Graduates of Canadian Medical Schools

The only route to a specialty program (entry level) for new Canadian medical graduates is via the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Candidates should visit the CaRMS website for further details.

Provincial regulations prevent Canadian medical graduates from obtaining their own funding (hospital or other organization) to enter a residency program.

Practicing physicians are not admissible to apply to the CaRMS match to pursue a new specialty; refer to the Re-Entry section below for options.

Residents currently enrolled in Internal Medicine who wish to apply to the R4 Medicine Subspecialty match must apply through CaRMS. Residents currently enrolled in Family Medicine who wish to apply for Emergency Medicine Subspecialty match must apply through CaRMS. Also, residents currently enrolled in Pediatrics who wish to apply to the Pediatric Subspecialty match must apply through CaRMS. Please visit the CaRMS website for information and deadlines.

Candidates wishing to apply to another subspecialty program not listed above must apply directly to the program of their choice and meet each program’s admissions criteria. Candidates must be currently registered in a postgraduate program in Canada or the United States and must not have practiced as an independent physician. Candidates are encouraged to communicate directly with the relevant residency training program for application details and deadlines. 

Provincial regulations prevent Canadian medical graduates from obtaining their own funding (hospital or other organization) to enter a residency program or transfer to another residency program if already registered in a residency program.

Practicing physicians wishing to pursue a new specialty, please refer to the Re-Entry section below for options.

Certified physicians may wish to pursue a clinical/research fellowship (6 months to 3 years) to learn a new skill or simply to obtain added competence to enhance their practice. 

Application must be sent directly to the program of choice. Candidates are encouraged to communicate with the relevant program for application details and deadlines.

Clinical/research fellowship appointments do not lead to any type of national certification. Candidates applying to a subspecialty program recognized by the Royal College must apply for a residency position. 

Physicians currently practicing in Canada who wish to change their area of specialty and undergo a new residency for eventual certification may be admissible to apply to the Ontario Ministry of Health & Long Term Care Re-entry Program (MOHLTC). This program is specifically designed for practicing physicians wishing to change specialties and willing to sign a return to service agreement in an under-serviced area with the MOHLTC. Candidates must communicate directly with the Ministry of Health for information. Details are provided on their Central Forms Repository web page. 

Please read through the instructions sheet, complete the application form and location/specialty selection form. Together with all the other required documents, please submit your application to the MOHLTC Health Workforce Policy Branch

Canadian, U.S. or international medical school graduates who have completed or partially completed in a residency program outside of Canada may qualify for the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Repatriation program. This program is designed to attract medical graduates who have Canadian Citizenship or permanent resident status in Canada to complete their residency program toward Royal College certification. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care may fund 6 months to 2 years of specialty training if the candidate agrees to sign a return to service commitment to an under-serviced area. Please see the Ministry of Health and Long Term care website for more information. Please submit the documents listed below to:

Postgraduate Medical Education
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
2014-451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5
Email: pgmeReg@uOttawa.ca

• letter of interest noting the Repatriation program and indicating the discipline for which you wish to be considered
• CV
• copy of letter from Royal College ruling on your application for assessment of training indicating the number of months (or years) required to qualify for specialty exam
• proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status with the date of landing clearly indicated
• list of the three referees (name, university, address, contact information) who will be sending a letter of recommendation/reference

The University of Ottawa and the Department of National Defence have launched a collaborative effort to offer up to two post-second-iteration CaRMS, postgraduate training positions in Family Medicine for Canadian Armed Forces Medical Officers. This is a joint application process and, as such, your residency application will be viewed by representatives of both the Department of National Defence and the University of Ottawa. 

Each applicant must be either:

i) a current student in a Canadian medical school with an expected graduation date of June 1, 2018 or earlier, or be a past graduate of a Canadian medical school.

ii) a previous year Canadian medical school graduate who has not undertaken any postgraduate medical education.

Additionally, only those applicants who have also concurrently applied to the Canadian Armed Forces will be considered.

It is important to note that your training position within the University of Ottawa is contingent upon ongoing sponsorship by the Department of National Defence.

Application Process

1. Application to the Canadian Armed Forces (See eligibility for service in the Canadian Armed Forces)

2. Simultaneous application to the University of Ottawa’s Family Medicine postgraduate program. Your application must be sent as one file to dfmpgmanager@uottawa.ca and must include the following: 

• Medical Student Performance Record (MSPR) or Dean’s letter
• Medical school transcripts
• Current curriculum vitae
• Applicant’s Declaration
• Personal letter

3. Three reference letters shall be sent to to dfmpgmanager@uottawa.ca directly by your referees. Reference letter instructions are linked here.

By submitting your application, you are granting authorization for both the Department of National Defence and the University of Ottawa to review its contents.

*If you do not meet the Canadian Armed Forces’ eligibility criteria, please do not apply, as your application will not be considered. Your acceptance is contingent upon sponsorship by the Department of National Defence.

Important Dates

• May 1, 2018: Application Deadline
• May 14-18, 2018: Interviews
• June 1-14, 2018: Offers are sent
• July 1, 2018: Start of residency