International medical graduates

The Jurisdiction Approved Training route is for international medical graduates who have completed specialist training that was planned, supervised, and accredited by one of the Royal College’s approved jurisdiction’s, and completed in the country of the jurisdiction. (note: not all specialties are approved in each jurisdiction).

Please note that fees paid for an application for exam eligibility do not cover examination fees.

Candidates pursuing this route must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply:

• Medical specialty training completed outside Canada and the United States in one of the Royal College’s approved jurisdictions
• Time in training substantially equivalent to the Royal College specialty training requirements/training experiences in your discipline

Candidates must submit the following with their application:

• Copy of your CV
• Copy of your medical degree (scan or photo)
• Confirmation of completion of internship (if applicable to your specialty)
• Details of training rotations/experiences, specifying time in months spent in different areas of training — see Specialty Training Requirements/Training Experiences relative to your specialty for more information
• Document signed by your Program Director/Supervisor attesting to your periods of training
• Letter of attestation of competence from your Program Director/Supervisor which specifically outlines your competencies around the seven roles of the CanMEDS framework

* Please submit your training documents to Physicians Apply for source verification, including documentation of internship (if applicable).

How do I apply?

You can apply for assessment by registering with the Royal College and submitting your application through our online platform by the deadlines outlined below.

You will require a Royal College ID to complete this process. If you do not have a Royal College ID, complete the registration form before registering through our online platform at https://booking.royalcollege.ca. Please use Google Chrome as your browser. If you’re an existing candidate/applicant who has a Royal College ID number and has never logged into the system, you can click on “Reset your password” or “Forgot your ID” if necessary. Please read the instructions beforehand.

Submitting an application by the deadline does not guarantee the assessment process will conclude by the exam registration deadline.

Key Assessment Deadlines

The deadline to apply for exam eligibility occurs the year before you wish to take your exam.

• For spring exams, the deadline is April 30.
• For fall exams, the deadline is August 31.

If you miss the deadline, late fees will be applied.

Questions?

Please reach out to imgcredentials@royalcollege.ca for questions pertaining to this route or the application process.

Approved-jurisdiction routes

Note: Not all specialties and subspecialties are accepted in each jurisdiction. Review your jurisdiction and list of specialties accepted for additional information. For your training to be assessed, it must be completed in the country of the approved jurisdiction.

Practice Eligibility Route

The Practice Eligibility Route (PER) is for internationally trained physicians, who may or may not have started practice, to apply for an assessment to determine if their specialty training meets the Royal College requirements in order to obtain examination eligibility and ultimately certification. This path is designed for recognized primary specialties only. (Certification in a sub-specialty requires certification in a primary specialty).

Please note that fees paid for an application for exam eligibility do not cover examination fees.

Candidates pursuing this route must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply:

• Medical specialty training in the discipline you are applying for and which was completed outside Canada, the United States and Royal College approved jurisdictions. 
• Time and content in the specialty training must be substantially equivalent to the Royal College specialty training requirements/training experiences in your discipline.

Candidates must submit the following with their application:

• Required: Copy of your CV
• Required: Confirmation of completion of internship (if applicable to your specialty)
• Required: Document signed by your Program Director/Supervisor attesting to your periods of training (including the start and end date of residency – dd/mm/yy) as well as details of training rotations/experiences, specifying time in months spent in different areas of the specialty training
• Required: Letter of attestation of competence from your Program Director/Supervisor which specifically outlines your competencies around the seven roles of the CanMEDS framework

* Please submit your training documents to Physicians Apply for source verification, including documentation of internship (if applicable).Note that source verification of your documents is a criteria for specialist certification.

There are 3 steps to the PER process:

An affirmative preliminary assessment does not guarantee success in subsequent steps of the PER application process.

1. Credentials Review and Determination of Exam Eligibility
   • The Practice Eligibility Route application form will collect information on your training and practice (if applicable). The Royal College will review your training documents and rotations to ensure equivalence of your training to the specialty training requirements/training experiences in your discipline. This equivalence is necessary to move forward in the process. Note: Training documents must be submitted to www.physiciansapply.ca for source verification. 
   • Success at this step will result in the Royal College issuing a ruling letter for examination eligibility in your respective specialty. Alternatively, applicants whose training does not meet the Royal College’s requirements will receive a letter indicating the additional residency training to be completed to meet the Royal College’s specialty specific training requirements.
      
2. Royal College Specialty Exam
   • If you have received a ruling letter for exam eligibility, you will be required to register and pay for the exam using our eBooking system. The exams are on fixed dates and take place annually.
   • Examinations generally consist of 1–2 components, typically a written examination component followed by an applied component. For your specialty specific examination information, please review the Information by Discipline page.
   • Your exam eligibility is valid for a period of 5 consecutive years. All components must be completed successfully within the 5-year period; if not, you will receive a “No further eligibility” ruling letter.
     
     
   You do not need to be a resident of Canada at the time of the exam, however you must take the exam at a Royal College examination centre in Canada.
   
   
3. Time in Practice requirement
   • Along with successful completion of all applicable examination components, you must complete a minimum of 5 years of specialty practice (in the primary discipline for which you have applied) in any jurisdiction with the final 2+ years of practice in a continuous practice location in Canada. You can then apply to the Royal College for assessment of your time in practice. You must work with the appropriate medical regulatory authority (MRA) to acquire a licence to practise in Canada and complete the minimum two-year requirement.
   • If you complete all of the training requirements, examination components, time-in-practice requirements in the specialty, and receive results from a successful assessment of time in practice in Canada, you will be eligible for Royal College certification and invited to join the Royal College as a Fellow

How do I apply?

You can apply for assessment by registering with the Royal College and submitting your application through our online platform by the deadlines outlined below.

You will require a Royal College ID to complete this process. If you do not have a Royal College ID, complete the registration form before registering through our online platform at https://booking.royalcollege.ca. Please use Google Chrome as your browser. If you’re an existing candidate/applicant who has a Royal College ID number and has never logged into the system, you can click on “Reset your password” or “Forgot your ID” if necessary. Please read the instructions beforehand.

Submitting an application by the deadline does not guarantee the assessment process will conclude by the exam registration deadline.

Key Assessment Deadlines

The deadline to apply for exam eligibility occurs the year before you wish to take your exam.

• For spring exams, the deadline is April 30.
• For fall exams, the deadline is August 31.

If you miss the deadline, late fees will be applied.

Questions?

Please reach out to per@royalcollege.ca for questions pertaining to this route or the application process.

Policy: Practice Eligibility Route (PER) 

If you are an internationally trained subspecialist in Canada and you are not Royal College certified in your primary specialty, you may be eligible to apply for assessment through the Subspecialty Examination Affiliate Program (SEAP), or the Practice Eligibility Route for the Subspecialty Examination Affiliate Program (PER-SEAP).

If you are granted eligibility to take your exam, eligibility is granted for a 5-year period. If you pass, you will be provided a Royal College attestation of its successful completion and invited to join the Royal College as a Subspecialist Affiliate.

Affiliate status allows you to maintain engagement with the Royal College and to participate in the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program, but it does not confer Royal College certification or fellowship.

Subspecialty Examination Affiliate Program (SEAP)

Apply for an assessment through SEAP

You can apply for an assessment through SEAP if you are an internationally-trained physician who is registered with a postgraduate office in an accredited Royal College subspecialty training program and you are not Royal College certified in a primary specialty.

You can apply for a training assessment by contacting us at credentials@royalcollege.ca.

*Note: SEAP is designed to provide affiliate status in a sub-specialty and attestation of success at the sub-specialty exam. This does not confer certification.

Key Assessment Deadlines

The deadline to apply for exam eligibility occurs the year before you wish to take your exam.

• For spring exams, the deadline is April 30.
• For fall exams, the deadline is August 31.

If you miss the deadline, late fees will be applied.

Note:

• Applying by the deadline does not guarantee the assessment process will conclude by the exam registration deadline,as not all steps in the assessment process are within the control of the Royal College.
• Fees paid for an assessment of training do not cover examination fees.

Practice Eligibility Route for the Subspecialty Examination Affiliate Program (PER-SEAP)

Apply for an assessment through PER-SEAP

You can apply for an assessment through PER-SEAP if you are an internationally trained subspecialist who is already licensed and practising as a subspecialist in Canada and you are not Royal College certified in a primary specialty.

You can apply for a training assessment by contacting us at credentials@royalcollege.ca.

Key Assessment Deadlines

The deadline to apply for exam eligibility occurs the year before you wish to take your exam.

• For spring exams, the deadline is April 30.
• For fall exams, the deadline is August 31.

If you miss the deadline, late fees will be applied.

Note:

• Applying by the deadline does not guarantee the assessment process will conclude by the exam registration deadlineas not all steps in the assessment process are within the control of the Royal College.
• Fees paid for an assessment of training do not cover examination fees.

The credentials review is an assessment of your postgraduate medical education (PGME) and your current practice. It consists of the following 4 components:

1. PGME and practice documentation: We require documentation that you have:
   • completed all postgraduate subspecialty training requirements of the jurisdiction in which the training occurred,
   • a minimum of 24 months of postgraduate training in the subspecialty in the jurisdiction of training, and are recognized as a subspecialist in the jurisdiction where you trained; and
   • practised as an independent specialist in the subspecialty for the past 5 years, with the final 2 years in a continuous practice location in Canada in the subspecialty.
     
     

   • Note: Practice during a fellowship or postgraduate medical education (PGME) is not considered independent practice; it is considered a learning experience for the specialty.
     
     Required documents and instructions on source verification by physiciansapply.ca

2. Certificate of Professional Standing: A current Certificate of Professional Standing is required to prove that you are a member in good standing with your medical regulatory authority.
3. Multisource feedback (MSF) survey: Feedback on your professional competencies relating to the CanMEDS roles is gathered and then benchmarked against scores from similar practices. This process allows you to reflect on your performance across the range of CanMEDS roles and to identify your areas of strength and areas for growth.
   
   
4. Feedback from chief of staff (or other relevant supervisor): Your chief of staff will comment on your scope of practice and answers a confidential questionnaire about the quality of your practice.

• Assessment fees
• Exam fees
• Training objectives and specialty requirements