How to Become a Doctor in Canada

The path to becoming a doctor in Canada is similar to that in other countries.

No matter where you want to practice medicine, you will need to complete an advanced degree in medicine, gain on-the-job experience through a residency program and pass medical examinations and other licensing requirements. Canada is no different.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Complete your undergraduate degree. Science majors are preferred, but not all Canadian medical schools require an undergraduate degree in science.

2. Determine which Canadian medical school you would like to attend. Many Canadian medical schools have residency requirements, which means you will need to be a resident of the province where the school is located to become a student.

3. Contact the Canadian medical school you are interested in and ask about its entry requirements. Some schools require you to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), while others do not.

4. Use a common application system, such as the Ontario Medical School Application Service, to apply.

5. Complete the classroom portion of medical school and learn about the human body, medical terminology and pharmacology.

6. Complete your clerkship, which is similar to a U.S. residency program, for hands-on experience with patients and patient care in the last two years of your medical school training.

7. Take and pass medical licensing exams created by the Medical Council of Canada.

Tips & Warnings

• Most medical schools have placement programs to assist graduates in finding jobs.