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We will assist IMGs as they navigate to practising as physicians or in other medical roles in Canada
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) and interested parties we work with recognize the importance of helping international medical graduates (IMGs) and internationally trained physicians be part of the health care solution for patients in Canada.
We are committed to supporting medical regulatory authorities (MRAs) as they address their population’s health care needs by aiding in the requirements, introduction, and implementation of additional pathways to licensure.
Action plans
- Develop strategies to amplify engagement and participation of IMGs in MCC governance, ensuring their perspectives are integrated into decision-making processes.
- Support MRAs by assisting in the establishment, formalization, and dissemination of additional pathways to licensure, while increasing awareness of these opportunities among IMGs.
- Advance the development and promotion of preparatory materials to support IMG success across the MCC assessments, utilizing advanced technologies and methodologies to enhance effectiveness and accessibility.
- Continuously evaluate and refine our technology and process to ensure a clearer and more expeditious candidate experience.
What are we doing to work towards this objective?
To assist IMGs on their professional journey within Canada, we are steadfast in enhancing the accessibility to preparatory resources, fostering their representation in our governance, supporting diverse licensure pathways, and upholding exemplary service standards to ensure their successful integration into the Canadian health care workforce.
Key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Representation of IMGs in MCC governance. This KPI measures and values the importance of IMG voices and lived experience in the MCC’s strategic planning and decision-making processes. The inclusion of IMG perspectives helps ensure their challenges, in addition to regulatory requirements, are addressed.
- IMG use and satisfaction rate of preparatory products. This KPI assesses the level of awareness, usage, and satisfaction of IMGs with the preparatory resources provided. It measures how effectively these resources support IMGs in preparing for their medical careers in Canada, indicating the quality and relevance of the materials.
- Timely and efficient service level targets:
Source verification timelines: Measures the time taken to verify the credentials and qualifications of IMGs.
Error rate: Tracks the accuracy of the source verification process, aiming to minimize mistakes and ensure reliability.
Rejection risk: Evaluates the likelihood of applications being rejected due to errors or incomplete information.
What’s next?
Preparatory products
- A new Preparatory Examination (PE) and a new PE-Lite will be available in December 2024 that align with the updated MCCQE Part I. The MCC will be developing additional preparatory product offerings for future release based on valuable feedback from candidates obtained through a recent market research study. Read: “Update from the MCC on upcoming activities” section “New MCCQE Part I format and preparatory products.”
Improved web resources
- Free resources: Creation of a filterable database of free resources to assist candidates prepare for MCC examinations and assessments launched in January 2024. It includes resources designed to help internationally trained physicians and IMGs understand the cultural aspects of practising medicine in Canada.
- Revamped pathways to licensure webpage to better aid IMGs in determining the steps they need to take.
New workplace-based assessment programs
- The quality of medical education and postgraduate (residency) education is heterogeneous around the world. In the absence of international accreditation standards to determine substantive equivalence between the postgraduate education received by IMGs and the students in Canada, assessments have served for the selection into Canadian postgraduate and Workplace-based practice-ready assessment programs for international graduates, from which they proceed to independent practice.
- There are IMGs who do not qualify for these traditional opportunities. With the MRAs, we are exploring other pathways to integrate those IMGs including more graduated licensure. Supervised practice as a clinical assistant or associate physician in hospitals and clinics can provide significant relief from increasing patient volumes for a supervising physician.
Changes to streamline physiciansapply.ca
- The physiciansapply.ca modernization project aims to further improve the platform, making it easier for candidates to use and navigate, while also simplifying maintenance for the MCC.
- Phase one – read: “New process for submitting documents”
Future goals on end-to-end source verification timelines
- A comprehensive review of the entire source verification process, from start to finish, is planned to improve transparency and efficiency.
