Graduates of foreign medical schools outside North America with Canadian legal status

To access an entry level (PGY1) residency position in a designated specialty program, IMGs must apply through CaRMS. 

To access a residency position at the advanced level (PGY2 +), IMG candidates must apply directly to Touchstone Institute. 

If admitted, all IMG residents must undergo an Assessment Verification Period (AVP) of twelve (12) weeks prior to the commencement of their residency program. Residents must also sign a Return of service agreement with the Ministry of Health.

Residents must apply to CaRMS for the following:

• Residents currently enrolled in Internal Medicine who wish to apply to the R4 Medicine Subspecialty match
• Residents currently enrolled in Family Medicine who wish to apply for Family Medicine/Enhanced Skills Subspecialty match
• Residents currently enrolled in Pediatrics who wish to apply to the Pediatric Subspecialty match
• Please visit the CaRMS website for information and deadlines. 

Candidates wishing to apply to another subspecialty program not listed above must submit their application online through uoCampus. Deadline to apply for a residency position beginning in July 2022 was September 30, 2021. Please visit our website between May 1 to September 30, 2022, for a list of programs available for July 2023 and for details on how to apply. Please note that we are not accepting residency applications at this time.
 

In order to be admissible for a subspecialty position, you must meet the following criteria:

• have successfully completed a specialty program in Canada before the beginning of the subspecialty;
• be certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or at a minimum, have completed a residency program in Canada and be admissible to take the Royal College, or CFPC certification exams.

ROS (Return of Service Agreement):

• all International Medical Graduates (IMGs) will be required to sign an IMG Training Agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH) that requires the IMG to return service for a period of five years upon completion of their training in their area of specialty.

Provincial regulations prevent International 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 for options.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Registration Coordinator by email at pgme.registration@uottawa.ca.

Applications must be submitted online through uoCampus. Please note that applications received by mail, email or fax are no longer accepted.

In order to be admissible for a fellowship position, you must meet the following criteria:

• have a medical degree from an accredited institution listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools https://search.wdoms.org/ confirming school is recognized in Canada (Sponsor Notes tab);
• have successfully completed a specialty program before the beginning of the fellowship;
• be certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or another recognized international certification board (organization outside of Canada that certifies medical specialists), or at a minimum, have completed a residency program and be admissible to take the Royal College, CFPC or USA certification exams;
• have successfully completed an English proficiency test, if applicable. See requirements below.

*Language Requirements:

Must provide proof of English or French language proficiency through ONE of the following:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 7 in each component, OR;
• TOEFL-Ibt; passing score of 93 including a minimum score of 24 on the speaking section, OR;
• Candidates for whom their primary and secondary, medical school education was conducted in English or French, proof must be attached to application, OR;
• World Directory of Medical Schools Language Option – If the instruction and the language of patient care at the undergraduate medical school was conducted completely in English or French, then a candidate can submit a copy or printout of the World Directory of Medical Schools website listing the medical school which clearly states that the language of instruction is English or French https://search.wdoms.org/.

Note that you may apply only to a Clinical Fellowship in the same discipline (or subdiscipline) in which you are recognized as a specialist.

If you meet all the requirements and wish to be considered for a fellowship position in one of the programs listed below, please submit your application via the uoCampus admissions portal.

How to apply

The application process is done entirely online in 2 steps.

1. You will first be required to create an account, or log into your account if you already have one. Once an account has been created, you will be able to start a new admission application by entering your personal information and selecting the program you are interested in applying to. Note if you want to apply to two programs, you will be required to submit the application twice.
2. Once you have submitted your admission application, you will receive an email from the University of Ottawa with login instructions to complete your application via uoZone. Please note that it may take a few days after you submit your application to receive the email. Once you have successfully logged in, you must go in the "Applications" section to have access to the uoDoc: Upload Admissions Documents, where you will be able to upload your documents.

Documents required in the application for fellowships are:

• personal statement
• CV
• copy of medical degree (including original and English translation)
• copy of specialty degree (including original and English translation) in the specialty or sub-specialty sought
• proof of English proficiency
• three (3) letters of recommendation
• proof of sponsorship, if applicable

There is a three-year limit of licensure for all clinical fellowships. Please note that a clinical fellowship does not lead to any type of Canadian certification.

If admitted, all foreign Clinical Fellows must undergo a Pre Entry Assessment Program of four (4) to twelve (12) weeks prior to the commencement of their fellowship program.

Fellowship programs accepting applications from International Medical Graduates:

Adult Cardiology

• Advanced Adult Clinical Cardiology
• AFC - Adult Interventional Cardiology
• AFC - Adult Cardiac Electrophysiology
• AFC - Adult Echocardiography
• Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation
• Cardiac Imaging (Cardiac CT, Cardiac MR, PET and Nuclear Cardiology)

Adult Endocrinology and Metabolism

• Bariatric Medicine
• Clinical Lipidology
• Pituitary
• Thyroidology

Adult Nephrology

• Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease
• Advanced Hemodialysis
• AFC - Solid Organ Transplant
• Critical Care Nephrology
• General Nephrology
• Glomerulonephritis
• Home Dialysis
• Renal Hypertension

Adult Neurology

• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Headache
• Movement Disorder
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Neuromuscular
• Stroke

Anesthesiology

• Acute Pain
• Cardiac Anesthesiology
• Global Health
• Neurosurgical Anesthesia
• Obstetric Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Anesthesiology
• Perioperative Hemodynamic Echocardiography 
• Perioperative Medicine
• Perioperative Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS)
• Regional Anesthesiology
• Research and Clinical Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
• Simulation & Medical Education
• Thoracic Anesthesiology
• Vascular Anesthesiology

Cardiac Surgery

• Cardiac Surgery

Emergency Medicine

• Clinical Emergency Medicine 
• Point of Care Ultrasound in Emergency Medicine (POCUS-EM)
• Prehospital and Transport Medicine 
• Simulation and Medical Education

Gynecologic Oncology

• Gynecologic Oncology

Medical Oncology

• Breast Cancer
• Gastrointestinal Oncology
• Genitourinary Oncology
• Lung Cancer (Thoracic Oncology)
• Medical Oncology

Neonatal Perinatal Medicine

• Neonatal Perinatal Medicine
• Neonatal Transport Medicine
• Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography

Neurosurgery

• Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery
• Endovascular Neurosurgery
• Functional Cranial and Spine Surgery
• General Neurosurgery
• Neurosurgical Oncology
• Skull Base Surgery
• Spine Surgery / Complex Spine

Nuclear Medicine

• Nuclear Medicine

Obstetrics & Gynecology

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
• Urogynecology and Reconstructive Surgery

Ophthalmology

• Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery
• Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Oculo-plastics
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Retina

Orthopedic Surgery

• Adult Reconstruction Arthroplasty
• Arthroplasty/Deformity Correction
• Comprehensive Knee
• Foot and Ankle
• Hand and Wrist
• Musculoskeletal Oncology
• Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
• Trauma
• Upper Extremity

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

• Advanced Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery
• Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstruction
• Microscopic Neurotology and Cochlear Implantation
• Otology/Neurotology

Pediatric Neurology

• Pediatric Epilepsy

Pediatric Surgery

• Clinical Research Fellowship

Urology

• AFC - Solid Organ Transplantation
• Endourology and Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Functional and Reconstructive Urology
• Men’s Health
• Pediatric Urology
• Urologic Oncology

Please refer to this FAQ for helpful information on the application process.

Should you have any questions, please email pgmecoor@uottawa.ca.

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 webpage. 

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.

Re-entry forms 

Canadian, U.S. or international medical school graduates who have completed or partially completed a residency program outside 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 will fund six months to two 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: 

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

In your application, please also include the following: 

• letter of interest noting the Repatriation program and indicating the discipline for which you wish to be considered
• CV
• copy of medical degree
• 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 clearly indicated
• list of three referees (name, university, address, contact information) who will be sending a letter of recommendation/reference