Canada HealthCare Blog

Canada is a sizable country that is composed of 10 provinces and three territories. Each province has a certain autonomy and responsibility for social programs including health care and education, yet all abide by federal and national rules and regulations as well. This is also the case for obtaining a medical licence to practice anywhere in Canada. 

All doctors, both Canadian and Internationally trained, must follow steps in order to obtain a medical practice licence in the province they choose to practice in by adhering to both national and provincial regulations and requirements.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) are the national organisations that establish the standards for and accredit postgraduate family medicine training and specialist postgraduate residency training respectively.

Each province and territory then has a medical regulatory authority that is responsible for setting the licensing criteria for that specific province. 

These are the organisations you may want to become familiar with if you are interested in obtaining a licence to practice medicine anywhere in Canada.

Covid 19 has had an effect on all aspects of medical practice in Canada, including the ultimate termination of a required Canadian medical licencing exam. Challenges facing the delivery of the exam began the previous year due to the pandemic, but have ultimately resulted in a re-assessment of the necessity of the exam, licencing policies, and processes.

The Transition

The month of June saw The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) officially cease delivery of the Medical Council of Canada Part II Examination. In the month prior, the MCC attempted a virtual delivery of the Exam; the challenges of that led to the suspension and subsequent ceasing of the exam entirely.

MCCQE Part II Exam No Longer A Requisite

Physicians no longer require the MCCQE Part II Exam as part of their requisite to obtaining an independent medical licence in Canada. Physicians will still need to be granted the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), with revised criteria outlined in this statement. According to the MCC, it will seek to collaborate with the Canadian Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Medical Education offices to confirm that candidates meet the required post-graduate clinical training months.

Last week, on July 15, 2021, the MCC  announced the launch of a new business service dedicated to awarding the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) as a stand-alone process. This will be realised in a two phase process, allowing those who were already registered for the exam to apply for the award, followed by phase two, which will allow all other eligible candidates who meet the new outlined criteria to apply.

Each provincial Medical Regulatory Authority (MRA) is anticipated to revise their licencing policies in response, and to effect the smooth transition eligible candidates. This is a current and ongoing process, and as the roll-out of the MCC’s new business service unfolds, we will continue to provide updates.

International physicians applying for roles in Canada can always typically expect to attend at least an initial phone interview. Due to the pandemic, we have now seen a significant increase in virtual interviews for both national and international candidates, residents, and even medical school applicants. 

Most healthcare facilities now conduct all initial and even second interviews virtually or over the phone. With the exception of international jobs, face-to-face interviews have always been the “next step”, and not being able to do this has left employers needing to get to know you in a compressed amount of time. Selecting a physician candidate who meets all the clinical skill requirements and is a good culture fit for the facility and the community has the added challenge of potentially never shaking hands or meeting face to face before a hire. 

The good news is that this is a new and evolving experience for all involved. However, physicians should do their best to prepare themselves, their environment, and their devices for a successful meeting with their prospective employer, and attend the interview as professionally as possible. 

Prepare Ahead to Ace your Interview

The team here at Physicians for You will always help you with pre-interview questions to help guide the flow of the interview, and also to prepare you for some typical questions you will get asked. It is a good idea to rehearse answers to questions you’ll likely get. Preparing your answers in advance to the most commonly asked questions can help you come across confident and stand out from other physicians pursuing the same position. 

Questions such as “ Tell me about yourself” can catch you off guard if you are not prepared to speak freely about yourself. With this type of question, a three prong answer is helpful – brief training and experience overview, recognised achievements if applicable, and something more personal, like your specific goals or aspirations. 

The Canadian Medical Association has a wonderful series called Physician Changemakers, which features physicians around Canada, and highlights their unique story. This feature is all about Dr. Ann Collins, who has recently taken on the presidency of the CMA after serving on the board of directors for seven years.

Follow her story in the article here as Dr. Collins weaves through her life, from mere thoughts about working in the field of medicine to taking on many different roles including part-time hospital emergency department work, running her own family practice, and medical director of a local nursing home.

Taking on this role during an unprecedented time with the pandemic has also presented its challenges, where virtual care is becoming the norm, and both doctors and patients have had to grapple with a lot of changes, at a very fast pace.

Physicians for You is proud to share the story of this successful Canadian physician who has deep roots in her community of Fredericton, New Brunswick, and is dedicating her wealth of experience to the Canadian Medical Association. Thank you Dr. Collins!

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