Statements of Need for Postgraduate Training in the United States - Medical graduates not currently enrolled in Canadian postgraduate training and not licensed specialists in Canada [Category B].

Table of Contents

• Who is eligible?
• Which training programs are eligible?
• Which specialties are needed in Canada?
• How do I plan my training to ensure that I can get a full medical license in Canada?
• 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 change my specialty, change my location or undertake additional training?

Who is eligible?

Candidates in this category are medical graduates not currently enrolled in Canadian postgraduate medical training and not already fully licensed to practice medicine in a specialty in a Canadian province or territory. This category includes final year students and graduates of medical schools that are not accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) or the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

To be eligible the candidate must be:

• a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident in Canada
  
  and
• a final year medical student or graduate not currently enrolled in Canadian postgraduate medical training and not already fully licensed to practice medicine in Canada.

Applicants in this category will be pursuing medical specialty training that will enable them to obtain:

• a specialty certificate from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), and
• a full licence to practice medicine in a specialty in a province or territory in Canada.

Which training programs are eligible?

Accreditation and RCPSC Recognition

Programs in RCPSC-recognized specialties and subspecialties which are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) are eligible to receive a Statement of Need.  These programs would be recognized by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada towards certification in the specialty and subspecialty.  Programs in related disciplines, which are not ACGME-accredited, may be considered once RCPSC specialty training requirements (STRs) have been met. 

Combined Specialty Programs in the United States

There are some combined specialty programs in the United States that train the physician in two specialties. These combined programs are not eligible to receive a Statement of Need because they are not recognized in Canada by the RCPSC and they are not accredited by the ACGME. In addition, although there are some combined programs in internal medicine/ pediatrics, which are listed on the ACGME website as being accredited, the RCPSC does not recognize them. Graduates of these combined programs are not eligible for licensure in Canada.

Preliminary Year and Transitional Year

If the applicant has obtained a one-year position in a Preliminary Year or Transitional Year, Health Canada will issue a Statement of Need for one year. The applicant is expected to obtain a categorical residency position commencing the following year and apply for a new Statement of Need. If the medical graduate obtains both a Preliminary Year and a residency program, the Statement of Need will be issued for both the one year program and the residency program.

Length of training programs

Some residency training programs in the United States are shorter in length by one or two years than the Canadian residency training program, and therefore they do not fully meet the Objectives of Training and Specialty Training Requirements of the RCPSC. It is important that applicants be aware of this difference and plan their training accordingly and address this issue in their Action Plan (see  item #6 in What documents do I need to submit? below).

Conditions

Physicians' practice in a province or territory will be subject to obtaining certification from the RCPSC and specialty licensure from the provincial or territorial licensing body according to the requirements in place at the time of application for a medical licence. Physicians returning to Canada after residency training will be subject to any physician resource management policies in existence at the time of their return to Canada.

Applicants who are residents of Ontario and British Columbia, who plan to seek registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario/British Columbia respectively, may use one of several alternate pathways and / or registration policies in their action plans.

Residence in a Province or Territory

The permanent residence is the province where the applicant is living at the time of their initial Statement of Need application or was living before leaving Canada to attend medical school.

Which specialties are needed in Canada?

List of Needed Specialties

The List of Needed Specialties is determined by provincial and territorial ministries or departments of health based on needs in their respective jurisdictions. List of contacts within Provincial and Territorial Ministries / Departments of Health. The List is revised annually and is available to applicants in this category upon request. If you wish to obtain more information about the List of Needed Specialties, contact the Program Administrator using the following email address:j1visa@hc-sc.gc.ca .

Endorsement

All applicants in this category must complete a Request for Endorsement form and submit it to the Program Administrator (Health Canada) to request formal written endorsement of the specialty training that they wish to pursue in the U.S. from a province or provinces (see item #4 in What documents do I need to submit? below). The specialty for which endorsement is being requested MUST appear on the current year's List of Needed Specialties.

Residents of Quebec who intend to practice in Quebec must contact the Quebec ministry of health representative before submitting their application under this category to Health Canada.

How do I plan my training to ensure that I can get a full medical license in Canada?

As part of the requirements for obtaining a Statement of Need, medical graduates who wish to pursue medical specialty residency training in the United States must submit to Health Canada an Action Plan (see item #6 in What documents do I need to submit? below) that will outline how they intend to:

• ensure they obtain RCPSC certification and full / independent licensure so they can practice medicine in Canada. RCPSC certification is a standard requirement for licensure in Canada.
• ensure they obtain the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), issued upon completion of all MCC examinations. The LMCC is a standard requirement for licensure in Canada.

The Action Plan should clearly lay out a time table for all medical examinations that are required for licensure in the province or territory to which they will be returning for medical practice.

Notes:

Applicants who are residents of Ontario or British Columbia, who plan to seek registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, may use one of several alternate pathways or registration policies in their action plans. 

Information on physician registration in British Columbia can be found at the  College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia and in Ontario at the  College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. 

Applicants from Ontario and British Columbia must register with HealthForceOntario Marketing and Recruitment Agency or HealthMatchBC before accessing help with their Action Plans.

For additional information about the above certification and licensure requirements, applicants should contact the RCPSC and the appropriate licensing authority.

Additional information and direction on preparing an Action Plan

Essential Resources on Medical Licensure and Specialty Certification in Canada

Links to Provincial and Territorial Government Websites

When do I submit my application?

Residencies: Applications for Statements of Need for residency programs that commence in July will be processed after the results of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) in March and the San Francisco Matching Program (SFMatch) in January, or once the physician has received an out-of-match letter of offer or a contract from a U.S. medical training program.

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

Fellowships: Applications for a Statement of Need in support of fellowship programs that commence in July/August will be processed starting in January of each year. 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 in this category (medical graduates not currently enrolled in Canadian postgraduate medical training and not already fully licensed to practice medicine in Canada) 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 B: Unlicensed Medical Graduate)
• Print the pdf 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 proof¹ 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. A) Medical Degree Equivalence: Medical Council of Canada Examination Documentation

Graduates and final year medical students of international medical schools must provide one of the following documents.

1. A certified copy* of a document from the Medical Council of Canada confirming a passing mark in the Evaluating Examination.
   
   or
2. A certified copy* of a document from the Medical Council of Canada confirming a passing mark in the Qualifying Examination Part I.
   
   or
3. A certified copy* of a document from the Medical Council of Canada confirming registration as a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada.

3. B) Medical Degree (United States):

Graduates and final year medical students of LCME-accredited medical schools in the United States must provide one of the following documents.

1. A certified copy^* of the MD diploma, or
2. an original letter from the U.S. medical school registrar confirming upcoming graduation.

The minimum examination requirement to obtain a Statement of Need for graduates of medical schools which are not accredited by the Committee on Accreditation on Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) or the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCC EE). There are no exceptions.

A passing score in the Qualifying Examination Part I is recommended because the examination "...assesses the competence of candidates who have obtained the medical degree, for entry into supervised clinical practice in postgraduate training programs, with respect to their knowledge, clinical skills and attitudes as outlined by the MCC objectives." [Medical Council of Canada: Qualifying Exam Part I.]

4. Request for Endorsement form

Complete a Request for Endorsement form for written endorsement of the specialty training that you wish to pursue in the U.S. from a province or provinces. (except Quebec).

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

Note: The medical specialty must appear in the current List of Needed Specialties. ² The list is generated annually in January and is provided to applicants upon request. For more information about the List of Needed Specialties, please contact the Program Administrator using the following email address: j1visa@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Note:  Residents of Quebec who intend to practice in Quebec must contact the Quebec ministry of health representative to obtain a letter of endorsement. 

5.  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:

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

6. Action Plan - Standard Canadian Medical License³

Provide a practicable Action Plan that outlines how you intend to:

• obtain certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) in your specialty, and
• obtain the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) by the end of your third postgraduate year, and
• be practice-ready at the end of your final postgraduate year in the United States.

Notes:

Applicants who are residents of Ontario or British Columbia, who plan to seek registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, may use one of several alternate pathways or registration policies in their action plans. 

Information on physician registration in British Columbia can be found at the  College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia and in Ontario at the  College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. 

Applicants from Ontario and British Columbia must register with HealthForceOntario Marketing and Recruitment Agency or HealthMatchBC before accessing help with their Action Plans.

Note for future reference: Extensions of Statements of Need will be subject to the physician's meeting the original Action Plan for certification and licensure that was submitted in the initial application.

Additional information and direction on preparing an Action Plan.

Essential Resources on Medical Licensure and Specialty Certification in Canada

Information and links to Provincial and Territorial Government Websites

7. RCPSC Letter of Recognition of U.S. Training (for medical specialty training programs of two years or more)

For medical specialty training programs of two years or more in duration, applicants need to provide a letter from the RCPSC indicating that the clinical training program in the United States would be recognized in full or in part to the extent that the content of training satisfies the College's training requirements.

Requests to the RCPSC must include a copy of the residency training contract with the U.S. Program and the name of the program director and may be submitted by email or facsimile. The RCPSC charges a fee of $135 CDN for the letter of recognition; this fee is subject to change without notice.

Email:  credentials@rcpsc.edu (include "J-1 Visa Letter" in the subject line)

Fax: (613) 730-3707 (include "J-1 Visa Letter with your request)

Note: The RCPSC letter of recognition of US training is always delivered by email to both you and the Program Administrator at Health Canada in approximately five working days.

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

Provide a copy of one of the following:

• A letter of offer for a residency training program 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 residency training program 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 residency training program in the United States.

9. 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.

10. Evidence of provincial residence

Residents of all provinces and territories must provide two documents.

1. A photocopy of your current provincial Driver's Licence, and
2. A photocopy of a government-issued document that bears your name and principal and permanent address

Please note the following important additional instructions.

Ontario residents:  The Ontario Driver's Licence must have been issued at least three months before the date of application for a Statement of Need.  The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care reserves the right to request additional information for verification of Ontario residence, if necessary.

Ontario and British Columbia residents:  The second item must be chosen from the following list of acceptable documents that display your name and current principal and permanent address in Ontario or British Columbia.  If you do not operate any type of vehicle, you must provide two documents from the list of acceptable documents.

Other provinces and territories:  If you do not operate any type of vehicle, you must  submit two documents that display your name and current principal permanent residence, but the documents are not limited to the list of documents mentioned above.

11. 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

¹ Within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, (2001) [replaces the Immigration Act, 1984], and the Citizenship Act ( R.S. 1985, c. C-29), including any subsequent amendments to the Acts or Regulations. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and Regulations. Act: ss. 27, 28, 31, 46, 148(1)(a), and s. 175. Regs: ss. 53-62, 259(a) and (f) and 365(3).

² The List of Needed Specialties is revised annually and will be available at the beginning of each year. The information contained in the list is not a statement of policy nor an illustration of all physician resource needs in any province or territory.

³ Applicants who are confirmed residents of Ontario or British Columbia may consider using one of several registration policies and pathways in their action plans; this has been authorized by the Ontario and British Columbia health ministries. Information on physician registration in British Columbia can be found at the  College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia and in Ontario at the  College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. 

^* Please contact one of the following professionals to notarize / certify your documents:

• Notary Public
• Lawyer, Attorney-at-Law
• Commissioner of Oaths
• Designated official at a Canadian Embassy or Consulate or a designated official at an American or British Embassy or Consulate or High Commission
• Medical Doctor or Dentist currently licenced in Canada
• Police officer (municipal, provincial, or federal (RCMP)
• Canadian Justice of the Peace, Judge, Magistrate or Mayor
• Professional accountant who is a member of the Association of Practicing Accountants (APA) (United Kingdom); or one of the following professionals:  Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified General Accountant (CGA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Public Accountant (PA), Registered Public Accountant (RPA)
• Member of Parliament (MP); Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) (Ontario); Member of National Assembly (MNA) (Quebec); Member of House of Assembly (MHA) (Newfoundland & Labrador); Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) (all other provinces and territories)
• Funeral director
• Pharmacist
• Veterinarian
• Professional Engineer
• Manager of a Canadian financial institution or bank
• Municipal Clerk at a City Hall in Canada
• Minister of religion
• Postmaster
• Social Worker: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Social Work (MSW), Doctorate of Social Work (DSW)

This person cannot be a family member.  This person must see the original document, make a photocopy of the original document, compare the original document to the photocopy, and must print the following on the photocopy: “I certify this to be a true copy of the original document”. This person must write on the photocopy the name of the original document, the date of certification, his or her name, and his or her official position or title.  This person must also sign the photocopy.  Applicants should not sign anywhere on the photocopy of the document.

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, change location or undertake additional training?

Change of Specialty

If you wish to make a change of specialty you must submit a new Statement of Need application with all the required documentation. See the What documents do I need to submit? section above.

Change of Location

Application requirements if you wish to change the location of your training program.

Additional Training (Extension)

Extensions of Statements of Need are also subject to the physician's meeting the original Action Plan for certification and licensure that was submitted in the initial application.

Applications for extensions are subject to the List of Needed Specialties (and sub-specialties) that is generated each year. Current recipients of a Statement of Need are advised to review the requirements for extensions as there are some conditions that will apply to them in the future if they intend to pursue additional specialty training in the United States. If you wish to obtain more information about the List of Needed Specialties, please contact the Program Administrator.

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