Statements of Need for Postgraduate Training in the United States - Final year medical students who were enrolled in a medical school in British Columbia, Ontario or Quebec [Category A FYMS] - Change in location of residency

Requirements for changing the location of a residency training program

Physicians who already have a Statement of Need and who wish to change the location of their residency training program (same specialty) must apply to Health Canada for a new Statement of Need. The physician shall remain in the same applicant category as in their initial Statement of Need application.

When do I submit my application?

Requests to change the location of a residency training program should be submitted after the results of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) or as soon as a letter of offer or a contract is received from the new clinical training program in the U.S., and no less than two months before the expiry of your current Statement of Need.

What documents do I need to submit?

Below is the list of documents that recipients of a Statement of Need in this category must submit in order to change the location of their residency training program:

1. Application Form

Provide a signed application form.

Application Form for a Statement of Need (Category A FYMS: Final Year Medical Student)

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

2. 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.

3. Provincial/Territorial Letter of Endorsement

Provide a new letter of endorsement from the Canadian provincial or territorial Ministry of Health or equivalent stating agreement to the change in location.

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

Provide a copy of one of the following:

A letter of offer for the residency training position from the new clinical training program in the United States. The letter should be on the institution's letterhead and should be accompanied by your signature of acceptance of the offer.

or

A letter of offer for the residency training position from the new 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

5. Optional: 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 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.

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

Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.

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.

7. Updated Action Plan¹

Provide an updated practicable Action Plan that outlines how you intend to:

• ensure you obtain RCPSC certification and full / independent licensure so you can practice medicine in Canada. RCPSC certification is a standard requirement for licensure in Canada.
• ensure you 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.

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.

• 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

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.