COVID-19 Information for Residency Programs - Week of May 8

CaRMS PGY-1 Match

All interviews will be in a virtual format, including those for local candidates.

The match timelines are:

  • Last day of application period (Sunday) February 7th, 2021.
  • File review period Monday, February 8th to Friday, March 5th, 2021. (4 weeks)
  • Virtual interview period Monday, March 8th to Sunday, March 28th, 2021. (3 weeks)
  • Note: March break for Western is March 15th to March 19th,2021.
  • Second iteration Match Day being no later than May 18th, 2021.

POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION UPDATE – FINAL YEAR RESIDENTS

License to Practice

If you are completing your residency training you will need to apply for a license to practice in the province you plan to practice in. If you are planning to work in Ontario, then your eFITER (if you are a RCPSC exam eligible trainee)/ Confirmation of Completion of Training (if you are a CFPC exam eligible trainee) has been sent in to CPSO by PGME. If you are moving to a different province, you will need to contact the PGME office directly to obtain a PDF copy of your eFITER/Confirmation of Completion of Training. You will then need to provide this directly to the provincial regulatory authority you are applying for a license in.

If you are going to be practicing in a facility such as a hospital you will also need to apply for privileges following the usual process.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) have postponed the written examinations for final year residents until the Fall of 2020. Earlier this month, RCPSC trainees likely would have received a memo providing an update on RC exams for the Spring 2020 cohort. Part of this memo is a requirement of a “signed reaffirmation” from your program director that you have met the required competencies to attempt the written exam. If you are repeating the exam, you can expect to receive the reaffirmation directly from the RC. Otherwise, the reaffirmation will be sent directly to your current program director. You can expect to receive this communication from the RC over the next week.

CFPC written examinations are scheduled for October 13, 14, 15, and 16th 2020; the written component of the Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine will be held September 14th. Royal College written examinations are planned for the Fall of 2020, but specific dates have not been scheduled.

Ontario Information

CPSO Links

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (CPSO) is providing a ‘Restricted Certificate of Registration for Exam Eligible Candidates’. This enables eligible residents to begin practice and be considered independent practitioners as soon as their training has ended (which will be July 1st for the majority), with minimal supervision. This is a time-limited restricted certificate being provided to physicians with the following conditions:

  1. Physician is examination eligible
  2. Physician is missing RCPSC or CFPC or MCCQE parts 1 and/or 2
  3. Confirmation of Completion of Training provided (eFITER). Note that this information has been forwarded by PGME to CPSO for final year residents.
  4. Physician is required to take the missing examination(s) at the first opportunity.
  5. Physician has arranged for a supervised practice in Ontario that meets the College’s Guidelines for Supervision and Monitoring of Physicians.
  6. The certificate expires in 6 months.

The CPSO has provided clarification regarding supervision:

  • Supervision may be conducted off-site or remotely to ensure that physicians who have committed to provide locum coverage are able to practice.
  • The supervisor can facilitate the supervision of several candidates at one time and can be any physician registered in good standing in Ontario in the same specialty, with an Independent Practice certificate (some suggestions and groups that have come forward to provide supervision include Program Directors, Preceptors, Medical Directors or Physicians practicing in the Community).
  • There are few requirements for supervision (no chart reviews, no reports) and the role is meant to act as a “mentor” or “sponsor”
  • Due to our legislative framework and registration policies, we are limited to the use of the title “supervisor”
  • The supervisor is not responsible for the care that a supervised physician provides (the supervised physician is the most responsible physician) – but should be available to the supervised physician via phone/email should questions arise.

An updated supervisor form is appended for information.

Note: a criminal record search is a required component of the application - online applications are available and expedited for employment purposes for essential workers.

If you are continuing in residency training in Ontario (for example, in an Internal Medicine subspecialty or CFPC Enhanced Skills), then you could continue your training with an Educational License. (CPSO asks that you contact them at inquiries@cpso.on.ca to discuss your options ).

Attached is information from the CPSO website.

Exam eligible Canadian resident continuing with postgraduate education: Please contact CPSO directly at inquiries@cpso.on.ca if you’d like to discuss your situation and options.