Australian moving to Canada as IMG for residency

[numbat34]

Hello!

I am an Australian citizen currently studying in an Australian med school. I understand that it's very hard to be matched in Canada as an IMG, but my ideal dream would be:

- complete med school in Aus
- complete internship and residency years in Australia (ie. be eligible to apply for a specialist training program in Australia)
- gain Canadian permanent residency
- apply for the Canadian match in a specialist (paediatrics) training program

Is this at all realistic? I haven't seen much information about non-Canadian IMGs trying to apply for the match. Is it likely that I would be able to gain permanent residency to apply for the match? Keeping in mind that I will have been working in a hospital for 2 years full time by that point.

If this is possible, I intend to do an elective in Canada in my final year at med school.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

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[Gos81238ia]

Hello!

I am an Australian citizen currently studying in an Australian med school. I understand that it's very hard to be matched in Canada as an IMG, but my ideal dream would be:

- complete med school in Aus
- complete internship and residency years in Australia (ie. be eligible to apply for a specialist training program in Australia)
- gain Canadian permanent residency
- apply for the Canadian match in a specialist (paediatrics) training program

Is this at all realistic? I haven't seen much information about non-Canadian IMGs trying to apply for the match. Is it likely that I would be able to gain permanent residency to apply for the match? Keeping in mind that I will have been working in a hospital for 2 years full time by that point.

If this is possible, I intend to do an elective in Canada in my final year at med school.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Aside from whether or not you could get PR status in Canada, which is required to enter the Canadian match, the CARMS match is very difficult for IMGs. The match has fixed spots for Canadian grads and IMGs, with IMG spots only being about 10-20% of total spots, with a very very large pool of IMGs competing for them. It would likely be easier for you to train in Australia until you were advanced enough in the training scheme to come to Canada as an attending. Obtaining a license would be through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and you would likely have to write the Canadian equivalent paediatrics exams including the general residency noes (MCCQE1, MCCQE2) and the paediatrics board exam.

 

[shadowblade]

Aside from whether or not you could get PR status in Canada, which is required to enter the Canadian match, the CARMS match is very difficult for IMGs. The match has fixed spots for Canadian grads and IMGs, with IMG spots only being about 10-20% of total spots, with a very very large pool of IMGs competing for them. It would likely be easier for you to train in Australia until you were advanced enough in the training scheme to come to Canada as an attending. Obtaining a license would be through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and you would likely have to write the Canadian equivalent paediatrics exams including the general residency noes (MCCQE1, MCCQE2) and the paediatrics board exam.

Agree with the above.

Stay in Australia and complete your pediatrics training there. It would be far easier to do.

International medical graduates :: The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

International medical graduates, apply for assessment of your postgraduate residency training completed outside of Canada or the United States.

www.royalcollege.ca

Australia is an approved jurisdiction for Pediatrics, so you could then write the Royal College exam for pediatrics (after having your training verified by the college) and get licensed in Canada.

Just keep in mind that writing the royal college exam and verifying your training will run you north of 7000 Canadian (3600 for assessment of training plus 4000 to write the exam).

Ideally you would take MCCQE1 and MCCQE2 during residency to make licensing easier, which adds another 4000 Canadian.

Once you account for travel costs, licensing fees, exam fees, assessment fees etc. You are looking at 20,000 Canadian dollars to make the move to Canada after becoming a consultant in Australia.

 

[Medstart108]

Hello!

I am an Australian citizen currently studying in an Australian med school. I understand that it's very hard to be matched in Canada as an IMG, but my ideal dream would be:

- complete med school in Aus
- complete internship and residency years in Australia (ie. be eligible to apply for a specialist training program in Australia)
- gain Canadian permanent residency
- apply for the Canadian match in a specialist (paediatrics) training program

Is this at all realistic? I haven't seen much information about non-Canadian IMGs trying to apply for the match. Is it likely that I would be able to gain permanent residency to apply for the match? Keeping in mind that I will have been working in a hospital for 2 years full time by that point.

If this is possible, I intend to do an elective in Canada in my final year at med school.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Why do you want to move to Canada? You are still young, so I am just curious, a lot can change between now and when you can make the move.

The way I see most Australians do it is complete all training in Australia, do fellowship in Canada and try to land a job here. There are plenty of jobs in pediatrics in Canada and I don't think you will have much trouble. Canada actually recognizes Australia's specialist training. However, keep in mind that compensation and lifestyle is often similar or better in Australia and you will make some sacrifices by trying to come to Canada.

Personally, if I were you, I would stick with the Australian system for now, there are no easy paths to medicine in Canada if you aren't already a Canadian citizen.