Covid 19 has had an effect on all aspects of medical practice in Canada, including the ultimate termination of a required Canadian medical licencing exam. Challenges facing the delivery of the exam began the previous year due to the pandemic, but have ultimately resulted in a re-assessment of the necessity of the exam, licencing policies, and processes.
The Transition
The month of June saw The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) officially cease delivery of the Medical Council of Canada Part II Examination. In the month prior, the MCC attempted a virtual delivery of the Exam; the challenges of that led to the suspension and subsequent ceasing of the exam entirely.
MCCQE Part II Exam No Longer A Requisite
Physicians no longer require the MCCQE Part II Exam as part of their requisite to obtaining an independent medical licence in Canada. Physicians will still need to be granted the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), with revised criteria outlined in this statement. According to the MCC, it will seek to collaborate with the Canadian Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Medical Education offices to confirm that candidates meet the required post-graduate clinical training months.
Last week, on July 15, 2021, the MCC announced the launch of a new business service dedicated to awarding the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) as a stand-alone process. This will be realised in a two phase process, allowing those who were already registered for the exam to apply for the award, followed by phase two, which will allow all other eligible candidates who meet the new outlined criteria to apply.
Each provincial Medical Regulatory Authority (MRA) is anticipated to revise their licencing policies in response, and to effect the smooth transition eligible candidates. This is a current and ongoing process, and as the roll-out of the MCC’s new business service unfolds, we will continue to provide updates.
