International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are physicians who have completed their medical education and obtained their medical degrees outside the country where they intend to practice. For example, in Canada, IMGs are individuals who earned their medical degrees from institutions outside of Canada.
More information can be found here
A Return-of-Service (ROS) agreement is a contractual obligation where a medical graduate, such as an International Medical Graduate (IMG) or a healthcare professional, commits to working in a specific geographic area or facility for a designated period after completing their training or certification. This requirement is often used in healthcare to address shortages in underserved areas.
The Practice Ready Assessment BC program is an assessment program for internationally trained family physicians who have completed residencies in Family Medicine outside of Canada. This program provides qualified family physicians with an alternative pathway to licensure in BC. These physicians must go through a centralized orientation and then pass a 12-week Clinical Field Assessment (CFA) before they can practice. More information can be found here and here.
A PRA-BC IMG is a physician who has completed both their medical schooling and residency in a country that is NOT Australia, Canada, Ireland, U.K., or U.S. When these physicians choose to practice in BC, they are required to go through the PRA-BC process and complete a 3-Year Return-of-Service in one community.
Resources for Candidates
Resources for Medical Directors
More information can be found here
A UBC IMG is a physician that has competed their medical schooling in Australia, Ireland, U.K., and U.S. and is completing/will complete their post-graduate training (residency) in Canada. When these physicians graduate and are transitioning into practice, they are required to complete a 2-Year ROS in one community.
Resources for Medical Directors
More information can be found here
If a physician completes their Medical Schooling from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools which includes a Canadian sponsor note, and if they complete their Post-Graduate Training (residency) in either Australia, Ireland, U.K., or the U.S. then they can practice in Canada under a Provisional License.
More information can be found here
If a physician has completed both their Medical Schooling and Post-Graduate Training (residency) in Canada, there are no ROS obligations or delays in receiving full licensure – given that the physician successfully passes all final examinations.
More information can be found here