Path to Residency
Becoming a medical resident in British Columbia means satisfying requirements from the Medical Council of Canada, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, CaRMS and the University of British Columbia.
Graduates of a medical school outside of Canada and the US, or graduates of osteopathic schools of medicine in the US, can apply to become medical residents in B.C. When applying to CaRMS, you will be asked to demonstrate your citizenship status.
Citizenship Status
- Canadian Citizen
- Permanent Resident
Demonstrate Your Status
To demonstrate your citizenship status, you'll be required to submit a copy of one of the following documents to CaRMS by the Rank Order deadline. Visit the CaRMS website for a full list of accepted document types.
- Canadian Birth Certificate
- Canadian Passport
- Canadian Citizenship Certificate
- Canadian Citizen Card (both sides)
- Current Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides)
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence
Academic Status
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia establishes academic and language requirements for new physicians. As an International Medical Graduate, you will need to demonstrate the following:
- You have earned a medical degree from a school listed on the World Directory of Medical Schools.
- You meet English Language Proficiency, set out by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C.
English Language Proficiency
The English requirement is fulfilled if:
- Your medical school education was instructed in English, and
- The primary language for patient care was English, and
- The first and native language of the country where you were trained is English
To further assess your English language proficiency requirement for BC residency programs, please visit carms.ca.