Login
Postgraduate Medical Education


International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

 

To practise medicine in Ontario, whether as family physicians or specialists, International Medical Graduates (IMGs) must hold an Independent Practice certificate of registration issued by the College.

To qualify for an Independent Practice certificate, IMGs must have all the required Canadian postgraduate qualifications.

The following are the core requirements for an Independent Practice certificate:

  1. Degree in medicine from an acceptable medical school. An acceptable medical school is one that offers an M.D. or equivalent basic degree in medicine, based upon successful completion of a conventional undergraduate program of education in allopathic medicine, that:

i. teaches medical principles, knowledge and skills similar to those taught in the undergraduate programs of medical education at accredited medical schools in Canada or the USA;

ii. includes at least 130 weeks of instructions over a minimum of thirty - six months; and

iii. was, at the time of graduation, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

  1. Part 1 and Part 2 of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE)
  2. Certification, by examination, by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
  3. Completion in Canada of one year of postgraduate training or active medical practice with pertinent clinical experience
  4. Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status

The CPSO does not recognize alternatives to the core requirements for an Independent Practice certificate, except for those set out in the CPSO’s various registration policies. Our registration policies reflect the CPSO's commitment to finding new and creative ways to evaluate the competence and performance of individuals who wish to practise medicine in Ontario.

In addition, the CPSO's registration process accommodates licensed physicians applying from other Canadian provinces under the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). In considering applications submitted under AIT, the CPSO follows the relevant provisions in the Ontario Regulated Health Professions Act. The CPSO has also endorsed the national standard for full licensure in Canada, as set out in the FMRAC Agreement on National Standards.


Services for IMGs

 

Physicians Credentials Registry of Canada (PCRC) http://www.pcrc.org/en/index.php

PCRC provides source-verification of a physician’s basic medical credentials and serves as a national online repository for the verified documents. Upon application to certain organizations in Canada, such as most provincial medical regulatory authorities, a physician may share these documents, thus avoiding the need to re-verify their credentials. Link to website

Access Centre for Internationally Educated Health Professionals – HealthForceOntario  http://www.healthforceontario.ca/

Access Centre is Ontario’s centralized point of access for internationally educated health professionals, including IMGs, seeking information about the registration process in one of the province’s regulated health professions. The Access Centre offers a range of free services including counseling, information sessions, etc.

Centre for Evaluation of Health Professionals Educated Abroad (CEHPEA) http://www.cehpea.ca/

CEHPEA provides assessment, evaluation and training programs for internationally educated health professionals. CEHPEA administers the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). NOC–OSCE is a national, standardized examination that tests the knowledge, skills and attitudes of IMGs essential for entrance into a Canadian residency program.

Medical Literacy and the C2LEO Objectives http://www.img-ccc.ca/index.html

Communication and Cultural Competence Program is an online learning program for any physician unfamiliar with the practice of medicine in Canada, or Canadian-trained physicians who would like to learn more about these professional competencies. This program incorporates the Medical Council of Canada's Considerations of Legal, Ethical and Organization (CLEO) objectives.

Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials http://www.cicic.ca/

The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) collects, organizes, and distributes information, and acts as a national clearing house and referral service to support the recognition and portability of Canadian and international educational and occupational qualifications.

Canadian Information Centre for International Medical Graduates http://www.img-canada.ca/

This website is a central resource for IMGs both overseas and already in Canada.