For all International Medical Graduates, picking a specialty will set the stage for the rest of their career. Most IMGs may be unsure of which programs they need to apply for. An admission can never be forecasted because the assessment for each application does not follow the same rule, but there are always specialties that have lower thresholds and are more friendly to IMGs. Applying to these specialties will make you more likely to be admitted.
Top specialties (programs) that are most friendly to International Medical Graduates:
• Internal Medicine
• Family Medicine
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatry
• Emergency Medicine
• Pathology
Internal and family medicine are friendliest by the number of positions filled by IMGs. Pathology is the friendliest by the percentage of positions filled by IMGs. Pediatrics is the friendliest by match rate among IMGs. Considering all 3 factors together, internal medicine is likely the friendliest. (residencyprogramslist.com)
In addition to departmental preference, other factors conducive to the successful application of international Medical Graduates in Canada are:
MCCQE (The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination) Score Expectations: Some specialties are simply more competitive and thus expect higher levels of skills from candidates. General surgery, for example, usually requires higher MCCQE scores than psychiatry.
Documentation: Having documents that demonstrate your interest and dedication to work in a particular field will increase the possibility of admission. You should strive to obtain Letters of Recommendation and a personal statement of the specialty you plan to apply to.
Financial status: There are costs associated with your application. International Medical Graduates are generally advised to submit more applications to ensure admission to a program, so you need to be prepared before applying to make sure that every dollar you spend is well spent.
Program selection and opportunities: The admission to a program may be affected by the number of programs you are eligible to apply for, the professional qualifications you have, and the application requirements for each program. If your choice of programs is too narrow, you may need to prepare some backup programs.
Work and clinical experience: All specialties require some evidence of applicants’ commitment and a keen interest in the field of work. Specialty in family medicine, for example, would love applicants to provide a history of family medicine work-related experience to demonstrate applicant’s dedication in this field.
There is no guarantee for admission even if you applied for some less competitive programs. However, you should never forget your original intention while on the way to achieving your life goals.
Reference:
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residencyprogramslist.com. What does IMG friendly mean? Retrieved from https://www.residencyprogramslist.com/img-friendly
