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IMG in Canada : How are you surviving?

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,589
13,521
I'm following your advice. I landed in Toronto two days ago but since I'll try the PRA it'll be better if I move. I believe SK is more achievable (I know someone who got her license though SIPPA) so I'm moving. If it doesn't work, then I can come back to Toronto to follow another path, but since PRAs are extremely competitive I have to do everything possible to increase my chances. I'll study to ace the MCCs, try to get medical observerships in order to get experience and networking and will volunteer at healthcare in SK.

If it doesn't work out, at least I know I tried my best and will have no regrets.

Thanks for the advice.
Best of luck.
 

Piwee

Full Member
Mar 30, 2019
28
6
Dear everyone. I have a question please. I'm a diagnostic radiology specialist but I would like to practice family medicine. Is that possible? Like if I applied for a PRA would it be fine?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,589
13,521
Dear everyone. I have a question please. I'm a diagnostic radiology specialist but I would like to practice family medicine. Is that possible? Like if I applied for a PRA would it be fine?
No you have to have a background and training as a family doctor. You could try to match to a residency program in family medicine.p and redo your residency. Getting selected without a background in family medicine may be difficult. There were only 33 spots leftover in family medicine this year after the first match.
 

Lizya

Newbie
Mar 26, 2019
2
0
hi, I did a masters in public health after working as a doctor for 5 years, i dont intend going to clinical practise, do you think my Masters in Public health be an advantage to work in other health care related jobs?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,589
13,521
hi, I did a masters in public health after working as a doctor for 5 years, i dont intend going to clinical practise, do you think my Masters in Public health be an advantage to work in other health care related jobs?
The only issue is really there are tons of mph graduates and not a ton of jobs. Is your masters from a Canadian university? MPH jobs tend to be government or university (still technically) government jobs. The masters is certainly helpful vs just an MD from a foreign country. With cutbacks in health in places like Alberta and Ontario jobs not the best timing. Have you published? Do you have a specific area of specialty? Do you have work experience after your masters other than being a doctor? A good job will slightly depend on luck unfortunately. A lot of the MPH jobs also come from having worked with people on other projects. MPH became a cool degree to get like international development so there are a lot of graduates.
 

Lizya

Newbie
Mar 26, 2019
2
0
The only issue is really there are tons of mph graduates and not a ton of jobs. Is your masters from a Canadian university? MPH jobs tend to be government or university (still technically) government jobs. The masters is certainly helpful vs just an MD from a foreign country. With cutbacks in health in places like Alberta and Ontario jobs not the best timing. Have you published? Do you have a specific area of specialty? Do you have work experience after your masters other than being a doctor? A good job will slightly depend on luck unfortunately. A lot of the MPH jobs also come from having worked with people on other projects. MPH became a cool degree to get like international development so there are a lot of graduates.
tx for your response, my public health is not from canada, my specific option is medical statiatics, i want to go more into statistical/mathematical aspect of medicine no experience in public health yet, and i haven't published. do you think there is some hope for me?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,589
13,521
tx for your response, my public health is not from canada, my specific option is medical statiatics, i want to go more into statistical/mathematical aspect of medicine no experience in public health yet, and i haven't published. do you think there is some hope for me?
Sounds more like health informatics. Sorry not sure about the job availability in that field. Not having experience or a Canadian degree (unless it is from another well known institution) will surely cremate challenges.
 

cnwamo

Full Member
Aug 3, 2019
20
11
Hi everyone, I'm a fresh MBBS graduate from China and I'm also an RN in my native country Nigeria with 5 years post grad working experience. I intend to write MCCQE1 and then move to Canada for the NAC and QE2 but after reading several comments here and also some research of my own it seems that pathway brings a lot of heartache, so my question is: is there a way i can apply to continue as an RN in Canada and what would be a reasonable time frame to achieve such.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,589
13,521
Hi everyone, I'm a fresh MBBS graduate from China and I'm also an RN in my native country Nigeria with 5 years post grad working experience. I intend to write MCCQE1 and then move to Canada for the NAC and QE2 but after reading several comments here and also some research of my own it seems that pathway brings a lot of heartache, so my question is: is there a way i can apply to continue as an RN in Canada and what would be a reasonable time frame to achieve such.
Why would you not consider finding another country to work as a physician? Yes you can work as a nurse. The amount of retraining will depend on how your Nursing degree is evaluated. Would anticipate a year of retraining is probably average.
 

leo_maryam

Newbie
Aug 5, 2019
6
0
Hi mates,let me share my experience here.I am a veteran and was very optimistic before moving here rather was excited.I am from Pakistan and much of my experience was in Saudi Arabia.Having a Pakistani passport and discriminating Arabs did force me to immigrate. Trust me the nurses in Saudia are drawing more salaries than we Pakistani and Indians.
Coming back to the topic,I started preparing my exams and it took me 2 and half years to complete my all 4 exams along with IELTS. I advise anyone to forget the residency match and plan for practice ready assessment which is difficult though but possible only if you work out well before exhausting your financial resources. Complete your post graduation training as required in different subjects from your home country and land in a province where you have targeted the practice ready assessment. Pls never land in Ontario as it will ruin you.
I would also suggest physicians never work odd jobs and destroy your career,rather do it only if you can't pursue it here further and looking only for citizenship.
I have had more than 100,000 dollars which I used to live here and never worked here.Now I have applied for PRA and in next 3 months for citizenship.
I will be lucky if I get matched in PRA , otherwise will take Canadian passport and will resume my career in middle East with better pay scales...
I am sorry for a this long comment...
 

leo_maryam

Newbie
Aug 5, 2019
6
0
Thankyou so much doctor for such comprehensive answer. Im a paediatrician from pakistan. A recent fcps graduate n currently practising. Is there a chance of getting pra for paeds in any province in canada. We made a soft landing in toronto a month back n got our pr. Now weighing my options. Is there a chance of getting a clinical fellowship in paeds in sick kids?
 

leo_maryam

Newbie
Aug 5, 2019
6
0
I'm following your advice. I landed in Toronto two days ago but since I'll try the PRA it'll be better if I move. I believe SK is more achievable (I know someone who got her license though SIPPA) so I'm moving. If it doesn't work, then I can come back to Toronto to follow another path, but since PRAs are extremely competitive I have to do everything possible to increase my chances. I'll study to ace the MCCs, try to get medical observerships in order to get experience and networking and will volunteer at healthcare in SK.

If it doesn't work out, at least I know I tried my best and will have no regrets.

Thanks for the advice.
Is pra an option only for imgs who have specialised in family medicine in their home countries? Im a paediatrician and practising in my home country. Does any province offer pra in paeds?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,589
13,521
Thankyou so much doctor for such comprehensive answer. Im a paediatrician from pakistan. A recent fcps graduate n currently practising. Is there a chance of getting pra for paeds in any province in canada. We made a soft landing in toronto a month back n got our pr. Now weighing my options. Is there a chance of getting a clinical fellowship in paeds in sick kids?
Canada allows IMGs to do clinical fellowships in Canada if you get selected. Doing a clinical fellowship in Canada only allows you to train for the period of the fellowship (usually a year) but does not allow you to practice or be licensed to practice in Canada after that.
 

leo_maryam

Newbie
Aug 5, 2019
6
0
Canada allows IMGs to do clinical fellowships in Canada if you get selected. Doing a clinical fellowship in Canada only allows you to train for the period of the fellowship (usually a year) but does not allow you to practice or be licensed to practice in Canada after that.
Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I am very interested in this 1 yr program. Im a paediatrician currently practising in my home country. Do u have any idea which institutes offer clinical fellowship in paeds and how can i make my profile better to get one?