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Postgraduate Medical Education

Last updated on July 2, 2024

The Province of British Columbia is committed to aligning with the Health Human Resource Strategy to ensure an optimal distribution of physicians throughout the province. The goal is to have the appropriate number and mix of physicians in each region, thereby improving access to healthcare. To achieve this, we employ various strategies, including recruitment and retention efforts, close collaboration with physicians, communities, and partners, enhancing healthcare accessibility and expanding medical education and training seats.

The Ministry works closely in collaboration with the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Medicine to ensure the delivery of exceptional medical education and training in B.C. The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills is responsible for funding undergraduate medical education, while the Ministry of Health funds postgraduate medical education (PGME).

Undergraduate Medical Education

UBC's MD undergraduate program provides comprehensive medical education, preparing students for healthcare challenges. Through hands-on training, students learn medicine's foundations and patient-centred care from faculty and physicians. UBC offers a distributed program across four sites in B.C.: Vancouver-Fraser, Interior, Vancouver Island, and Northern B.C. This allows students to train in diverse urban and rural settings, creating a well-rounded learning experience.

Postgraduate Medical Education

Residency programs at the postgraduate level offer specialized clinical training in various fields like family medicine, surgery, or psychiatry. Throughout their training, residents work and receive compensation. Upon successful completion of the residency, individuals become eligible to take national certification exams.

In partnership with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, the Ministry of Health funds, facilitates seat allocations, and creates strategic opportunities for postgraduate medical residents to train across British Columbia. 

  • Over 1400+ resident physicians in training
  • Re-entry into PGME Program
  • New Medical Residency Training Stream

Re-entry into PGME Program

The Re-entry Program provides opportunities for licensed, practising physicians to retrain. Participants re-train through residency at UBC. After completing residency, re-entry participants complete a three-year Return of Service (ROS). For more information on the ROS and how to apply: Re-entry Return of Service.

Competitive Stream (Medical Residency Stream Pilot)

The Province of British Columbia is launching a new medical residency stream in 2024 to attract and retain more physicians for critical specialties. This pilot program will offer up to 20 expanded residency opportunities to both Canadian and internationally-trained medical graduates.

  • The new stream will be open in the first iteration of the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) R-1 Match to both Canadian Medical Graduates and International Medical Graduates who meet the eligibility criteria.
  • This new stream is in addition to the existing Canadian Medical Graduate Stream and International Medical Graduate Stream in British Columbia (IMG-BC Program). 
  • These new positions in 2024 will be in medical specialties that are of priority for people in B.C., including: Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Neurology , Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Psychiatry, Urology, and Radiology (Diagnostic). Specialties may be adjusted annually to support the changing healthcare needs of people in B.C. Residents in the new stream will also be eligible to subspecialize.
  • Successful applicants will be required to make a return of service commitment to stay and practice anywhere in B.C. for three years upon completion of their training. 
  • For International Medical Graduates, please note the IMG Clinical Assessment Program will be required for eligibility, noting the application cycle is open from July 17 to August 7, 2024. 

This new initiative is part of the B.C. Government’s broader commitment and investment in the expansion of medical education opportunities to train more physicians for B.C. and is funded through B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy. For more information on the ROS and how to apply: Competitive Stream (Medical Residency Stream Pilot).

How to Apply

All prospective candidates for the new stream positions can apply through the CaRMS Process. Information about the application process, Clinical Assessment Program requirements, and position information are available on the UBC Faculty of Medicine website.