Overview

Medical Council of Canada

The Medical Council of Canada grants a qualification in medicine known as the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) to graduate physicians who have satisfied the eligibility requirements and passed the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination. Read more about the MCC examination here.

The Medical Council registers candidates who have been granted the LMCC in the Canadian Medical Register.

For eligibility to sit the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination, you must be a graduate from, or a student expecting to graduate from a medical school accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS); a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools; or a United States School of Osteopathic Medicine accredited by the American Osteopathic Association. Graduates of medical schools outside of Canada and the United States, referred to as International Medical Graduates (IMGs), may be granted an exemption from the MCCQE. More information about eligibility and applying for the MCCQE can be found here.

As of 2019, all candidates, including IMGs, can apply directly to the MCCQE Part I without first having to take the MCCEE. Candidates whose application has been accepted are able to schedule their exam appointment online. The MCC has also ceased delivery of the MCCQE Part II.

MCC Qualifying Examination Part I

The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE Part I) is a one-day, computer-based test that assesses the competence of candidates who have obtained their medical degree, for entry into supervised clinical practice in postgraduate training programs. The MCCQE Part I assesses knowledge, clinical skills, and attitudes as outlined by the Medical Council of Canada’s Objectives. Read more about the MCCQE Part I here.

National Assessment Collaboration Examination

The National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination is a one-day exam that assesses your readiness to enter a Canadian residency program. It is a national, standardized examination that tests the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for entrance into postgraduate training in Canada. Read more about the NAC Examination here.

Preparatory Materials

• MCCEE Part 1 Preparation

  MCC Preparatory Resources including Online Demo, Sample Questions, FAQ, Terminology, Objectives and Reference Materials.
• NAC Preparation
• Canada QBank
  CanadaQBank℠ is an online test preparation service for the medical licensing exams of Canada. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Overview

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) 

The national examining and certifying body for medical specialists in Canada.

Credentials and Examinations: A credentials assessment is the first step towards taking the certification examinations. 

International Medical Graduates (IMG)

An international medical graduate (IMG) is defined as someone who has completed his/her postgraduate residency training outside of Canada or the United States.

To respond to societal needs and to address the shortage of specialist physicians in Canada, the Royal College has developed routes to certification so that qualified specialist physicians, including IMGs, can attain full Royal College certification.

Accredited Programs

The following provides a list of entry routes as well as the minimum length of training required for each discipline recognized by the Royal College. Accredited Programs

Routes to Certification

• Traditional (i.e. Royal College training + examination)
• Academic Certification (in Canada and outside Canada)
• Approved Jurisdiction Routes (for IMGs)
• Practice Ready Assessment (for IMGs)
• Practice Eligibility Route (for subspecialists)
• Practice Eligibility Route to Certification for Specialists (PER)

Additional Information for International Medical Graduates

• International Medical Graduates

Click here to find out more information from the RCPSC website on examination guidelines for registered candidates and for information by speciality or subspecialty.

Additional Resources

Examples of types of written questions

Information About Short Answer Question Format

Information About Multiple Choice Question Format

Clinical Laboratory Test – Normal Values, provided to all candidates at the written examination

Practice Exams

College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) 

The national examining and certifying body for family medicine practitioners in Canada.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) currently conducts the Certification Examination in Family Medicine twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. This examination is available in both official languages in multiple centres across Canada.

The CFPC also conducts the Examination of Special Competence in Emergency Medicine. This examination is available in both official languages and candidates can choose to sit part or all of the examination in either English or French. At present there is only one examination centre (Toronto) for all candidates.

For more exam infromation click here

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)

About the College

Self-Regulation and the Practice of Medicine

Doctors in Ontario have been granted a degree of authority for self-regulation under provincial law. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is the body that regulates the practice of medicine to protect and serve the public interest.

This system of self-regulation is based on the premise that the College must act first and foremost in the interest of the public. All doctors in Ontario must be members of the College in order to practice medicine. The duties of the College include:

• issuing certificates of registration to doctors to allow them to practice medicine
• monitoring and maintaining standards of practice through peer assessment and remediation
• investigating complaints about doctors on behalf of the public, and
• conducting discipline hearings when doctors may have committed an act of professional misconduct or may be incompetent.

One of many important functions of the CPSO is Registration Physicians must be members of the College to practice medicine in Ontario. The College’s Registration Department handles all inquiries regarding the registration process.

International Medical Graduates

To practice medicine in Ontario, whether as a family practitioner or specialist, international medical graduates (IMGs) must have all the Canadian postgraduate qualifications required for an independent practice certificate. For information on qualifying for independent practice see Registration Requirements and specific information for international medical graduates is available. 

The College is committed to reducing barriers to registration for qualified candidates by finding new and creative ways to evaluate the competence and performance of physicians who wish to practice in Ontario. See the College's Accessibility Policy.

Additional Resources

• The Practice Guide: Medical Professionalism and College Policies