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Canada for Internal Medicine Specialists
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) Certification Examination in Internal Medicine consists of a written component followed by a separate applied component. The written exam must be passed before the applied component is offered. Internationally trained specialists typically qualify through the Practice Eligibility Route (PER).
Pathway Snapshot
Once your training is deemed substantially equivalent through PER, you sit the written examination, then the multi-station applied component. Passing both, combined with a period of supervised practice in Canada, leads to full RCPSC certification.
Complete Journey: Medical Graduation → PER Application & Credential Evaluation → Eligibility Letter → RCPSC Written Examination → RCPSC Applied Examination (multi-station) → Supervised Practice → Full Certification → Independent Specialist Practice.
To sit the examination, internationally trained specialists must first establish an RCPSC account and apply through the Practice Eligibility Route (PER). Your international postgraduate training must be deemed substantially equivalent to Canadian residency standards. The minimum requirement is 4 years of accredited specialty training in Internal Medicine.
Required documents:
Application deadlines and assessment:
PER applications are accepted year-round, but processing is tied to exam cycles. The assessment fee is approximately $4,845 CAD — confirm the current figure directly with the Royal College before applying.
Once approved, you receive an Eligibility Letter valid for 5 years. You may attempt each exam component up to 4 times within that window. The written component must be passed before you are invited to sit the applied component. Passing standards are set by the Royal College's criterion-referenced process; candidates must meet the established passing standard on each component.
Purpose: Tests comprehensive knowledge and clinical reasoning in Internal Medicine.
Timing: Final year of core residency (PGY-3 or PGY-4) or after PER approval.
Format: MCQ-based written examination. The original draft described this as two 3-hour papers, a format consistent with the general RCPSC written-exam pattern — confirm exact paper count, question numbers, and duration directly with the Royal College before relying on this detail.
Passing Standard: Determined by the Royal College's standard-setting process.
What we offer
Full Internal Medicine written exam question bank, flashcards, self-assessments, AI study companion, mentorship, and peer study groups, all mapped to the RCPSC objectives.
Start Internal Medicine Written Prep →Purpose: Assesses higher-order thought processes and clinical reasoning across ambulatory, emergency department, ward, and critical-care scenarios, evaluating multiple CanMEDS roles per station.
Format: Multi-station structured applied examination. The Royal College notes this may be delivered over more than one day depending on candidate volume. Exact station count and per-station timing are published closer to each exam sitting — confirm current details directly with royalcollege.ca.
Eligibility: Must hold a pass on the RCPSC Written Examination.
Passing Standard: Determined by the Royal College's standard-setting process.
What we offer
Applied exam station walkthroughs, clinical reasoning case scenarios, communication skills practice, and mentorship for the multi-station applied component.
Start Internal Medicine Applied Prep →Passing both the written and applied examinations satisfies the educational requirement. Full RCPSC certification generally requires a period of supervised practice in Canada (commonly about two years), subject to provincial and specialty-specific requirements. Provincial regulators often grant provisional or restricted licenses during this period.
All figures in Canadian dollars (CAD). Fees are approximate; always check the RCPSC website for the most current amounts.
| Item | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
PER Assessment Fee | ~$4,845 (confirm current figure with RCPSC) |
Written Examination | ~$3,100 – $3,400 |
Applied Examination | Confirm with RCPSC |
Note on Fees: RCPSC fees are set by the Royal College and are subject to change. The ranges above reflect published 2026 rates where available. Exact applied-exam fees should be confirmed directly with the Royal College before application.