The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I is a summative examination that assesses the critical medical knowledge and clinical decision-making ability of a candidate at a level expected of a medical student who is completing their medical degree in Canada. Critical medical knowledge and clinical decision-making skills are assessed using multiple-choice questions.
Candidates graduating and completing the MCCQE Part I typically enter supervised practice. Aside from formal accreditation processes of the undergraduate and postgraduate education programs, the MCCQE Part I is the national standard for medical schools across Canada and, therefore, is administered at the end of medical school.
Passing the MCCQE Part I is a requirement for international medical graduates applying for entry into a Canadian residency program. The exam is also used by some Practice-Ready Assessment programs as an eligibility criteria to select internationally trained physicians into their programs.
Obtaining a pass result on the MCCQE Part I is one of the eligibility criteria you must meet to apply for the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC). Canadian medical regulatory authorities may require you to have the LMCC to apply for a medical licence within their province or territory.
The MCCQE Part I is a one-day, computer-based exam that is delivered in Canada and over 70 countries. The exam is offered during four sessions a year. Candidates have the option to take their exam at an available Prometric test centre or through remote proctoring on a first-come, first-served basis.
The exam consists of 230 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) divided into two sections of 115 items. Candidates are allowed up to two hours and forty minutes for each section as they complete the first section before the optional break and the second section after the optional break.
The examination is based on the MCC Examination Objectives, which are organized under the CanMEDS roles.
The exam is based on a blueprint that assesses your performance across two broad categories:
Each category has four domains, and each is assigned a specific content weighting on the exam:
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