Statements of Need for Postgraduate Training in the United States - Medical graduates currently enrolled in a Canadian specialty residency training program who wish to pursue a fellowship [Category A].

Table of Contents

• Who is eligible?
• Which training programs are eligible?
• When do I submit my application?
• How long will my application take to process?
• What documents do I need to submit?
• Where do I submit my application?
• I already have a Statement of Need - what do I do if I wish to undertake additional training?

Who is eligible?

Physicians in this category are currently enrolled in a Canadian medical specialty residency training program and are nearing completion of the residency. These applicants will be undertaking postgraduate medical specialty training - in a fellowship or sub-specialty - which is already included in provincial or territorial physician resource plans.

To be eligible the candidate must be:

a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident in Canada

and

currently enrolled in a Canadian postgraduate medical residency program.

Which training programs are eligible?

Eligible training programs in a fellowship or sub-specialty are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Advanced training programs in a sub-specialty discipline (professional development) are either ACGME accredited or otherwise recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) as professional development in the specialty ("ECFMG Non-Standard Training").

When do I submit my application?

Fellowships: Applications for a Statement of Need in support of fellowship or sub- specialty programs that commence in July/August will be processed starting in January of each year.

Extensions: Requests for extensions of Statements of Need should be submitted no less than two months before expiry of the Statement of Need. See the I already have a Statement of Need section below for more information.

How long will my application take to process?

Please allow 30 working days to process an application and issue the Statement of Need. The Statement of Need, bearing the seal of the Canadian Federal Department of Health, is delivered directly to the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). A copy of the signed Statement of Need is sent by Canada Post to the applicant.

What documents do I need to submit?

Below is the list of documents that applicants enrolled in a specialty residency program must submit in order to apply for a Statement of Need:

1. Application Form

Provide a signed application form.

Application Form for a Statement of Need (Category A)

Print the form and fill it in, then submit it by mail, email, courier or fax to the Program Administrator (Health Canada).

2. Proof of Canadian Citizenship/Permanent Residency

Provide proof ¹ of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency by submitting a certified copy^* of one of the following documents:

• Canadian citizenship card
• Canadian Passport
• Record of birth
• Permanent Resident Card

3. Dean's Letter of Support

Provide a letter of support from a Dean (or Assistant/Associate Dean) of Postgraduate Medical Education.

Procedure: Contact the  Postgraduate Medical Education Office (PME) and request a letter in support of the proposed training, signed by the Dean or Associate Dean of PME and addressed to the Provincial Health Ministry/Department. Send your request by e-mail with "Your Name, Statement of Need and J-1 Visa Request" in the subject line to the Postgraduate Medical Education Office, and include the following information:

• your name, address, phone number, e-mail
• your current residency/specialty program: what and when
• the location and type of the proposed fellowship/sub-specialty program
• proof of acceptance into a United States fellowship/sub-specialty training program, such as a copy of your contract or letter of offer
• the start and end dates of the fellowship/sub-specialty program

Upon approval of your request, the PME will send an e-mail to the Provincial Health Ministry/Department with the Dean's letter as an attachment (and a copy of your request, as decided by PME).

4. Provincial/Territorial Letter of Endorsement

Provide a letter of endorsement from a Canadian provincial or territorial Ministry of Health or equivalent stating that there is a need for qualified practitioners in the proposed medical specialty training, and that the training is consistent with the province's or territory's physician resource planning.

Procedure: Contact the Provincial Health Ministry / Department to request provincial endorsement of the proposed training. Send your request by e-mail with "Your Name, Statement of Need and J-1 Visa Request" in the subject line to the Provincial Health Ministry/Department noting that you have already requested a letter from the PME Dean, and include the following information:

• reasons for pursuing fellowship/sub-specialty training in the United States
• proof of acceptance into a United States fellowship/sub-specialty training program, such as a copy of your contract or letter of offer
• proof of permanent residence in the province, if required by your province

Upon approval of your request, the Provincial Health Ministry / Department will send an e-mail to Health Canada with two documents, namely the provincial letter of endorsement and the Dean's letter of support, as attachments (and a copy of your request, as decided by PME).

5. Letter of Offer/Training Contract/U.S. Match Webpage

Provide a copy of one of the following:

A letter of offer for a fellowship or a sub-specialty from the clinical training program in the United States. The letter must be on the institution's letterhead and should be accompanied by your signature of acceptance of the offer.

or

A training contract for a fellowship or a sub-specialty from the clinical training program in the United States. The training contract should bear your signature indicating you have accepted the offer.

or

The secure web page confirming you have matched to a clinical training program in the United States.

6. Curriculum Vitae

Provide your curriculum vitae in electronic format. Send by electronic mail to j1visa@hc-sc.gc.ca with "Your Name, CV" in the subject line.

7. Registration with HealthForceOntario Marketing and Recruitment Agency (HFO MRA) or Health Match BC (HMBC)

Ontario residents must complete the HFO MRA registration form and submit the form directly to HFO MRA before a Statement of Need will be issued.

 HFO MRA Registration Form (PDF)

BC residents must register with  Health Match BC.

New: Ontario and British Columbia residents are also required to provide a yearly update on their contact information at the end of each residency year. Yearly updates with HealthForceOntario Marketing and Recruitment Agency (HFO MRA) or Health Match BC (HMBC) will be important factors considered when physicians apply for future extensions of their Statements of Need.

Notes:

1. If you do not yet have a U.S. home address, please provide the training program address.
2. HFO MRA notifies the Program Administrator at Health Canada directly by email when the registration and update process is complete.

8. Optional: Consent to Disclosure of Personal Information form

Provide a signed original of the Consent to the Disclosure of Personal Information to Provincial and Territorial Governments for Recruitment Purposes (the Consent Form). By signing the Consent Form, the individual permits Canadian provincial and territorial health authorities to initiate the process of recruitment of an individual for employment in Canada after completion of their medical training in the United States.

The individual can sign the Consent Form at the time of application for a Statement of Need or at any time during their training in the United States. Physicians will be subject to any physician resource management policies in existence at the time of their return to Canada.

Notes

Where do I submit my application?

All the required documents listed above must be sent to the Program Administrator, Statement of Need Program, Health Human Resources Policy Division, Health Canada. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure all required documents are submitted.

With the exception of certified and notarized documents, all the required documents listed above can be submitted to Health Canada by fax, email, mail or courier.

Certified and notarized documents must be sent by mail or courier.

See below for electronic mail, regular mail, facsimile and courier addresses:

Regular Mail
Program Administrator
Statement of Need / J-1 Visa Program
Health Human Resources Policy Division
Health Canada
Jeanne Mance Building, Address Locator 1918C
200 Eglantine Driveway
Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9

By Courier
Program Administrator
Statement of Need / J-1 Visa Program
Health Canada
200 Eglantine Driveway
Jeanne Mance Building, Address Locator 1918C
Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
Telephone: (613) 952 1912

By Facsimile
Program Administrator
Statement of Need Program
Health Human Resources Policy Division
Facsimile: 613-948-8081

By Electronic Mail
j1visa@hc-sc.gc.ca
Subject: Application for Statement of Need, "Your Name"

If you have a question about the administration of your application, please contact the Program Administrator using the following email address: j1visa@hc-sc.gc.ca.

I already have a Statement of Need - what do I do if I wish to undertake additional training?

Application requirements if you wish to extend your Statement of Need in order to pursue additional training.