Each year, thousands of medical graduates apply for residency positions in Canada through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). For Canadian international medical graduates (IMGs), navigating the process can feel overwhelming but with the right guidance and preparation, it’s certainly achievable.
Many aspiring Canadian doctors have chosen St. George’s University (SGU) to guide them on a path for success. SGU has helped over 200 Canadian graduates match into residency programs in Canada.1
Additionally, more than 2,200 SGU School of Medicine graduates are from Canada.2 Many of these graduates have been able to return to Canada and practice medicine.
In this blog, we’ll provide an overview of how the CaRMS process works, who is eligible to participate, and what to expect during the match. We’ll also look at some of the ways SGU supports students throughout their application journey.
What is CaRMS?
CaRMS is a national, independent, not-for-profit, fee-for-service organization that provides an application and matching service for medical training throughout Canada. CaRMS plays a key role in ensuring a fair and equitable process for approximately 6,000 medical students and residents each year as they pursue the training positions residency positions in Canada.
How does the match process work?
Similar to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) in the US, CaRMS uses an algorithm to help match medical students and residents with training programs. This algorithm tries to give each person the best match possible based on their choices and the choices of the programs.
Students and programs both write out their preferences in a rank order list (ROL). The algorithm starts by trying to place each student in their top choice. If that match is not compatible with the program’s ROL, the algorithm moves to their second choice, then third, and so on. This process keeps going until the student is matched, or there are no more choices left. This video created by CaRMS gives a comprehensive look at the matching process.
What does the timeline look like?
CaRMS Match Day is certainly exciting, but it is many months in the making. Preparation for CaRMS begins well in advance as med students curate their applications and programs conduct interviews. The CaRMS website offers a much more detailed timeline so you can plan ahead, though here is a general overview of the process. Remember to always do your own research and be sure to factor in other deadlines set by programs and local medical regulatory authorities.
CaRMS timeline overview
- July: Register for CaRMS
- September: Application process opens
- October: Program selection opens. Applicants can start selecting the programs to which they wish to apply and assigning requested documents.
- November: Submit the necessary materials (i.e. translation requests, transcripts, test results, references). File review will begin at the end of the month and programs will begin extending official interview invitations to applicants.
- January-February: Interviews between programs and applicants are conducted. Programs and applicants will also be able to start their rank lists during this time. ROLs are due late February.
- March: Match Day! Match results are released early March.
- April: Second iteration matches are released.
What are the iterations? How do they work?
The Canadian match is run in two phases, called iterations. The first iteration of the match is intended for candidates who have never participated in any postgraduate training programs accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), or the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). For CaRMS eligibility, preliminary training in the US is considered accredited postgraduate training.
The second iteration is available to:
- Those who met the criteria for the first iteration but either chose not to apply or were not matched, and
- Individuals who are only eligible at this stage due to specific provincial rules and their previous postgraduate experience.
If you’re planning to apply through CaRMS, it’s important to thoroughly review the official guidelines and provincial requirements to confirm your eligibility.
Who is eligible to participate in CaRMS?
According to CaRMS, to participate in the R-1 match, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. Some exceptions may apply.
- Be a medical student or graduate who has obtained, or is in the process of obtaining, a medical degree by July 1 of the match year from an institution that meets one of the following criteria:
- A school of osteopathic medicine; or
- An international medical school listed with the World Directory of Medical Schools that is recognized in Canada.
- Have written and passed:
- The National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination; and
- The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part I.
Some provinces may allow exceptions to either exam. Refer to the Summary of MCC Examination requirements.
How does SGU support students applying for the Canadian Match?
SGU offers extensive support to students preparing for CaRMS, so that they may feel well-prepared both academically and strategically throughout the application process. From personalized resources to financial assistance, SGU helps equip students for success in the Canadian match.
Academic and professional support
One of the standout resources is the Office of Career Guidance (OCG), which plays a central role in helping students prepare for CaRMS.
“SGU helped by consistently providing me with strategies and tools to succeed in matching,” shares Christopher Haddad, MD ’25, who matched in family medicine at Toronto Metropolitan University.
“The OCG was a huge help in providing us with support, tools, and resources on the website and through the webinars to succeed in the match cycle,” he says. “The Canadian OCG webinars were great at answering frequently asked questions for the CaRMS match and eased some of our worries throughout the process.”
Webinars specifically tailored to the Canadian match cycle have also greatly helped students. These sessions not only guide students through the logistical aspects of CaRMS, but also address common concerns and uncertainties.
Ziyaana Kabani, MD ’25, who matched into family medicine at Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey, BC, emphasizes how instrumental these resources were: “SGU’s recorded CaRMS webinars were a helpful guide, as they provided clear guidance on how to begin to navigate the CaRMS match process.”
Alumni mentorship
Beyond formal resources, SGU fosters a strong community of alumni who give back by mentoring current students.
Dr. Haddad notes, “SGU alumni who successfully matched into residencies in Canada provided me with insights and tips to successfully match into a residency program.”
Dr. Kabani shares a similar insight, saying, “The resource I relied on most were past students who had gone through the CaRMS matching process themselves. Their experiences and advice were invaluable.”
Financial assistance
In addition to academic and career support, SGU scholarships help aspiring MDs bring their dreams within reach. “They eased some of the financial burden and allowed me to focus more on my studies and the incredible opportunities SGU offered throughout my education,” says Dr. Kabani.
“Beyond the monetary relief, these scholarships served as a powerful motivator, demonstrating SGU’s belief in my potential and ultimately providing me with greater financial flexibility upon graduation to pursue my career goals and serve my community,” adds Dr. Haddad.
Want to practice in Canada?
Navigating the CaRMS process can be challenging, but many Canadian students studying at SGU have found the support and resources they need to pursue residency opportunities back home. From academic guidance to mentorship and financial assistance, SGU offers tools that can help students prepare for CaRMS and work toward their goal of becoming physicians in Canada.
If you’re not a Canadian citizen but are interested in practicing medicine in Canada, be sure to read Exploring Pathways for Non-Canadian IMGs to Practice Medicine in Canada.
1Data as of October 2024.
2Based on the number of students who have completed the Doctor of Medicine program from 1981-2024.
