International medical graduates

International medical graduates are candidates who have completed postgraduate residency training outside of Canada or the United States. Candidates do not have to live in Canada or hold Canadian citizenship to be eligible for Royal College exams.

Obtaining a licence to practise in Canada

The Royal College does not grant licences to practise. Each province and territory has a medical regulatory authority that is responsible for setting the licensing criteria for that province. Contact your medical regulatory authority to obtain a licence to practise.

Approved jurisdictions

Already practicing as a specialist? (any jurisdiction)

Ready to practise as a specialist in Canada

Practising or ready to practise as a subspecialist in Canada

Approved jurisdictions

If you are an international medical graduate who has completed specialty training outside Canada or the United States in an approved jurisdiction, you can apply for a training assessment by filling out the application form below.

This assessment ensures you have met specialty-specific training requirements in a recognized and approved program (not all specialties are approved in each jurisdiction). The training assessment is the first step on your route to Royal College certification and it is required to determine if you are eligible to write a Royal College exam. Exam eligibility is granted for a three-year period following your training assessment.

The deadline to apply for a training assessment occurs the year before you wish to write your exam. For spring exams, the deadline is April 30. For fall exams, the deadline is August 31 (late fees apply).

Apply now for an assessment of your approved-jurisdiction training:

Apply now

If you are unable to open the above fillable pdf form, please download the printable form which is compatible with most web browsers. Note that both forms are the same, but one is fillable, allowing you to type your information, which you can then print to email or fax to us; and the other is printable, requiring you to handwrite your information. It is only necessary to submit one form.

Approved-jurisdiction route

Please note: Not all specialties and subspecialties are accepted in each jurisdiction. See your jurisdiction and list of specialties accepted for additional information. The training must be completed in the country of the jurisdiction for it to be assessed.

Country	Jurisdiction	Specialties and Subspecialties	Dates of acceptable training
Australia and New Zealand	The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists	Anesthesia Anesthesia training done from 1985 to 1992 completed under the auspices of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is acceptable.	1992 to present
	The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM)	Emergency Medicine	1993 to present
	Australasian College of Dermatologists	Dermatology	2000 to present
	Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine	Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation	2000 to present
	Australasian Faculty of Occupational Medicine	Occupational Medicine	2000 to present
	Australian Faculty of Public Health Medicine	Community Medicine (Public Health and Preventive Medicine)	2000 to present
	Royal College of Pathologists of Australia	Anatomical Pathology, General Pathology	2000 to present
	Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists	Psychiatry	2000 to present
	The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RANZCOG) The Australian Medical Council	Obstetrics and Gynecology Subspecialties of Obstetrics & Gynecology	1996 to present
	The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists	Ophthalmology	1995 to present
	The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons The Australian Medical Council	Specialties: Cardiac Surgery (Cardiothoracic Surgery), General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Urology Subspecialties: Pediatric General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Surgery)	1985 to present
	The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists	Diagnostic Radiology, Radiation Oncology	1975 to present
	The Royal Australian College of Physicians The Australian Medical Council	Specialties Adult Internal Medicine: Internal Medicine (General Medicine), Medical Genetics (Clinical Genetics), Neurology, Nuclear Medicine Pediatrics: Hematological Pathology (Clinical Hematology & Oncology), Pediatrics, Medical Genetics (Clinical Genetics), Neurology, Nuclear Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Rehabilitation Medicine) Subspecialties: Adult Internal Medicine: Cardiology, Clinical Immunology & Allergy (Immunology & Allergy), Clinical Pharmacology, Critical Care Medicine (Intensive Care Medicine), Endocrinology & Metabolism (Endocrinology), Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology & Hepatology), Geriatric Medicine, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Medical Oncology, Nephrology, Palliative Medicine, Respirology (Thoracic Medicine), Rheumatology Pediatrics: Cardiology, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Clinical Immunology & Allergy (Immunology & Allergy), Critical Care Medicine (Intensive Care Medicine), Endocrinology & Metabolism (Endocrinology), Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology & Hepatology), Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Nephrology, Palliative Medicine, Respirology (Thoracic Medicine),Rheumatology	1990 to present

Hong Kong	The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine The Hong Kong College of Anesthesiologists The Hong Kong College of Radiologists Hong Kong College of Community Medicine Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine Hong Kong College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons Hong Kong College of Otorhinolaryngologists Hong Kong College of Paediatricians Hong Kong College of Pathologists Hong Kong College of Physicians Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists College of Surgeons of Hong Kong	Anesthesia, Diagnostic Radiology (Radiology), Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Oncology (Clinical Oncology), Community Medicine (Public Health and Preventive Medicine), Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Pediatrics, Pathology, Psychiatry	1994 to present

Singapore	The Academy of Medicine, Singapore The Division of Graduate Medical Studies The National University of Singapore	Specialties: Anaesthesia (Anesthesiology), Cardiac Surgery (Cardiothoracic Surgery), Community Medicine (Public Health & Preventive Medicine), Dermatology, Diagnostic Radiology, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Hematological Pathology (Pathology), Internal Medicine, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nuclear Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Pediatrics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Rehabilitation Medicine), Plastic Surgery, Psychiatry, Urology Subspecialties: Medical Oncology, Occupational Medicine, Thoracic Surgery, Cardiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism (Endocrinology), Gastroenterology, Geriatric Medicine, Hematology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology (Renal Medicine), Pediatric General Surgery (Pediatric Surgery), Respirology (Respiratory Medicine), Rheumatology	2000 to present

South Africa	The Health Professions Council of South Africa The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa	Specialties: Anatomical Pathology, Anaesthesia (Anesthesiology), Cardiac Surgery (Cardiothoracic Surgery), Community Medicine (Public Health & Preventive Medicine) (Community Health), Dermatology, Diagnostic Radiology (Radiology), General Pathology (Clinical Pathology), General Surgery, Hematological Pathology, Internal Medicine (Physicians), Medical Biochemistry (Chemical Pathology), Medical Genetics, Medical Microbiology (Microbiological Pathology), Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nuclear Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Pediatrics, Plastic Surgery, Psychiatry, Radiation Oncology, Urology, Vascular Surgery Subspecialties: Thoracic Surgery, Cardiology, Critical Care Medicine, Hematology (Clinical Hematology), Developmental Pediatrics, Endocrinology and Metabolism (Endocrinology), Forensic Pathology, Gastroenterology, Geriatric Medicine, Medical Oncology, Neonatology, Nephrology, Occupational Medicine, Pediatric General Surgery (Pediatric Surgery), Pediatric Neurology, Respirology (Respiratory Medicine), Rheumatology	1974 to present

Switzerland	Swiss Medical Association	Specialties: Anaesthesia (Anesthesiology), Cardiac Surgery (Cardiothoracic Surgery), Dermatology, General Surgery, Hematological Pathology (Immunohematology), Internal Medicine, Nuclear Medicine (Radiology and Nuclear Medicine), Neurology, Neurosurgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Occupational medicine, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Plastic Surgery, Psychiatry, Urology Subspecialties: Thoracic Surgery, Cardiology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Clinical Pharmacology, Critical Care Medicine (Intensive Care Medicine), Endocrinology and Metabolism (Endocrinology), Forensic Pathology (Forensic Medicine), Gastroenterology, Hematology, Nephrology, Pediatric General Surgery (Pediatric Surgery), Pediatric Neurology, Respirology, Rheumatology	2000 to present

United Kingdom Ireland Edinburgh London Glasgow England	The Royal College of Anaesthetists (UK)	Anesthesia	1990 to present
	The College of Anaesthetists Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (R.C.S.I)	Anesthesia	1996 to present
	Joint Committee on Higher Training in Accident & Emergency Medicine Faculty of Accident & Emergency Medicine (UK) / The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM)	Emergency Medicine	1993 to present
	The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK)	Specialties: Obstetrics & Gynecology Subspecialties: Gynecologic Oncology, Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (Reproductive Medicine), Maternal-Fetal Medicine	1984 to present
	The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK)	Ophthalmology Prior to 1988 Ophthalmology was a specialty recognized by: The Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh The Royal College of Surgeons of England The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow The Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland	1988 to present
	The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (UK)	Specialties: Pediatrics Subspecialties: Neonatal Medicine, Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (Pediatric Oncology), Pediatric Infectious Diseases (Pediatric Infectious Disease and Immunology), Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Respirology (Pediatric Respiratory Medicine), Pediatric Rheumatology	1972 to present
	The Royal College of Pathologists (UK) Joint Committee on Higher Pathology Training (JCHPT)	Anatomical Pathology (Histopathology), Medical Biochemistry (Chemical Pathology)	1996 to present
	The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh The Royal College of Physicians of London The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow The Joint Committee on Higher Medical Training	Specialties: Community Medicine (Public Health & Preventive Medicine), Dermatology, Hematological Pathology, Internal Medicine, Medical Genetics (Clinical Genetics), Medical Microbiology (Medical Microbiology and Virology and Infectious Diseases), Medical Oncology, Neurology, Nuclear Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Rehabilitation Medicine) Subspecialties: Cardiology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy (Immunology or Allergy), Clinical Pharmacology (Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics), Endocrinology and Metabolism (Endocrinology & Diabetes Mellitus), Gastroenterology, Geriatric Medicine, Hematology, Infectious Diseases (Medical Microbiology and Virology and Infectious Diseases), Nephrology (Renal Medicine), Palliative Medicine, Pediatric Cardiology, Respirology (Respiratory Medicine), Rheumatology	1972 to present
	The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Irish Committee on Higher Medical Training	Specialties: Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Occupational Medicine, Pediatrics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Rehabilitation Medicine) Subspecialties: Cardiology, Clinical Pharmacology (Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutic), Endocrinology & Metabolism (Endocrinology), Gastroenterology, Geriatric Medicine, Hematology, Nephrology, Palliative Medicine, Respirology (Respiratory Medicine), Rheumatology	1994 to present
	The Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK)	Psychiatry	1975 to present
	The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh The Royal College of Surgeons of England The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow The Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland The Scottish Royal Colleges’ Board for the Recognition of Surgical Posts – Basic Surgical Training: The Hospital Recognition Cte (HRC) The Joint Committee on Higher Surgical Training	Basic Surgical Training Specialties: Cardiac Surgery (Cardiothoracic Surgery), Diagnostic Radiology, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery (Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery), Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Radiation Oncology, Urology Subspecialties: Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Surgery), Pediatric General Surgery	1976 to present
	The Royal College of Radiologists (UK)	Radiation Oncology (Clinical Oncology), Diagnostic Radiology (Clinical Radiology)	1975 to present

Already practicing as a specialist? (any jurisdiction)

Apply now for an assessment:

Please submit completed application to per@royalcollege.ca

PER Application forms
Specialty	Adobe PDF fillable forms
The fillable application forms have been created as an Adobe PDF fillable form file. To view, complete, save and print this fillable form, you will need to open the form in Adobe Reader. The Adobe Reader software can be obtained free for PC and Mac users from the following site: http://get.adobe.com/reader.
Anatomical Pathology	Application form
Anesthesiology	Application form
Cardiac Surgery	Application form
Dermatology	Application form
Diagnostic Radiology	Application form
Emergency Medicine	Application form
General Pathology	Application form
General Surgery	Application form
Hematological Pathology	Application form
Internal Medicine	Application form
Medical Biochemistry	Application form
Medical Genetics	Application form
Medical Microbiology	Application form
Neurology	Application form
Neuropathology	Application form
Neurosurgery	Application form
Nuclear Medicine	Application form
Obstetrics and Gynecology	Application form
Ophthalmology	Application form
Orthopedic Surgery	Application form
Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery	Application form
Pediatrics	Application form
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation	Application form
Plastic Surgery	Application form
Psychiatry	Application form
Public Health and Preventive Medicine	Application form
Radiation Oncology	Application form
Urology	Application form
Vascular Surgery	Application form

Send your application forms to:

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Credentials Unit
774 Echo Drive
Ottawa ON K1S 5N8
Canada
Telephone (toll-free): 1-800-267-2320
Fax: 613-730-3707
Email: per@royalcollege.ca

Practice Eligibility Route

Download a PDF guide to the Practice Eligibility Route

The Practice Eligibility Route is a path available for internationally trained physicians who have completed three years of practice in their specialty (in any jurisdiction)

There are two Practice Eligibility Route paths

Specialists with at least five years of practice (including at least two years in a continuous practice location in Canada)
Specialists with at least three years of practice (in any jurisdiction)

Eligibility Criteria

3 years of practice completed as an independent specialist (in any jurisdiction)

Steps:

Credentials Review and Determination of Exam Eligibility
- The Practice Eligibility Route application form will collect information on your practice and training. The Royal College will verify training documents and ensure equivalence of your training to Canadian training programs in your respective specialty. This equivalence is necessary to move forward in the process.
- A scope of practice must be submitted. This scope of practice ensures that your specialty practice is aligned with the expectations of a specialist practicing in the same discipline in Canada. Our Specialty Committee formed of specialists in your discipline will need to approve your scope of practice.
- Please see Standards of training (to determine equivalence).
  Success at this step will result in the Royal College Credentials Unit issuing you a letter of examination eligibility.
Royal College Specialty Exam
- Applicants with exam eligibility must submit an exam registration form, accompanied by the exam fee, to register for a Royal College exam. These 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
Two Years of Practice in Canada
- In order to get certified by the Royal College, an applicant must have success at their specialty exam and complete two years of practice in Canada as an independent specialist.
- The Royal College does not grant licenses to practice. Canada has 13 MRAs who issue licenses. It is the responsibility of the applicant to complete these two years of practice in Canada, the Royal College cannot assist in finding job placements in Canada.
Assessment of Practice in Canada
- These two years of practice in Canada will be assessed by the Royal College Credentials Unit. The applicant must submit several documents including a second scope of practice (for those who did not have time in Canada completed before applying through the PER) to be reviewed by the Specialty Committee.

Success in all of the above steps will result in Certification and Fellowship by the Royal College.

Exam eligibility

If you succeed at the assessment, you will receive a letter of eligibility. This letter confirms that you meet the training and/or practice standards to register for the examination.

Your letter of eligibility will specify the years in which you can attempt the examination.

Eligibility via PER is granted for a three-year period.

After receiving eligibility you will be able to register for the examination.

Information sharing with MRA

As part of your application, the Royal College can share certain information with your MRA. This arrangement helps ensure that both parties have up-to-date information regarding your progress toward certification.

Shared information will include but may not be limited to

application status updates
scope of practice (Form D)
results of the credentials review
exam and/or assessment eligibility, summary of performance, and results

Additional resources

Ready to practise as a specialist in Canada?

If you are an international medical graduate in Canada, with certification from an international jurisdiction, and you plan to live and practise in Canada, you may be eligible to apply for a practice-ready assessment through a participating licensing authority.

This supervised clinical assessment period ensures you have met specialty-specific training and/or practice requirements to register for the examination and it is the first step on your route to Royal College certification. Exam eligibility is granted for a three-year period following your successful training assessment.

If you would like to apply for a practice-ready assessment, please contact your provincial or territorial medical regulatory authority (not all provinces participate).

Practising or ready to practise as a subspecialist in Canada?

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

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 write your exam, eligibility is granted for a three year period. If you pass, you will be provided 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.

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.

Apply now

Please email the following information to the Credentials Unit at credentials@royalcollege.ca to find out about your eligibility to apply:

Subspecialty discipline
Dates and details of training
Location of training
Where the parent discipline was completed (i.e. Internal Medicine, Pediatrics)

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

Apply now

Please email your Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the Credentials Unit at credentials@royalcollege.ca to find out about your eligibility to apply for the PER-SEAP credentials review process and/or review the criteria below:

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

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 that you have practised as an independent specialist in the subspecialty for the past five years, with the final two 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
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.
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.
Information on PER multisource feedback (MSF) reports
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.

The deadline to apply for assessment occurs the year before you wish to write 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.

Not sure which route applies to you?
Contact us at 1-800-267-2320 or credentials@royalcollege.ca for help getting started.