject to the Qualifying Examination Part I and Part II before they can obtain the qualification "Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, or LMCC.