For applicants | Medical Council of Canada

Practice-Ready Assessment might be right for you if:

You have certification from an international jurisdiction and intend to practise medicine, and you live in Canada
You have completed postgraduate medical training and have engaged in independent clinical practice outside of Canada, in a context that is not known to be comparable with medical practice in Canada. Postgraduate training may include either a completed residency program or an acceptable internship, depending on the specific eligibility requirements of the assessing jurisdiction.
- To be eligible, an internship must have been of at least twelve months in duration and include required clinical rotations (each of them meeting minimum duration requirements as defined by the province). In addition, it must have been completed at an educational institution acceptable to the provincial PRA program. All postgraduate training must be source-verified through physiciansapply.ca by the MCC prior to consideration. Eligibility differs by provincial PRA program, each program having the discretion to accept or decline any training based on the established criteria.

Why choose the Practice-Ready Assessment pathway:

Receive valuable guidance from experienced physician assessors as you adapt to practice in Canada
Provide crucial support in medical care in areas of high need of Canada
Secure employment in the province of assessment upon successful completion of the program and the granting of a provisional licence. Most physicians who graduate from a Practice-Ready Assessment (PRA) program obtain a full licence within two years.

What is the selection process?

Prospective applicants need to apply directly to their preferred provincial PRA program.

Admission to PRA programs is competitive. Each program uses a common screening process to evaluate the credentials, experience, and assessments of applicants to ensure they meet minimum eligibility and sponsorship requirements for the practice-ready route. Some programs may then select candidates through a regional ranking process.

Eligibility requirements are informed by the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC)’s Model Standards for Medical Registration in Canada.

Common eligibility screening requirements

Although some PRA programs use additional selection or ranking tools to select candidates into their programs, to be eligible for any PRA program, a candidate must confirm:

language proficiency
currency of practice
scope of practice
credential verification

The MCCQE Part I

Most provincial PRA programs use the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I as a screening requirement for their programs.

The MCCQE Part I aims to assess 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. It is a one-day, computer-based exam consisting of multiple-choice questions.

The NAC Examination

Some provincial PRA programs use the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination as a screening requirement for their programs.

The NAC Examination aims to assess an international medical graduate’s readiness to enter a Canadian residency program. It is a half-day exam in which candidates rotate through a series of stations where they are presented with typical clinical scenarios.

The TDM Examination

Most provincial PRA programs require passing the Therapeutics Decision-Making (TDM) Examination as part of their eligibility criteria.

The TDM Examination aims to assess the competence of candidates at the level required of a family physician practising independently and safely in Canada. It consists of patient-based scenarios representing common or important clinical presentations and problems that family physicians practising in Canada should be able to competently manage in the following dimensions of medical care: health promotion and illness prevention, acute illness, chronic illness, and safety and adverse effects.

Eligibility requirements for each PRA program are summarized in the Physician licensing in Canada eBook, a practical guide to navigating clinical assistant, associate physician, and Practice-Ready Assessment pathways across the country.