Applicant Categories:

Below are the applicant profiles who may apply according to the process described on this page:

• International Medical graduates (not sponsored by contracts with McGill University): Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada, U.S Citizens, and Foreign Citizens can apply for a maximum of three years of training in Quebec.
• Graduates from U.S Medical Schools: U.S Citizens can apply for a maximum of three years of training in Québec

• Graduates of Canadian Medical Schools (Non-Québec)

RAMQ-funded extensions of training, formation complémentaire

Extensions of Training for Recruitment Purposes within Quebec (Formation Complémentaire).

Trainees being recruited by a university or non-university hospital may be considered to complete a RAMQ-remunerated formation complémentaire. The normal duration of an extension of training is 3 to 12 months, but can exceptionally be extended to a maximum of 2 years, with proper justification. A candidate who wishes to complete a second year of formation complémentaire has to submit a new request for the 2nd year.

For training at McGill University:

• Consult the list of Fellowship Programs available at McGill University.
• Apply via the McGill On-line Application Form.
• Application deadline is September 1.

Once files are complete, they will be sent to the programs for review and decision.

Formation complémentaire training cannot be done at the same institution where the candidate completed their residency training. If you are a resident registered at McGill University, please note that you must complete your formation complémentaire training at another Québec university network.

It is very important to note that as specified in the MSSS Formation complémentaire rules and process, the extension of training (formation complémentaire) should precede assumption of duties in the recruiting hospital and has to meet the requirements for:

• University recruitment: The candidate must have a firm PREM and approval from the university recruitment office.
• Non-University recruitment: The candidate must have a firm PREM and a letter from the DPS office recruiting.

A Formation Complémentaire Request Form must be completed for both university and non-university recruitment.

For university or non-university recruitment, the ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux) imperatively requires the confirmation of your PREM in the physician resource plan and the inclusion in your request of a recruitment confirmation letter from the Director of Professional Services (DPS) and a letter from the Chair of the Board of your recruiting hospital. Failing these conditions, the MSSS will reject your request. If your PREM is contingent on the retirement of a specific physician, a letter signed by this physician and confirming their effective departure date is also required.

Formation complémentaire requests have to be approved by the CVDFM (Conférence des vice-doyens des facultés de médecine du Québec) and the MSSS. The deadline for Formation Complémentaire requests is December 1, 2023. Decisions will be finalized by the CVDFM on December 11-12, 2022. If approved by the CVDFM, formation complémentaire requests should be sent to the MSSS by the end of December 2023. Decisions by MSSS should be sent to the trainees by March 2024.

Residents must give written notice to the relevant organizations (recruiting hospital, university where the training will take place and CVDFM) when leaving for their extension of training (formation complémentaire) and provide a proof of training upon their return. If significant changes are made to their extension of training projects, residents must inform the faculty of medicine where the training is taking place, the MSSS, other relevant organizations and, where appropriate, the faculty to which their recruiting hospital is affiliated. These changes must be approved by the MSSS and the other relevant organizations.

For more information, please contact Dolly Rabbath: pgfellows.med [at] mcgill.ca.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to AFC training programs must have satisfactorily completed residency training as well as either Royal College or Board Certification. Candidates must be deemed eligible to receive a training card by the Collège des Médecins du Québec.

Candidates must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be medical doctors who are graduates of medical schools listed in the Faimer Directory.
• Be physicians who are recognized as specialists in Canada or abroad. In order for a physician to be able to be considered for a program (post residency training) they must hold a specialty certificate from a Board or College.
• Hold proof of funding. Acceptable Scholarships must be granted by a non-profit source. This can be a government, a scientific or international organization, a University, Government Hospital, Faculty of Medicine. All other scholarships (for example, self-funding) will be refused. Unfunded training is not possible. The minimum acceptable amount is the equivalent of the R-1 salary (approximately $48,500 per year). Additionally, the scholarship must cover the tuition and student services fees. Some programs at McGill University may offer internal funding. The tuition rates are set by the university on a yearly basis, and based on students registered for the full 52 weeks.

Application Process:

All candidates applying for AFC programs must apply via the McGill On-line Application Form and pay the application fee $136.89 (The application fee is non-refundable and must be paid by credit card). Payment receipts will be sent by email and available on the Applicant Status Portal. You will be charged for only one submitted application. You will not be permitted to submit a second application until the payment is made. You will be unable to access your Application Status Portal until the Application fee has been paid.

If questions arise that are not answered on our website, we encourage you to contact us by email:

Applications: pgcoordinator.med [at] mcgill.ca

Candidates may apply for a maximum of two programs (one fee payment allows for two program selections). 

The Applicant Guide will help you successfully complete your application.

1- Create An Application and indicate your program of choice. Once all the information from the Review page has been provided, you may Finalize and Pay your application. The Applicant Status Portal will be accessible upon submission and payment of your application.

2- Access Applicant Status Portal and check regularly for updates on decisions, activities and required Application Checklist items (as they may take up to 30 minutes to appear). Multiple Applications will be accessible via the drop-down located in the upper –right of the Status Portal.

3- Submit the required supporting documents listed in the Application Checklist. Decisions cannot be made until we have received all of the required documents. Some required materials will be provided by your sponsor, program directors, UGME Office, Referees and/or PGME.

The PGME office can only consider files that are complete by the application deadline.

You may modify your personal information (addresses, email, password) on the Applicant Status Portal but you will not be able to change your application program selections or the name of the referees and their contact information once the application is submitted.

If you realize that there is a mistake on your application after you’ve submitted it, please contact pgmedoc [at] mcgill.ca, please do not submit a new application, we will make the necessary change.

Note:  The language of instruction at McGill University is English. Applicants may submit an application in French or English.

4- Track the status of your application on your Application Status Portal. It is the applicant's responsibility to check their application status on a regular basis, as there may be updates or requests for additional information that must be attended to promptly.

Required Documents:

You must provide us with an official translation of documents written in a language other than English or French, that is, a translation bearing the seal of an official translator. Separate translations must be attached to each corresponding document.

The following items may appear within the Application Checklist details depending on information provided within the application:

Upload in the Applicant Status Portal:

• Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• Personal Statement: This should clearly outline why you wish to apply to the program.
• Copy of your Proof of Citizenship: 
  • For non-Canadians: Please submit a copy of your passport.
  • For Canadians: Please submit a copy of your birth certificate, Canadian permanent residency card, or Canadian citizenship card.
• Copy of your Medical Degree
• Copy of your Specialty Certificate(s) issued by a Board or College.

NOTE: For applicants who are in their final year of training, or who have completed postgraduate training and are waiting to receive their specialty certificate, the PGME office may provisionally accept a proof of success for the Medical Council of Canada (MCCEE and/or MCCQE1 exams and/or the USMLE exams (steps 1 and 2) to satisfy this requirement. The specialty certificate must be submitted once it is issued.

NOTE: Candidates registered in residency programs in Canadian medical schools and/or U.S. medical schools and applying to AFC programs are exempt from this requirement.

Required materials to be provided by your sponsor, program directors, UGME Office, Referees and/or PGME (Do not upload or send to us directly). These materials will NOT be selectable in the material uploader, but WILL appear on your Application Checklist.

• Three reference letters, signed and on institutional letterhead. All reference letters are confidential and cannot be disclosed to candidates. The indicated referees will be notified by email of a reference letter request as soon as “Send to recommender” has been selected and  they will be able to upload the reference letter on the application. Indicated referees can be updated if they have not already provided a recommendation letter. Please email pgmedoc [at] mcgill.ca to update your referee information.
• Sponsorship letter, signed and on institutional letterhead: Proof of funding granted by a non-profit source, e.g. a government, scientific or international organization, hospital, university, or faculty of medicine. All other sources of funding (for example, self-funding) will be refused. Unfunded training is not possible. The letter must include:
  • Name of the applicant
  • Name and length of the program
  • Salary: The minimum acceptable salary is the equivalent of the R-1 salary (approximately $48,500 CAD per year).
  • Tuition and student fees
  • Contact name, full address, and phone number of the sponsor
• Attestation of residency training: The letter must be signed by the residency program director, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine or by the Chief Executive Officer of the institution where the training was conducted. The letter must describe:
  • The start and end dates of your residency
  • The rotations you have completed
  • Your overall performance in the program
  • Any leaves or absences

NOTE: Physicians who have completed or are completing their residency program in a Canadian or U.S. medical school DO NOT have to submit an Attestation of Residency Training. Instead, please provide the two required documents below:

• Evaluations of all previous postgraduate training (for physicians currently completing a residency program in a Canadian or U.S medical School only).
• Letter of Standing from your current program director (for physicians who have completed and/or physicians currently completing a residency program in a Canadian or U.S medical School). The letter must describe the rotations you have completed and your overall performance in the program by the end of your Residency, including mention of any leaves. Candidates who have started a residency program in a Canadian or a U.S Medical School and who withdrew from the program are also required to submit a letter of standing from the program director.

NOTE: You must register the name of your program director on your online application. The indicated program director will provide the evaluations/attestation/letter of standing of any previous postgraduate training. It is your responsibility to ensure that your program director submits the required documents by the application deadline, and to remind them as the deadline approaches. The indicated program director will be notified by email and will be able to upload the required documents on the Applicant Status Portal. The Program Director will only be notified once if you have indicated them for both applications.

Documents submitted to McGill University in support of an application, including, but not limited to, transcripts, diplomas, letters of reference and test scores (in paper or electronic format), become the property of McGill University and will not be returned to the applicant or forwarded to another institution.

After You Have Applied

1. The Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office sends the files of eligible applicants to the various department Program Directors for review (September). Program directors may then invite selected applicants for interviews.

2. Applicants should continue to check their Applicant Status Portal. All decisions are final.

3. If an application is successful, the PGME Office will issue an offer letter. Only offer letters emanating from the PGME Office are valid and binding.

• Should an applicant wish to accept the offer, they must upload their acceptance documents, and any other post-offer documents.
• Please note that International Medical Graduates who do not have Canadian citizenship or permanent residency must sign a written affidavit committing to return to their country of origin at the end of their residency training. 

4. Once post-offer documents are received, PGME will email applicants to provide details of the Letter of Eligibility application process:

• The applicant must open an account with the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) by going to physiciansapply.ca, and submit the required documents for source verification. Fees apply for every document verified, and applicants are responsible for paying these fees.
• The PGME office will send applicant files to the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ). The CMQ will then send the applicant an email inviting them to fill in a form giving them access to their Medical Council of Canada (MCC) documents. There is a fee for this application, which the applicant is responsible for paying.
• Once source verification is complete, the CMQ will issue the Letter of Eligibility and also send a copy to the PGME office.

For applicants who do not have Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residency:

5. The PGME office will send trainees instructions and the required supporting documentation to apply for a Work Permit. The Letter of Eligibility is a required document for the Work Permit application, and must be received before we can initiate the Work Permit application. Applicants cannot apply for the type of Work Permit required (LMIA-exempt) until the PGME office has initiated the application and sent them a unique identifying number. Applications submitted before receiving instructions and the required supporting documents will be denied, and will slow down the process. Trainees from certain countries may also need to apply for a Temporary Residence Visa.

6. After the Work Permit is received, trainee files will be passed over to the Registrations team. For more information on the Registration process, see To Do List: For New Trainees.

Extensions of training are not automatic and can be obtained for valid pedagogical reasons only, pending renewal of eligibility. Please contact your Program Director 12 months in advance to discuss an extension of training.