The Government of Ontario recognizes the valuable contribution that qualified International Medical Graduates (IMGs) make to our health care system. Initiatives that enable more IMGs to practice in Ontario benefit all of us.

Ontario leads the country in number of positions available and support for International Medical Graduates. The province continues to offer 200 training and assessment positions annually for IMGs, which is more than all the other provinces combined.

This year, the process to apply for these positions has been further simplified. Depending on the level of position IMGs wish to apply for, they have two options :

IMGs apply directly for entry-level post graduate training positions, dedicated for IMGs, through the matching service administered by the Canadian Residency Matching Services (CaRMS). All IMGs who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and meet the CaRMS application criteria can apply.

IMGs interested in entry-level positions can also utilize the services of the Centre for the Evaluation of Health Professionals Educated Abroad (CEHPEA), an organization dedicated to providing evaluation and orientation services for IMGs. CEHPEA will provide optional evaluation services for IMGs applying to the entry-level to help them strengthen their portfolio and be more competitive in the CaRMS match.

IMGs qualifying for this level of training are required to complete a full residency (2 years for family medicine and five years for specialty practice) to meet the registration requirements to practice in the province.

Advanced level training refers to the second year or more advanced years of postgraduate training in a specialty area. IMGs entering at this level have been assessed as requiring between 1 and 4 years of training in order to meet the registration requirement to practice in Ontario.

Practice Ready Assessment allows physicians with previous practice experience to undergo a six month assessment in a supervised clinical setting to determine their need for further training or to confirm their readiness to enter directly into practice. Upon completion of the six-month assessment, if they are deemed practice ready, they may proceed to apply for registration to practice medicine in the province of Ontario.

IMGs interested in advanced level training and practice ready assessment positions must apply through CEHPEA.

CEHPEA can be reached at :

The Centre for the Evaluation of Health Professionals Education Abroad
80 Bloor Street West, 9^th Floor, Suite 902
Toronto, ON M5S 2V1
Tel : 416-924-8622
Fax : 416-924-8921
Hours of Operation : 9:30AM to 4:30PM Monday to Friday
E-mail : info@cehpea.ca
Web-site : www.cehpea.ca