As of March 2021, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) in the United States is no longer accrediting Canadian medical schools. Canadian medical schools continue to be accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS).
This means that individuals who will graduate from Canadian medical schools on or after July 1, 2025 will be considered International Medical Graduates (IMG’s) by the United States. Students and residents at Canadian Faculties of Medicine wishing to pursue residency or fellowship training in the U.S. will have to register and obtain certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). They will be able to apply for ECFMG Certification beginning in late spring 2025, prior to the start of the 2026 residency application cycle in the United States. This may involve fulfilling other requirements as laid out by the ECFMG. The AFMC recommends that Canadian medical students and residents contact the ECFMG for detailed information and allow for more time and planning to undertake these processes.
Furthermore, Canadians graduating from a non CACMS accredited medical school on or after July 1, 2025 will be considered an International Medical Graduate in the residency application process in Canada. The AFMC recommends that students and residents from non CACMS accredited medical schools contact the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) for additional information.
