International medical graduates (IMGs) who want to apply for the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) R-1 Main Residency Match will need to provide results for the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I and the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination. You can choose to take the NAC Examination and the MCCQE Part I in the order that you prefer.
International medical students graduating in spring 2026 who want to apply for the 2026 CaRMS R-1 Main Residency Match will need to take the MCCQE Part I and NAC Examination during certain sessions. File review for the 2026 R-1 first iteration match begins in late November 2025. By taking the exams in the sessions outlined below, you will have enough time to receive your results from both exams before the deadline.
You will be able to apply for the MCCQE Part I 15 months from the date you are expected to fully complete all medical degree requirements (your graduation date). Apply and schedule an appointment to take the MCCQE Part I during either the:
Apply by the respective application deadlines to take the NAC Examination during either the:
Candidate applies to the MCCQE Part I and/or the NAC Examination.
Candidate takes the MCCQE Part I in any of the April, August or October sessions.
Candidate takes the NAC Examination in either the May or September session.
Candidate shares their MCCQE Part I and NAC Examination results with CaRMS in time for the file review that typically opens in late November.
CaRMS 2026 R-1 residency match.
Student candidates graduate.
If you are an IMG and want to apply to a postgraduate medical training program in Québec, you must have received prior recognition of equivalence of your Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the Collège des médecins du Québec. In addition, to be eligible into the regular quota, the Québec government requires that you respect the definition of resident in Québec of the ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur.
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E : service@mcc.ca
