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Arrival & Settling In
When to Arrive
Plan to arrive in Canada 1-2 weeks before your training start date. Certain requirements (CPSO, CMPA, and hospital privileges) can only be completed after you arrive and obtain your work permit. You must have CPSO licensure issued, CMPA coverage in effect, and all hospital privilege requirements completed before you can begin training. Arriving early helps ensure there is enough time to complete these steps and avoid delays to your start date.
After Arrival
Follow these steps to complete requirements necessary to begin your training.
Provide a copy of your work permit
- Email a copy to Kate O’Donnell in the PGME Office
- Upload a copy to the CPSO via your Member Portal account
Connect with your program
Contact your program administrator, program director, or fellowship supervisor to confirm your arrival and request details about orientation, your first day, and any program-specific onboarding requirements.
Complete outstanding registration requirements
Review the PGME Registration tab in your Schulich Hub account. Any items marked with a red X are incomplete. You cannot begin training until all requirements are completed and show a green check mark.
Do not begin training until you receive official clearance
If your start date is July 1, you will only be contacted if you are not cleared to begin training. For all other start dates, clinical activity and patient contact are not permitted until you have received email clearance from both PGME and Medical Affairs. You may only begin your training once both confirmation emails have been received.
Verify Your Requirements Status
Check the Hub to confirm all mandatory hospital and university requirements have been completed.
The CPSO requires 3–5 business days to complete the final verification once all application documents have been submitted. After approval, you will receive a notice to pay your membership fee. Once payment is completed, your licence is typically issued within one hour.
The Pre-Entry Assessment Program (PEAP) is mandatory for international medical graduates (IMGs) beginning residency or clinical fellowship training in Ontario with no previous training in Canada.
The PEAP is an assessment process used to confirm that learners are prepared to function at their appointed level of training, including clinical competence, communication, professionalism, and professional conduct.
The assessment is a mandatory 4–12 weeks' duration. During this period, the program director or fellowship supervisor confirms that the trainee is suitable to practice medicine safely and appropriately within the training environment.
The PEAP is included within the overall training period, occurring concurrently with your training. It is not a separate program and there is no exam or testing required.
You may choose any bank in Canada to open your account. Most fellows and residents use one of the major national banks, which all offer similar services and online banking options:
Major Canadian banks:
- Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
- TD Bank Group (TD Canada Trust)
- Scotiabank
- Bank of Montreal (BMO)
- CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce)
- National Bank of Canada
Each of these banks offers standard personal banking services and newcomer accounts. CIBC also provides specific resources for newcomers and international workers.
You can compare options and choose the bank that best meets your needs.
Helpful Resources
Have questions?
Contact our Fellowship Coordinator for more information and get your questions answered.
Kate O'Donnell
International Trainee & Fellowship Coordinator
kate.odonnell@schulich.uwo.ca
1.519.661.2111 ext 87675