• What is the 2^nd iteration of the CaRMs Match?
• How do IMGs currently access residency positions in Ontario?
• What does providing access for IMGs through the 2^nd iteration of the CaRMs match mean?
• Ontario has never done this before. Why is the government changing the rules?
• Who is eligible for these positions?
• Are there any additional criteria?
• What is the FAIMER list?
• Which candidates have been "deemed acceptable" to postgraduate residency education programs in Ontario by IMG Ontario?
• Will Canadian citizens or permanent residents who studied abroad be able to access residency positions through this route?
• How many positions are available through this route?
• How many applications do you expect?
• How many IMGs do you expect to be successful in securing a residency position through this process?
• What is the five-year commitment for IMGs to provide service in an under-serviced community?
• The 2006 CaRMS process is already underway. Why is this announcement coming so late?
• I have missed the February 1, 2006, application milestone for the second iteration on the CaRMS website. Does this mean I cannot apply to participate in the second iteration?
• Will this disadvantage Canadian Medical Graduates?
• Does this new process undermine IMG Ontario?
• Last year, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care made positions remaining after the 2^nd iteration of the CaRMS match available to IMGs who were Canadian citizens and permanent residents studying in specific medical systems. Why not repeat that process?

What is the 2^nd iteration of the CaRMs Match?

Each year, approximately 2,000 Canadian medical school students participate in the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) match. CaRMS is the national organization that offers fair and equitable access to medical residency training in Canada. The match occurs in two rounds, called iterations, with the unmatched candidates from the first iteration entering the second iteration. Historically, Ontario has been the only province not to allow IMGs to compete in the second iteration of the CaRMS match.

How do IMGs currently access residency positions in Ontario?

Currently all IMGs, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are studying medicine abroad, who want to do postgraduate residency training in Ontario can only apply through the IMG Ontario program.

What does providing access for IMGs through the 2^nd iteration of the CaRMs match mean?

This year, not only will IMGs have access to positions through IMG Ontario, but they will also have access to residency positions that remain vacant after the first round of the annual residency match. This will provide even more opportunities for IMGs.

Ontario has never done this before. Why is the government changing the rules?

The Ministry's priority is to maximize the uptake of IMGs into available residency positions by reducing unnecessary barriers. In the past, IMGs have only been able to access the available assessment and residency training positions in Ontario through IMG Ontario. Despite efforts to increase the pool of eligible applicants, such as changes to the eligibility requirements to allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are studying medicine abroad to apply in their last year of medical school, the IMG Ontario application timelines resulted in unforeseen barriers leading to unfilled IMG positions. In addition, there are CaRMS positions that have also gone unfilled. Therefore, allowing IMGs access to CaRMS positions will meet the Ministry's goal to maximize uptake in residency positions and accommodate the different timelines that have prevented some IMGs from getting a residency position in Ontario.

Who is eligible for these positions?

The following applicants will be considered :

1. Canadian citizens/ permanent residents who are graduates of Canadian medical schools who remain unmatched after the first iteration or who are currently registered in postgraduate residency programs
2. Canadian citizens / permanent residents who have been assessed and deemed acceptable (see below) to postgraduate residency education programs in Ontario by IMG Ontario
3. Canadian citizens / permanent residents who have graduated from medical schools on the FAIMER list within the last three years and are eligible for registration by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). Graduates of programs in which English or French is not the language of instruction will be required to successfully complete an acceptable English or French language competency examination.

Are there any additional criteria?

Applicants must :

• meet the criteria for registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) for postgraduate education, http://www.cpso.on.ca/Info_physicians/info_phys.htm
• pass either the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination or Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (Part 1).

IMGs accepted into Family Medicine residency programs must complete a Pre-residency Program that will affect the start date for residency. Please visit http://www.imgo.ca/levels.html for more information.

What is the FAIMER list?

The Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) is developing a directory of international organizations that recognize, authorize, or certify medical schools and/or medical education programs. These organizations are often responsible for the establishment of national standards for medical education and the recognition of medical schools in their countries. Ontario's postgraduate medical programs recognize this list as a reliable resource to evaluate candidates for postgraduate training. The FAIMER list can be found at : http://www.ecfmg.org/faimer/orgs.html.

Which candidates have been "deemed acceptable" to postgraduate residency education programs in Ontario by IMG Ontario?

Candidates who passed the MCCQE1 and who were either assessed through the IMG Ontario Clinical Exam 1 (CE1) or through specialty specific written and clinical exams as PGY1 level-ready are acceptable. Candidates who are awaiting assessment for specialty positions through IMG Ontario will also be considered. Candidates who have already accepted a residency or assessment position through IMG Ontario are excluded.

Will Canadian citizens or permanent residents who studied abroad be able to access residency positions through this route?

Yes, all IMGs, including Canadians or permanent residents who studied abroad who meet the eligibility requirements will be able to access residency positions through this route.

How many positions are available through this route?

The number of positions offered in the second iteration of CaRMS will not be known until the end of the match day for the first iteration, which will take place on February 22, 2006. After this date, the number of available positions will be made available on the CaRMS website. Last year, Ontario offered 39 positions across 7 specialties in the 2^nd iteration of the match.

How many applications do you expect?

There may be as many as 500 applications from International Medical Graduates in addition to applications from Canadian Medical Graduates who did not match in the first round match. Individuals participating in this opportunity should expect it to be very competitive.

How many IMGs do you expect to be successful in securing a residency position through this process?

We expect this will provide an additional avenue to practice for many IMGs. Right now, the Ministry is focused on ensuring that all eligible IMGs receive timely notification about this opportunity in order to maximize uptake into the available positions.

What is the five-year commitment for IMGs to provide service in an under-serviced community?

In Ontario, all IMGs who receive a specialty or family medicine training or assessment position are required to return service in an underserviced community, as chosen by the IMG and acceptable to the Ministry, for a period of five years. These return of service (ROS) conditions are part of a package of government initiatives designed to attract physicians to Ontario's under-serviced areas. The communities that are eligible as ROS locations are those listed on the Ministry's List of Areas Designated as Under-serviced (LADAU).

The 2006 CaRMS process is already underway. Why is this announcement coming so late?

The Ministry has worked closely with Ontario's medical schools to provide this opportunity to increase access to residency positions for IMGs. CaRMS has assured the ministry that they will be as flexible as possible to ensure that applicants have ample time to submit applications and supporting documentation for the second iteration match. Applicants who have previously applied through IMG Ontario can arrange to have their documentation transferred to CaRMS to save time. All parties are committed to assisting IMGs to take advantage of this new opportunity.

I have missed the February 1, 2006, application milestone for the second iteration on the CaRMS website. Does this mean I cannot apply to participate in the second iteration?

CaRMs has assured the ministry that they will be as flexible as possible to ensure that applicants have ample time to submit applications and supporting documentation for the second iteration match. Applicants who have previously applied through IMG Ontario can arrange to have their documentation transferred to CaRMS to save time. All parties are committed to assisting IMGs to take advantage of this new opportunity.

Will this disadvantage Canadian Medical Graduates?

No, the Ministry will continue to guarantee that there are at least as many available residency positions for Canadian Medical School Graduates as there are graduates from Ontario medical schools.

Does this new process undermine IMG Ontario?

The government's priority is ensuring maximum uptake of IMGs into available training positions. This process is not meant to undermine IMG Ontario and the selection of candidates into the 200 available residency and training positions. This is an additional avenue for IMGs. IMG Ontario remains as the primary route to assessment and training positions for IMGs.

Last year, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care made positions remaining after the 2^nd iteration of the CaRMS match available to IMGs who were Canadian citizens and permanent residents studying in specific medical systems. Why not repeat that process?

The Spring 2005 process was a one-time initiative to address barriers to accessing residency training that were identified for some IMGs. The ministry is aware that this approach did not address all barriers. As part of its efforts to continue to reduce barriers, the ministry has taken the approach of providing broader access in the second iteration of the CaRMs match, with the aim of increasing opportunities for IMGs.

February 2, 2006