collageAre you exhausted from endless hours of searching on the internet for how long does it take to become a doctor canada and you haven’t gone anywhere in your search? Are you frustrated at having to put so much effort in trying to get how long is med school in canada but ending up with mediocre ones? Have you given up already on the search for how many years does it take to become a doctor in canada? Then get ready for this next surprising piece of information. So, if you are a student studying towards a successful career, your endless hours of search just ended. You just bumped into a website that offers you answer to your question regarding how many years is med school in canada and a whole lot more. What more could you ask for?
Admission to Medical University in Canada
The competition to enter a faculty of medicine in Canada is very keen so it is important that applicants ensure that they fully meet the entry requirements of each faculty of medicine to which they apply. The applicant’s high school certificate and eventually the type of pre-medical undergraduate degree and institution of study should not deter to apply to any medical school, provided that all academic prerequisites of a given university are met. Not only should applicants plan to meet all academic prerequisites, it is also important to respect all deadline dates. In general, an application or documentation is ignored when received after deadline dates. The incomplete application files are evaluated and rejected.
Medical course in Canada is 3 to 5 year program, depending on Universities and the background of each student. For 5 year medical study program in Canada, the first year is preparatory year and designed for those students without bachelor degree in appropriate science. To inter into 4 year medical program, the student must have bachelor degree in Biology or other appropriate field.
Even if Canada has 17 Medical universities offering medical programs (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, etc.) in English and French, Study medicine in Canada in remain one of the most competitive in the world. Only 15 % of Canadian pre-Med students gain admission into medical school in Canada. To achieve goals of become a doctor, most of Canadian students chose medicine abroad in Caribbean, in East Europe and elsewhere.
Most medical faculties required Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking and writing skills in addition to the examinee’s knowledge of science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine.
The test consists of four test sections: the Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences sections contain multiple-choice questions and the scores range from a low of 1 to a high of 15 for each section; the Writing Sample section consists of two essays and the total score ranges from a low of J to a high of T.
The computer-based test is given at established test centers in Canada, the United States and overseas. Visit the web-site for dates and locations. The overall length of the test day is approximately four and one-half hours. The regular examination fee was $270 in US funds for the 2013 test dates.
Study medicine abroad – Foregh medical students in Canada
International prospective medical students planning to get into Medical University in Canada must keep in mind that not all faculties of medicine accept applications from foreign students. Conversely, some faculties of medicine have contracts with foreign governments or institutions to accept applications for “supernumerary” positions. The conditions of admission may require that the faculty of medicine will be compensated for the entire cost of medical education, the student will not apply for post-MD (residency) training in Canada and these graduates will return to their countries of origin to practice medicine.
Study medicine abroad – Canadian medical student abroad
If for any reason an applicant decides to seek admission to a medical faculty outside Canada, some important factors must be borne in mind. The most important of these is that returning to practice medicine in Canada may prove difficult. This is not meant to deter individuals from seeking education in abroad. Some Canadian citizens have always gone abroad to study in recognized, reputable universities. Limitations on recognition of foreign earned MDs apply to qualifications earned abroad by citizens as well as by non-citizens of Canada. Strong motivation, determination and adequate academic preparation are in themselves no guarantee that a Canadian citizen who attends a foreign medical faculty will be able to train or practice medicine in Canada in the future.
To Practice in Canada as physician, graduate medical students must be assessed by Medical Council of Canada (MCC), which grant a qualification in medicine known as the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) to graduate physicians who have satisfied the eligibility requirements and passed the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Parts I and II. The MCC registers candidates who have been granted the LMCC in the Canadian Medical Register.
To be admitted to Medical Council of Canada (MCC) evaluation, as an international medical student (IMS) or as an international medical graduate (IMG) must be a student or have graduate from university listed in MCC database.
Please, check before applying to medical school abroad:
https://imed.faimer.org/
Admission To Medical School
- General Medicine: 4-(graduate) & 6-year program
- Veterinary Medicine: 6-year program
- Dentistry: 5 to 6-year program
- Pharmacy: 5 to 6-year program
- Nursing: 3 to 4-year program
- Physiotherapy: 3 to 4-year program
- Medical specialisation: 3 to 6-year program
- Etc.
Leading to qualifications approved by GMC, GDC, RCVS,
HCPC, NMC in UK and recognised in all over the world.
How to Become a Doctor in Canada
The medical profession is a lucrative and in-demand career in Canada. But it’s equally tasking too. There’s more to know about being a doctor than just medical school, and it’s important to consider the whole process. This process is a lengthy one that takes about ten years on average. Becoming a doctor in Canada generally involves four stages.
1. Have a University Degree
While medical school is an undergraduate program, medical schools usually require that you have a degree from an accredited university. The degree required is at least a Bachelors’s degree, and most medical schools prefer a degree in a science-related field. A bachelor of science degree isn’t always a necessity, but it’s a better option. It’s also more beneficial as it gives you a basic understanding of chemistry and biology. This will prove helpful for understanding medical theories. Each medical school has required courses, most of which are science courses. So, you should make sure you take these courses beforehand while in university.
2. Attend Medical School
Medical school is where you’ll start your basic medical education. There are 17 medical schools in Canada. In most cases, the student has to attend medical school in their province. But some don’t mind which province you’re from. So, you should know the requirements of the medical school before picking it. Most medical schools in Canada will require that you pass the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) before you get admission. The admission rate for Canadian medical schools is about 20% which means you need to have a very good GPA and credentials before getting admitted.
3. Sit for and Pass Licensing Exam
After four years of medical school, the next stage is the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE). This is an important exam and the most difficult one that medical students will take before becoming doctors. It’s a licensing exam that proves competency and knowledge. To improve your chances of passing this examination, it’s advisable to start preparing very early and study different methods.
4. Residency
The final step to becoming a doctor in Canada is residency. This comes after passing the MCCE exam and becoming a licensed physician. In Canada, you have to complete a residency before you can practice independently. The residency program allows newly trained doctors to work under more experienced physicians and learn from them. It’s a mentorship experience of sorts that allows new doctors to familiarize themselves with the profession.
Residency for Family doctors lasts for two years. But for specialist doctors, it can take up to 6 years to complete a residency. Some doctors also pick sub-specialty, which could add another two to three years to the residency program.
How Many Years Is Medical School In Canada?
There are 17 medical schools in Canada. Most of the medical schools will require that aspirants are residents of the same province to be able to attend.
It takes a minimum of 4 years to complete medical school in Canada.
But just like medical school in the USA, you must first complete a 4-year undergraduate program in a medical-related course to earn a bachelor’s degree to be eligible to apply.
Also, to gain admission into a medical school in Canada, a lot of colleges will require that you sit for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Also, it is good to note that only one-fourth of applicants gain admission into medical schools in Canada. So getting a high CGPA in your undergraduate school could be a plus.
The first two years of medical school in Canada are the preclinical period spent mainly in classrooms and laboratories acquiring basic medical skills that will be helpful to you in the clinic.
After medical school in Canada, you are required to pass the Licensing exam to prove your proficiency as a Physician. This is the Medical Council Of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE).
After passing this exam, you are qualified to be called a doctor, and you will be given your license while you proceed with your residency training and specialization program.
Can You Become a Doctor Before 30?
Based on the brief timeline we sketched above, the average time to become a physician is 12 years, assuming that your chosen residency is 4 years. If we assume that the average premed student is around 18 years old when they start their undergrad degree, and assuming a 12-year timeline, they’ll be just 30 when they begin professional, independent practice. This is the average age – but can you actually shorten this timeline and become a doctor BEFORE the age of 30?
It’s possible, but extremely challenging. Let’s examine what you can do to become a doctor before the age of 30.
- Plan early: You’ll have to know your medical ambitions and start preparing for them in high school, so you can get ahead on coursework and extracurricular requirements.
- Choose the right undergrad programs: You’ll also have to make all the right choices in terms of undergrad studies, medical school programs, and residencies. Once you choose a Bachelor’s program, you will have to stick to it – any delay in graduation or change in your undergrad career could set you back. If you are completely certain about your ambitions, you may want to consider BS/MD programs, which sometimes offer an accelerated timeline, allowing students to complete their undergrad in 3 years instead of 4. A few rare programs even offer a 6-year timeline for their combined undergrad degree and medical school. Such programs are typically extremely competitive and hard to get admission to.
- Choose a medical school that is less than 4 years long. It’s true! There are medical programs that take 3 years to complete, such as the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary or the McMaster Medical School. While it takes shorter amount of time to complete these MD programs, you should also be prepared for a more rigorous and fast-paced curriculum.
- Consider length of residency: Choice of residency is a big factor in how long it takes to become a doctor. Internal medicine or pediatrics require only 3 years of residency while neurological surgery requires 6 to 7 years. So, consider how long is residency before you choose a medical specialty. If you want to become an independent doctor faster, you may want to choose family medicine residency, internal medicine residency, or one of the other shorter residencies.
BONUS: Academic background – An additional factor could be your age at the time of starting your undergrad – for example, you could be 16 or 17 in your freshman year of college if you skipped a grade in school (likely to happen amongst the kind of academically proficient students who seek out a medical career), which could enable you to receive your medical license before the age of 30. And obviously, there’s not much room for gap years if you’re aiming to become a doctor before 30.
So now you know why it’s not easy becoming a doctor before 30. Next, I’ll explain what steps you need to take for the most direct path to practicing medicine.
About MBBS in Canada
MBBS is offered as Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Canada and for bachelor’s level, Canadian universities also offer programs like UGME, BSc Medicine, BMSc (Bachelor of Medical Science) etc. MBBS is a 3 to 4-year degree in Canada and there are also medicine programs in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, etc. As an International Medical Student (IMS) or International Medical Graduate (IMG), if you are thinking of practising as a physician in Canada, then you must be assessed by the Medical Council of Canada (MCC). MCC grants a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) to graduate physicians who have passed from the university listed in the MCC database.
For all those gearing up to pursue UGME, BSc or MBBS in Canada, given below are the highlights of courses in medicine often referred to as equivalent for MBBS in Canada for Indian students:
- Competition is comparatively less
- The medium of instruction in English
- World recognized degree
- A bachelor’s degree is mandatory
- Highly skilled teachers
- Well developed infrastructure
Duration
Want to know how many years is MBBS in Canada? The duration of an MBBS in Canada is 3-4 years.
| Top Medical Colleges in Canada | Duration of MBBS |
| University of Sherbrooke | 4 years |
| Queen’s University | 4 years |
| McMaster University | 3 years |
| University of Toronto | 4 years |
| McGill University | 4 years |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland | 4 years |
When to Apply for MBBS in Canada: Intakes 2023
The admission process for MBBS in Canada 2023 commonly starts in September to November and aspirants need to apply through the university website or if your chosen university is situated in Ontario, then you can also apply through the Ontario Medical School Application Service. The application deadline for MBBS at Canadian universities for this year is September to November 2023.
Eligibility
As you are familiar now that there isn’t the exact degree of MBBS in Canada but some similar ones, the entry requisites for them are enlisted below. Here are the eligibility requirements for MBBS in Canada:
- For an undergraduate degree, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in Biology or in Science with minimum marks required
- A good score in English language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, etc. A minimum of 6.5 bands in IELTS and 80 for TOEFL is required if you are pursuing an undergraduate course. And if you are pursuing Masters, then you need 7 in IELTS and 90 in *
- The candidates must qualify Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- The Indian students need to clear the NEET exam to pursue medical courses or MBBS in Canada
- Apart from this, some universities may demand applicants to pass the basic entry requirement test
- Candidates should also look into the requirements for the Canada Visa for Indian Students and medical test for Canada student visa.
Note: For UG Medical courses in cities like Quebec, you would need 10+2 qualification and a 1-year diploma course in CEGEP.
*The scores are just for indicative purposes, they may differ from one university to another.
Top 10 Medical Colleges in Canada
Canada is famous for its medical schools all over the world. Due to the highly technical and professional training provided by these institutes most of the international student’s eye on getting a seat there. Tabulated below are the top medical colleges in Canada:
| Medical Colleges in Canada | Courses Offered to Study Medicine/MBBS in Canada |
| University of Manitoba | BSc Medicine |
| University of Western Ontario | Bachelor of Medical Science (BMSc) |
| Queen’s University | Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) |
| Canadian Mennonite University | Doctore of Medicine |
| University of Waterloo | Undergraduate Course in Biomedical Science |
| Trinity Western University | Pre Professional Courses (Pre-Med, Pre-Vet, Pre-Dentistry, etc) |
| University of the Fraser Valley | Bachelor of Kinesiology, Bachelor of Nursing |
| University of Calgary | Master of Community and Disability Studies (MCDS), MSc, PhD |
| University of Alberta | MD in Surgery, Medicine, Biochemistry |
| University of Victoria | MD Undergraduate Progra |
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