US residencies accepted in Canada?

[silenthunder]

Trying to get info on what happens if you complete a residency in the states, and then try to come to Canada.

tried a search on this, and didn't get much.

I've been told that it varies, depending on the residence completed.

Does anyone have anymore information on this topic? any links to licensing body/college pages?

hope everyone had a good set of holidays (seasons grettings!)

Cheers,

Silenthunder

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[jbish]

Trying to get info on what happens if you complete a residency in the states, and then try to come to Canada.

tried a search on this, and didn't get much.

I've been told that it varies, depending on the residence completed.

Does anyone have anymore information on this topic? any links to licensing body/college pages?

hope everyone had a good set of holidays (seasons grettings!)

Cheers,

Silenthunder

I don't have any links, but I know what Canada cares about is length of the residency and the U.S. version needs to be the same length. For example, family practice in Canada is currently 2 years and it is 3 years in the U.S. so you can cross the border. On the flip side, let's say you do a 4 year residency in emerg in the U.S. (intern + 3 E.R.). In Canada, Emerg is 5 years...so you'll need to do another year of training to cross over. However..this is a poor example as you can work in an E.D. without being an Emerg doc. Just try to search for how long residency programs are in both countries. If the U.S. one is longer, then it should be ok. If the Canada one is longer, you may have to extend your training by doing a fellowship before you can be Ok'd to work.

 

[moo]

Emerg is tricky. Most ER docs in Canada actually are graduates of 2 years FP program + 1 year fellowship. Thus most ER docs only have 3 years of post graduate training.

 

[PsychMD]

Also, remember: it will also be important where you have your MD degree from: if it's not from Canada, GB, Australia, NZ, or the US, you will have to go through other major "hoops and loops" for getting a medical license in CA.

In addition to this, even as a US/Canadian Med School graduate and even for residencies of similar lengths and curriculum, and even for US Boarded candidates (by the specialty-specific American Specialty Board), the Canadian Specialty College, may still require you to take their specialty certification exam for their college in order to be able to be registered with them as a specialist. It does depend on the specialty. Each Canadian Specialty college has their own regulations and some (but not all) have agreements with their US Specialty Boards counterparts from the US. If you do complete the residency here, you might have to take both the US Board Certif exam AND the Canadian Specialty College exam as well, for some specialties; for others you might not have to do this, and you might just be considered eligible to sit directly for the Canadian Specialty exam right after completing your residency.

You should thus be careful to check BOTH the licensure regulations of each province AND the registration requirements for the specific Specialty College you are interested in.

For getting the websites, try Google-ing for licensure by each province, and then for each specialty college (like in "canadian College of Surgeons", etc.) You may also start at http://rcpsc.medical.org or I'm sure the is a "Canadian Medical Association" page (counterpart of the AMA from the US) that could also guide you in your search.

(Hey, put in a little effort for doing your own search, if you are truly motivated! You will need anyway LOTS of motivation and stamina to try to get licensed and registered in Canada anyway, because it's pretty complicated! I'm too lazy to do all the research here myself on your behalf, but I hope that you'll find your way around!)

 

[NewCanadian]

...info on what happens if you complete a residency in the states, and then try to come to Canada.....it varies, depending on the residence completed....Does anyone have anymore information on this topic? any links to licensing body/college pages?

Ensure the total training meets the requirements of training in the specialty of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Example
Three years IM in the US
Fourth year should match what is required by the RCPSC for the fourth year:
Options (1)Chief Resident in the US (2) One Year Clinical Fellowship in the US (3) Two or three year subspecialty (like gastroenterology, infectious diseases) (4) Repatriation program with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, gives up to two years of additional training needed to meet RCPSC requirements.
www.rcpsc.medical.org View requirements of training for the specialty in question. View links to Canadian medical universities. View links to licensing authorities [www.fmrac.ca].

 

[Mike84]

I too have tried to search for this information. I've looked at these official sites and there is really not clear, official information.

I've read on some of these boards that if you do a family medicine residency in the U.S. (after having graduated from Ireland or Australia), there are ways to get back into Canada provided you take 4 exams and get a license for the province you want to practice in.

But it's all hazy information...somehow I doubt it's as easy as taking the Canadian exams and then getting licensed and free to practice. I could be wrong (and would love to be wrong!), but I bet there's some kind of catch to it, like you have to sign a rural-return of service agreement for a specified amount of time, or you're only granted a temporary license.

If anyone has or knows someone who's been through this process, please enlighten the rest of us!

Trying to get info on what happens if you complete a residency in the states, and then try to come to Canada.

tried a search on this, and didn't get much.

I've been told that it varies, depending on the residence completed.

Does anyone have anymore information on this topic? any links to licensing body/college pages?

hope everyone had a good set of holidays (seasons grettings!)

Cheers,

Silenthunder

 

[f_w]

For licensure, the college of physicians and surgeons of the respective province has the jurisdiction. Their rules vary widely, but bottom-line, you will have to take the LMCC in order to qualify for an unlimited registration.

A google search with 'college physicians surgeons PROVINCE' will typically get you to their website. Somewhere in the 'policies' section you will find their rules. Some provinces have provisional licenses for people who are working in medically underserved areas (I know of these programs in BC, AB, SK and NS. ON doesn't believe in 'lowering their standards for the physicians taking care of their citizens in rural areas. They do however have some repatriation programs for you 'lost sheep' who have gone to the US.).

Somebody mentioned the different residency lengths. The RCPSC website has information on what type of training they will accept in order to deem you eligible to sit for their exam. It does vary by specialty, in some specialties a US residency + fellowship can get you eligible, in others they won't accept it. The FP exam otoh seems to be less of a problem.

If you plan to go to canada after a US residency in the first place, don't waste your money on the US board exams. Just apply for admission to the requisite RCPSC exam once you are eligible.