Medical degree (MD)

Step 1 of 8

• Grade 11
• English (Language Arts) 11
• Pre-Calculus 11
• Life Sciences 11
• Chemistry 11
• Physics 11

Step 2 of 8

• Grade 12
• English Studies 12
• Pre-Calculus 12
• Anatomy and Physiology 12
• Chemistry 12
• Physics 12
• BC Dogwood Diploma

Step 3 of 8

• Minimum 90 undergraduate university credits (a completed bachelor degree is strongly recommended)
• Minimum overall university GPA of 75% on BC scale (competitive average is 88%+)
• Valid Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores meeting section minimums
• Minimum 6 credits of university English literature and composition
• Documented volunteer, leadership, research, and non-academic experiences

Step 4 of 8

• Apply online through the UBC Faculty of Medicine Admissions Portal or SFU Medicine Portal
• Submit official post-secondary transcripts and official MCAT score release
• Provide three structured reference letters from academic or community referees
• Complete the candidate situational judgment assessment (UBC) or holistic portfolio (SFU)
• Participate in the admissions interview evaluation if shortlisted (February)

Step 5 of 8

• 3 to 4 years of full-time undergraduate medical curriculum (UBC 4 years, SFU 3 years year-round)
• Years 1 and 2: Integrated biomedical sciences, clinical skills training, and patient case studies
• Distributed clinical training sites across BC (Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Prince George, and Surrey)
• Hospital clerkships: Over 80 weeks of core hospital rotations and community clinical electives
• Direct supervised patient care in internal medicine, family practice, surgery, pediatrics, and emergency care

Step 6 of 8

• Simon Fraser University — 3 years (About $84,700 for the whole program)
• University of British Columbia — 4 years (About $21,200 per year)

Step 7 of 8

• Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part 1 (MCCQE Part 1)
• Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) postgraduate residency match
• Postgraduate training after the MD. Graduates match to a program through CaRMS, hold an educational licence with CPSBC, and train in family medicine (minimum two years) or a specialty (longer).
• The national match for entry-level postgraduate (residency) positions, run by the Canadian Resident Matching Service. Applicants register, submit applications and documents, complete file review and interviews, rank programs, and receive results on Match Day. Canadian medical graduates must obtain, or be in the process of obtaining, their medical degree by July 1 of the match year, and must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
• Postgraduate residents, trainees and fellows enrolled at a BC medical school must be licensed with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC in an educational licence class.
• Residency training in Canada leads either to family medicine (certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada) or to a specialty (certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada).
• Accredited postgraduate training in family medicine. CPSBC's family practice licence requires a minimum of two years of accredited postgraduate training in family medicine (or CFPC certification).
• Accredited postgraduate training in a Royal College specialty. Length varies by specialty and is set by the Royal College and the training program.
• Example of a Royal College specialty. Listed for illustration only.
• Example of a Royal College specialty. Listed for illustration only.
• Example of a Royal College specialty. Listed for illustration only.
• Example of a Royal College specialty. Listed for illustration only.
• Members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada who have completed an approved family medicine residency (or a combination of training and practice experience) may take the Certification Examination in Family Medicine: a four-hour computer-based written component and five 15-minute simulated office oral exams. Passing grants Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP).
• Residents who complete accredited specialty training take the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada certification examination in their specialty. CPSBC's specialty practice licence requires Royal College certification for physicians trained in Canada.
• Independent practice in BC requires the LMCC from the Medical Council of Canada plus full registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC in the licence class matching your training: family practice or specialty practice.
• Granted by the Medical Council of Canada and part of the requirements set by provincial and territorial regulators for a licence to practise. Requires a medical degree from an accredited school, a pass on the MCCQE, source-verified credentials and payment of fees.
• Independent practice registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. For physicians whose accredited postgraduate training was completed in Canada, CPSBC requires CFPC certification and the LMCC, a medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (with a Canadian sponsor note), English language proficiency, and Canadian citizenship, permanent residency or legal authorization to work in BC.
• Independent practice registration for specialists. For physicians whose accredited postgraduate training was completed in Canada, CPSBC requires Royal College (RCPSC) certification and the LMCC, a medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (with a Canadian sponsor note), English language proficiency, and Canadian citizenship, permanent residency or legal authorization to work in BC.

Step 8 of 8

• Explore Medical Doctor wages, job outlook, and career pathways