Where Can You Practice with a UK medicine degree? ( Canada )
Thinking of practicing in Canada after graduating in the UK? Start here—your concise roadmap to exams, training, and licensing in Canada.
Canada’s licensing process for international graduates is complex and varies by province. Canadian citizens or permanent residents who studied medicine abroad (including in the UK) are considered IMGs in Canada.
There are 2 main Pathways:
For Graduates who completed postgraduate training (residency) in the UK:
Canada recognizes the UK as an approved jurisdiction for medical training. This means if you are a fully trained doctor (e.g. completed a residency or GP training in the UK), you may not need to redo full training in Canada. Typically, such doctors pursue direct licensure:
1. Licensing Exams:
You generally must pass the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE Part I) – a written general medical exam. Some provinces are now waiving the MCCQE1 for certain countries or specific fields, but in most cases having MCCQE1 is expected. (Note: As of 2025, provinces like Ontario, BC, and Manitoba no longer require the MCCQE1 for some practitioners, whereas others like Alberta still do for general licensure.)
2. Credential Verification:
You must get your UK credentials verified through the PhysiciansApply/MCC system.
3. Apply to Provincial College:
Each province’s College of Physicians will evaluate your training. Since the UK is an approved jurisdiction, a UK-trained specialist or family doctor can often get a provisional license (supervised practice) or even full license after an assessment, rather than repeating residency. You may need to obtain a “certificate of qualification” from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or College of Family Physicians of Canada, which usually involves an assessment of your training and possibly an exam or interview.
4. Practice Readiness:
In some cases, provinces require a short “practice-ready assessment” period. For example, a UK-trained family physician might do a supervised 12-week assessment in a Canadian setting before independent practice (often tied to a return-of-service in underserved areas).
5. Licensure and Immigration:
You can either immigrate as a permanent resident (required to apply for residency training, but not always required for licensure if you’re fully trained), or be sponsored on a work visa by an employer (some provinces allow hospital sponsorship for physicians in needed specialties). Canada has been opening pathways to quickly license doctors from countries like the UK to fill shortages, especially in family medicine.
For New medical graduate (no residency completed):
In this case, you generally need to undergo Canadian residency training in order to practice:
1. Exams for Residency Applications:
You will need to pass the MCCQE Part I and often the NAC OSCE (a clinical exam) to be eligible for the residency match (CaRMS) as an IMG. A competitive score on these exams is important for matching.
2. Residency (CaRMS Match):
Only Canadian citizens or permanent residents can enter the main CaRMS residency match. As an IMG, you would apply for the limited IMG-designated spots in the provincial matches. The process is highly competitive – IMGs face an uphill battle, although a notable percentage (around 30%) do match, and UK graduates in particular have had relatively higher success in some cycles. If matched, you will undergo the residency training (2-5 years) in Canada.
3. Licensure:
After completing a Canadian residency and passing the Canadian certification exams, you become fully licensed. Some provinces may also allow an “alternative pathway” where you do a Practice-Ready Assessment program after doing an internship or partial training abroad, as mentioned above, but for a fresh graduate, doing a residency in Canada is the more common route if you want to settle long-term.
FindU summary:
Canada recognizes UK medical education highly, but to practice as a new doctor you will likely need to complete training in the UK first. Licensing is handled provincially, so requirements differ by province. For example, some provinces exempt UK graduates from certain exams or training if they’re fully qualified GPs or specialists. It’s important to research the specific province you aim to work in. Canadian healthcare regulators are actively adjusting rules to streamline foreign licensing due to doctor shortages, so by the time you graduate these pathways may be even more accommodating for UK graduates.