Medical Degree Equivalency in Canada
Canada is a top destination for immigration, education, and work, attracting many doctors. However, medical degree equivalency in Canada is a lengthy process. To work as a doctor, you must complete degree recognition, pass required exams, and finish internships. This process is more complex than for other professions. For detailed guidance on medical degree equivalency and immigration to Canada, contact the Malekpour Institute for free assistance. In the comments section, you can also ask your questions and receive responses in a short time.
Validity of Medical Degrees in Canada
There is a medical council in Canada called MCC, whose responsibility is to validate applicants’ medical degrees or to equivalate medical degrees in Canada. In the first step, for immigrating to Canada, the applicant must provide a copy of their original medical degree to the MCC council. If you review the list of required documents, you will notice that in the first step, the applicant must provide their original medical degree to the MCC council. Please note that any document sent to the Canadian Medical Council is non-returnable and will not be returned in any case; please review the list of documents.
- Medical degree or diploma
- Medical course transcripts
- Internship
- Applicant’s postgraduate education
- Applicant’s specialty course certificate
- Personal medical license
If you want to know whether your medical degree is recognized in Canada, you must refer to this council and enter the country where you obtained your degree on the MCC website. If your university is among the institutions recognized by the MCC, you can equivalate your medical degree in Canada.
Steps for Medical Degree Equivalency in Canada
The process of Medical Degree Equivalency in Canada involves several steps. First, applicants must register for a degree assessment, which takes about 14 days. Once approved, the confirmation appears in the personal account, and the final letter is received within two months. However, obtaining this ECA does not grant the right to work as a doctor in Canada. To practice medicine, additional training and internships are required, followed by passing special equivalency exams, which will be explained later in this article.
Equivalency Exams for Medical Degrees in Canada
The most important part of immigrating doctors to Canada and the equivalency of medical degrees is passing the equivalency exams, which will be explained further in this section.
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MCCQE Exam
To practice medicine in Canada, international medical graduates must pass the MCCQE exam. Part 1 is computer-based and held in over 500 global centers. Applicants must first create an account and verify their degree through Source Verification Request (SVR), which costs CAD 175, plus CAD 140 per translated page. A CAD 57 cancellation fee applies.
After passing Part 1, candidates must complete advanced clinical training before attempting Part 2, conducted only in Canada. This stage includes 10 clinical scenarios, and successful applicants receive official certification from the Medical Council of Canada (MCC).
| Description | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| SVR Request and Verification Fee | 175 CAD |
| Translation Fee per Document Page | 140 CAD |
| Request Cancellation Fee | 57 CAD |
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NAC Exam
The NAC Exam (National Assessment Collaboration) is a clinical OSCE required for international medical graduates in Canada. It includes real-life scenarios with tasks like patient history-taking, diagnosis, and physical exams. Each station lasts 11 minutes with two 2-minute breaks, simulating cases in pediatrics, women’s health, general medicine, and more.
The exam costs CAD 2,885, is conducted in English, and takes place in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, and Winnipeg. It’s a key step for practicing medicine in Canada.
Internship for Equivalency of Medical Degrees in Canada
One of the steps in the equivalency of medical degrees in Canada is participating in internship programs. An applicant can obtain certification from these courses only after successfully completing clinical training and internship. These courses are considered practical and clinical training and evaluate the individual’s abilities in their specific specialty. The internship certificate has the following specifications:
- The start and end dates of the internship are mentioned on this certificate.
- The status of shifts, as well as the duration of attendance in each one, is also specified.
- The certificate must be on the letterhead of the university, college, or related institute; otherwise, it will be invalid.
- Finally, it must be signed by the responsible person who organized the internship program.
Cost of Medical Degree Equivalency in Canada
The cost of equivalency of medical degrees in Canada is very important for doctors interested in equivalating their degrees in this country. This process, in addition to the main costs, has additional costs as well, such as translation costs of documents and more. Overall, the costs of equivalency of medical degrees in Canada are as follows:
- CAD$290 to create an account and join the portal
- CAD$170 to apply for SVR
- CAD$108 to apply for ECA medical documents
- Ancillary costs such as sending documents and mailing them.
Organizations for Medical Degree Equivalency for Canada
For evaluating medical degrees in Canada, there are several organizations responsible for this task. If you want to enter Canada through the Express Entry system, credential evaluation of your educational degree is mandatory. However, keep in mind that ECA may assist you during job searching but does not guarantee job placement in Canada. Below is a list of organizations for evaluating medical degrees in Canada:
- Comparative Education Service: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
- World Education Services
- International Qualifications Assessment Service
- International Credential Evaluation Service
Documents Required for Medical Degree Equivalency in Canada
The necessary documents for the equivalency of medical degrees in Canada are:
- A copy of the medical degree (the name of the university must be listed along with the address on the medical degree)
- Academic transcripts
- You must have an account in the application section; membership in this account will incur costs that must be paid by a credit card in Canadian dollars.
- Then, you need to select the Request Credit Inquiry option, enter the required information and submit the application. Here, too, a fee will be charged for verifying your information.
All documents—including notarized pages, passport, and ID—must be sent to MCC for review. They are then forwarded to ECFMG for verification, which takes 14–21 days unless your institution uses ECFMG’s electronic system, reducing processing to one day. Once your institution sends the SVR, your status updates to Credit Inquiry Approval. You can then apply for Medical Degree Equivalency in Canada (ECA) through MCC’s system and receive your evaluation report within a week.
Residency in Canada for Medical Degree Equivalency
Applicants who intend to equivalate their medical degree in Canada can reside in Canada after initial approval and passing the equivalency exams and can start working. This residency can eventually convert into permanent residency and, after several years, lead to Canadian citizenship and nationality.
Job Opportunities for Doctors in Canada After Equivalency
Job opportunities for doctors in Canada after equivalency include;
- Allergist
- Audiologist
- Behavioral Health Specialist
- Dentist
- Nutritionist
- Nurse
- General Practitioner
- Urologist
- Psychiatrist
- Orthodontist
All doctors need to have their degree equivalated to work in the medical field in Canada, passing this process is an essential requirement for anyone who wants to work legally in Canada. The validity of ECA in Canada is 5 years, and to extend it, only passing a language test is necessary.
Income of Doctors in Canada After Equivalency
In the table below, you can see the income of doctors in Canada after the equivalency of their degrees. Doctors who successfully complete the equivalency process of their medical degrees in Canada will have a significant income, as shown in the table below, which outlines the annual income levels of doctors in Canada:
| Profession | Annual Salary (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Allergy Specialist | 222,000 |
| Audiologist | 216,000 |
| Behavioral Health Specialist | 140,000 |
| Dentist | 274,000 |
| Nutrition Specialist | 242,000 |
| Nurse | 98,100 |
| General Practitioner | 287,000 |
| Urologist | 408,000 |
| Psychiatrist | 306,000 |
| Orthodontist | 355,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Degree Equivalency in Canada
- What is the average annual income of doctors in Canada?
The annual income of doctors in Canada ranges between CAD 140,000 to CAD 355,000.
- How long is the validity of the ECA in Canada?
According to the official announcement from the MCC Canada website, the validity of the ECA is up to 5 years.
How are the costs of degree equivalency in Canada structured?
Overall, the costs of the medical degree equivalency process in Canada are CAD 290 for creating the applicant’s user account, CAD 170 for the SVR request from the applicant, and CAD 108 for the necessary ECA request, totaling CAD 568. Furthermore, there are additional costs such as document translation and postal costs.
- What documents are required for the equivalency of medical degrees in Canada?
Generally, the required documents include academic documents such as the medical degree, academic transcripts, identity documents, work resume, and the applicant’s language certificate.
Conclusion:
This article explains the Medical Degree Equivalency in Canada, detailing the necessary steps and requirements for doctors. Canada welcomes immigrant doctors for work and study, but applicants must have their degrees evaluated and approved by official organizations. They then need to pass the MCCQE and NAC exams and complete internships to obtain a 5-year work permit. To extend residency, only a language test is required.
