Thread: Cdn exams equivalent to US exams?

Hey all! I just want everyones "interpretation" of the excerpt from the RCPSC website. The only reason I'm bringing it up is that my friend who's doing his Cardio fellowship in Canada told me that I have to take the MCCQE2. I only have the MCCEE, MCCQE1 and of course all the USMLE's. So anyways, I freaked out a little and emailed RCPSC and they referred me to the following below:

3.1.5 Applicants with medical qualifications from medical schools other than CACMS/LCME accredited medical schools must have succeeded at one of the following screening examinations in order to have their medical qualifications recognized by the RCPSC:
the MCC EE
MCC QE parts I and II, or
the United States Medical Licensing Exam parts I, II and III


So what do u guys think? The way I'm interpreting it is that I don't have to take the QE2.

yeah, you don't. just one of the following three have to be done, from how i interpret this:1.the MCC EE
2.MCC QE parts I and II, or
3.the United States Medical Licensing Exam parts I, II and III

Originally Posted by stepchow

Hey all! I just want everyones "interpretation" of the excerpt from the RCPSC website. The only reason I'm bringing it up is that my friend who's doing his Cardio fellowship in Canada told me that I have to take the MCCQE2. I only have the MCCEE, MCCQE1 and of course all the USMLE's. So anyways, I freaked out a little and emailed RCPSC and they referred me to the following below:

3.1.5 Applicants with medical qualifications from medical schools other than CACMS/LCME accredited medical schools must have succeeded at one of the following screening examinations in order to have their medical qualifications recognized by the RCPSC:
the MCC EE
MCC QE parts I and II, or
the United States Medical Licensing Exam parts I, II and III


So what do u guys think? The way I'm interpreting it is that I don't have to take the QE2.

Take the RCPSC wording literally: for the RCPSC to recognize your US training, you need LMCC or equivalent, USMLE including Step 2 CK&CS. So, you don't need it for the RCPSC to assess your US qualifications towards certification in Internal Medicine.

Keep in mind that the RCPSC does not issue licences, either training licences for subspecialty training, or full licences for independent practice once all training is completed and all RCPSC exams are passed.

Are you doing your fellowship in Ontario?

If you want to understand the 'exam equivalence' policy as it relates to your situation, contact both the postgraduate medical education office where you will be taking your fellowship AND the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

If you have Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS, the CPSO can issue a training licence for your fellowship. If you are going to another province, you have to do MCC QE II. (You will then have the LMCC designation.)

The 'exam equivalence' policy is a policy of the Ontario licensing authority. It is unwise to assume that this policy is true across Canada.

If you are going to another province, contact the appropriate licencing authority.

Hmmm.....now I'm kind of worried. I have a Cardiology fellowship spot in Saskatchewan for this July 2006. I tried to look on the Sask Medical Boards website......not very navigation friendly I must say. I emailed them today too, so hopefully they'll respond. Aaaaagh! There's just too many exams! I have to take the US IM boards this summer too and then the Cdn IM boards next year.......aaaaaaaaaaah!

Steph - Just wondering, how did you get a cardiology spot in Canada? I thought internal medicine was 4 years in Canada and then you apply for a fellowship. How is it possible to do a fellowship with only 3 years of post grad training?

Also, was it difficult to get this position? By that I mean, what did it take?

This is a late congratulations on your spot, but great job. You're opening the door for those of us down here that are following.

Yes, IM is 4 yrs in Canada and 3 yrs in the US. BUT, that 4 yrs is for a general internist. That is, if u just want to practice IM, then it's 4 yrs. If u want to do a subspecialty, u do 3 yrs of IM then u start the fellowship. So all in all, subspecialty training is equivalent (in terms of the number of yrs) in the US and Canada.

As for getting the fellowship itself, it was mostly by chance actually. My friend (also from MUA) happened to be doing his fellowship there and he really pulled for me to get the spot. It's not impossible, but the odds are really against you. Saying that though, I know of someone else who is doing GI in Canada after completing his residency in the US. So impossible? No. Difficult? Definately.