Health Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada
Health Care System

Statements of Need for Postgraduate Training in the United States - Description of Applicant Categories

Category A

Medical graduate currently enrolled in a Canadian specialty residency training program who wishes to pursue a fellowship

This category comprises medical graduates currently enrolled in a Canadian medical specialty residency training program and who 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.

Category A applicants must obtain a letter of endorsement from a Canadian provincial or territorial Ministry of Health or equivalent. The letter must state that there is a need for qualified practitioners in the proposed medical specialty and that the training is consistent with the province's or territory's physician resource plan.

Category A - FYMS

Final-year medical student currently enrolled in a medical school in Ontario, British Columbia or Quebec who wishes to pursue medical specialty training in the U.S.

This category comprises final-year medical students currently enrolled in a Canadian medical school in Ontario, British Columbia or Quebec who will be pursuing postgraduate medical residency training in a RCPSC-recognized specialty in the United States.

Category A/FYMS applicants must obtain a letter of endorsement from a Canadian provincial or territorial Ministry of Health or equivalent. The letter must state that there is a need for qualified practitioners in the proposed medical specialty and that the training is consistent with the province's or territory's physician resource plan.

Category A - ST

Medical graduate currently enrolled in a Canadian specialty residency training program who wishes to pursue a Short-Term Rotation or Elective training program (less than 6 months) in the same specialty.

This category comprises physicians currently enrolled in a Canadian postgraduate medical residency training (specialty) program who will be pursuing a Short-Term Rotation or Elective training program in the same specialty.

If you are currently enrolled in a Canadian postgraduate medical residency training (specialty) program and you will be undertaking postgraduate medical training that is part of your residency training, and which is a rotation or an elective of short term duration (less that six months), please refer to the Category A ST list of required documents.

Category B

Medical graduate not currently enrolled in Canadian postgraduate training and not a licensed specialist in Canada who wishes to pursue medical specialty training in the U.S.

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

Category C

Licensed physician who wishes to pursue a fellowship in the U.S. within his/her current field of practice.

Licensed physician who wishes to pursue medical specialty training in the U.S. different from his/her current field of practice.

This category comprises physicians already fully licensed to practise medicine in a medical specialty in a Canadian province or territory and already certified in a medical specialty by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the Collège des Médecins du Québec or certified in Family Medicine by the College of Family Physicians.