MCCQE — Route to Licensure
The MCCQE is the Medical Council of Canada's written qualifying examination. Passing it, together with a verified medical degree, leads to the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC).
Verify your credentials → apply within the 12-month window → sit the MCCQE at Prometric → pass at 439 → LMCC.
Complete journey: Medical Degree → Source Verification → MCCQE Application → MCCQE → NAC Examination → CaRMS R-1 Match → Residency → Practice in Canada.
Exam Specification
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam name (official) | Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) |
| Regulator | Medical Council of Canada |
| Vendor | Prometric only |
| Format | Single best answer MCQs, 3 to 5 options, no penalty for incorrect answers |
| Questions | 230, in 2 sections of 115 |
| Duration | Up to 2 hours 40 minutes per section, with one optional break |
| Pass mark | 439 on a 300–600 scale (mean 450, standard deviation 30), in effect since April 2025 |
| Languages | English and French |
The Clinical Decision Making component was removed in April 2025. MCCQE Part II was discontinued in 2021.
Sessions and Scheduling
Four sessions a year — January, April, August and October. In 2026 the August and October sessions were combined, to offer candidates additional opportunities to take the exam. Results for the extended session are released in three processing batches.
Results arrive 4 weeks after the January, August and October sessions and 5 weeks after April. Scheduling opens 5 months before a session.
Remote proctoring is paused. Announced 23 June 2026 and effective with the session beginning 19 August 2026, the pause covers both the MCCQE and the TDM Examination. The MCC describes it as a pause, not a cancellation.
Eligibility and Attempts
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Attempts | Maximum 4 |
| Wait after the third attempt | 1 year. It cannot be shortened or waived |
| Attempts before 2018 | Do not count toward the limit |
| Application window | Apply up to 15 months before graduation; the eligibility window runs 12 months |
| Window extension | Once, by 12 months, available only within 60 days of expiry. Non-extension means automatic withdrawal with a partial refund |
Booking, Rescheduling and Refunds
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Confirmation | Prometric issues a 16-digit confirmation number; a reminder arrives about 7 days before |
| Reschedule or cancel, 31+ days out | $35 + HST |
| Reschedule or cancel, under 30 days | $75 + HST |
| Under 120 hours, or non-attendance | Fees forfeited |
| Extenuating circumstances | A separate refund route exists |
Source Verification
Requests are sent within 5 days; status is updated within 5 to 10 days of a response; and it can take 3 months or longer. Follow-ups are sent at two-month intervals, to a maximum of three.
Separately, up to 4 weeks applies to the review of your exam application documents — a different step from credential verification.
The LMCC
The 12-month postgraduate training requirement has been eliminated. LMCC eligibility is now a passed MCCQE plus a verified degree. Applicants from before 26 January 2026 follow a $50.00 administrative route.
Fees
| Item | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| MCCQE | Per the MCC fee schedule |
| NAC Examination | $3,320 |
| NAC withdrawal | $538 |
| TDM Examination | $2,850 |
| TDM withdrawal | $1,425 |
| LMCC administrative fee | $50.00 |
| Printed testamur | $100 |
| Reschedule 31+ days / under 30 days | $35 / $75 plus HST |
What we offer
An MCCQE question bank built to the 230-question, two-section format, with timed mocks at 2 hours 40 minutes per section, flashcards, a trained AI study companion and mentorship.