IMG doctors who have completed their residency in their home country have two options to practice medicine in Canada without Canadian residency.
- The first option is the province-based specialist route, which grants IMG doctors from any country eligibility for a specific hospital-based license.
- The second option is the Royal College Specialist pathway, which is open to IMG doctors who meet specific criteria established by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
If you’re an IMG doctor planning to practice medicine in Canada, this information will help you understand your options. These alternate entry path programs are designed for exceptional and specialized IMG doctors who can contribute significantly to the healthcare systems in the USA or Canada. Through these pathways, IMG doctors can work directly as fellows and/or faculty members in Canada, bypassing the need for residency.
I’ll share my firsthand experience with both of these pathways in Canada, so let’s dive right in.
Dr. Rajeev Iyer, MBBS, MD, FASA
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
University of Pennsylvania, USA
This article is author’s own opinion and does not represent the opinion of University of Pennsylvania or any other organization.
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Thank you, Dr. Rajeev Iyer for the update. I am an IMG, a specialist in General Internal Medicine from Nigeria. I would like to know, after having passed the royal college exam, how easy is it to get a slot or job offer for the final phase i.e., the practice assessment for that period of 2 years? Also, does one get paid during this time? Thank you
Dr. Gabriel, once you pass the Royal College exams it would not be difficult to find a job for practice assessment. This will be paid. However, I would caution you to make sure you are actually eligible before you apply for the Practice Eligibility Route!
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Thank you for the useful information provided in this article. I am going to ask a question if I may. I am an Iranian Urologist. I have passed USMLE steps and obtained ECFMG certificate. I also did two clinical fellowships in US in 2015-17. What are my best options to find a job as a urologist? I appreciate your response in advance.
Hello Dr Rajeev,I am an IMG , Urologist with Endourology Fellowship from Iran and I am lso a permanent resident of canada,but i have done my all edjucations in Iran.
Did you say for applying through Practice eligibilty route i have to be clinical fellow in canada then i can appley for this rout?
But it is not being said in the Royal college webiste!?
Dr. Ali, i did not say you have to be a clinical fellow to apply for PER.