Four smiling students studying together around a table
  • icon house

    Faculty

    • Max Rady College of Medicine
    • Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

  • icon graduate

    Expected duration

    • 3–12 months

  • icon pathway

    Program options

    • Practice Ready Assessment (Family/Specialty Practice)
    • Medical Licensure Program

Program details

The International Medical Graduate (IMG) programs offer multiple streams to enable you to practice medicine in Manitoba. Two assessment programs and a training program are augmented by mandatory orientation and mentorship opportunities to help you better understand and adapt to the Canadian healthcare system.

The IMG programs are for:
  • IMGs who want to work in Manitoba
  • IMGs who have completed their postgraduate training with rotations that are acceptable to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM), the licensing body
  • IMGs who meet our eligibility requirements
The IMG programs are not for:
  • IMGs who have not done their residency with acceptable rotations
  • IMGs seeking a full residency
  • IMGs seeking to be trained or undergo assessment to work in other provinces

Overview of programs

Orientation: A four-week program designed to facilitate integration into the Canadian Healthcare System. The orientation is compulsory for all IMGs accepted into a residency, training or assessment program in Manitoba.

Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates (MLPIMG):A one-year training program for eligible family medicine physicians who either require or seek additional training.

Practice Ready Assessment—Family Practice (PRA MB-FP): A three-month assessment that is an accelerated route to licensure as a family physician in rural Manitoba, for eligible practice-ready family medicine physicians.

Practice Ready Assessment—Specialty Practice (PRA MB-SP): A 3–12 month assessment program for eligible Specialist Physicians

International Medical Graduate Mentorship and Clinical Enhancement (IMGMCE): A mandatory mentorship for physicians who have successfully completed the PRA MB-FP, MLPIMG or PRA MB-SP programs.

Family physician training (MLPIMG)

Expected duration: 1 year

The Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates (MLPIMG) is designed to enhance the current skills of internationally educated family physicians. MLPIMG physicians will work in rural and underserviced areas of Manitoba for return of service and will work to obtain medical licensure as family physician.

Following a PGY1 program structure, MLPIMG consists of 13 four-week postgraduate medical education rotations (PGME) in:

  • Emergency Medicine – 2 rotations (4 weeks urban, 4 weeks rural)
  • Family Medicine – 3 rotations (12 weeks urban and rural)
  • Gynecology – 1 rotation (4 weeks)
  • Obstetrics – 1 rotation (4 weeks)
  • Internal Medicine – 2 rotations (8 weeks)
  • Pediatrics (outpatient) – 1 rotation (4 weeks)
  • Pediatrics (ward) – 1 rotation (4 weeks)
  • Psychiatry – 1 rotation (4 weeks)
  • Vacation – 1 rotation (4 weeks)

Upon completion of the program, candidates will:

  • Work for their sponsoring RHA employer for return of service.
  • Be eligible to apply for Provisional Registration – Family Practice Limited with CPSM.
  • Be assigned a practice supervisor for the duration of their provisional licensure.

For more information, please contact us by email.

Family physician assessment (PRA MB-FP)

Expected duration: 3 months

The Practice Ready Assessment—Family Practice (PRA MB-FP) is an assessment program for family physicians. It is an accelerated route to licensure as a family physician in rural Manitoba. IMG physicians are expected to have the skills on par with rural family physicians in Manitoba. IMGs in the PRA MB-FP will work as family physicians in rural underserviced areas of Manitoba for return of service.

The assessment is three months in duration and may have multiple preceptors. The three components of the program are:

  • Clinic 1 (four weeks)
  • Clinic 2 (four weeks)
  • Acute care in ER setting (four weeks)

The three components are often distinct four-week periods, but not necessarily. IMG physicians are evaluated after each rotation. Poor evaluation in any of the three components will result in immediate release from the program.

Successful candidates begin practicing independently after the assessment.

For more information, please contact us by email.

Specialist assessment (PRA MB-SP)

Expected duration: minimum 3 months

The Practice Ready Assessment Manitoba–Specialty Practice Program (PRA MB-SP) is a practice-ready assessment program for internationally trained medical specialists who can practice independently and do not need further residency training. PRA-Specialty Practice candidates are expected to demonstrate skills acceptable to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) and in line with standards for Canadian trained specialists.

Successful candidates will begin independent practice after the assessment in rural Manitoba.

How does the assessment work?

The assessment is coordinated by the University of Manitoba IMG Program and is conducted in the specialty department at the University of Manitoba's affiliated hospitals. The assessing department arranges a screening evaluation (typically an interview, OSCE or written examination) prior to agreeing to undertake an assessment.

The duration of the assessment varies by specialty, with a minimum duration of 3 months and usually not exceeding 6 months.

Interim and final reports are completed by supervisors, colleagues, nurses and allied health professionals and are submitted to the Head of the Department or designate. The Head of the Department will then submit a final report to the IMG Program, indicating whether the candidate has the clinical skills and knowledge to practice independently and safely, equivalent to the level of a final year resident in the specialty. The final recommendation is forwarded to the CPSM from the IMG Program.

Following successful completion of the assessment, the PRA-Specialty Practice candidate will be expected to fulfill their return-of-service obligations per sponsorship agreement. The candidates are required to complete a one year mandatory Mentorship Program through the IMG Program.

For more information, please contact us by email.

  • Orientation

    Orientation is a four-week session offered each year in June that facilitates integration into the Canadian health care system. It is compulsory for IMGs accepted into a residency, training or assessment program in Manitoba.

    Professionals in the health care system present on a comprehensive variety of topics including:

    • the Canadian health care system
    • the role of the physician in Canadian Health Care System
    • the patient-centered approach
    • the team-based practice environment
    • patient-centered interviewing
    • socio-cultural training and ethics 
  • Mentorship and clinical enhancement program

    All IMG assessments and training programs conclude with this one year mentorship. The program consists of scheduled meetings with mentors as well as self-learning continuing medical education exercises and continuing professional development activities.

    The IMG Mentorship and Clinical Enhancement Program objectives are to:

    • provide participants the opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship that will promote successful integration into the practice environment
    • assist participants in developing skills essential to effective lifelong learning
    • address professional competencies as outlined in the CanMeds Physician Competency Framework

Admission requirements

The following are minimum requirements to be considered for entry into the International Medical Graduate program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

Family physician training (MLPIMG)

  • You must be a permanent resident (landed immigrant) or Canadian citizen
  • Preference will be given to established residents of the Province of Manitoba
  • You must pass standing of the following Medical Council of Canada Examinations: NAC OSCE or MCCQE2
  • You must have one year independent practice experience working as a physician in general practice, family medicine or primary care. Postgraduate training (internship/residency) does not count towards this requirement
  • You must show evidence of currency in practice – must not have been out of independent practice as a General/Family Practitioner for longer than five years. If out of practice for longer than five years, a minimum of 12 consecutive months of independent clinical practice is required.
  • IMG physicians must meet the requirements for Provisional Registration - Family Practice Limited by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM). Please carefully review this requirement Provisional Registration - Family Practice Limited

Family physician assessment (PRA MB-FP)

  • Preference will be given to established residents of the Province of Manitoba
  • You must pass standing of the following Medical Council of Canada Examinations: NAC OSCE or MCCQE2
  • You must show evidence of currency in practice - minimum of three years of independent clinical practice as a general/family practitioner within five years immediately preceding April 15, 2021. Applicants without general or family practice training and/or experience will not be considered.
  • IMG physicians must meet the requirements for Provisional Registration - Family Practice Limited by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM). Please carefully review this requirement Provisional Registration - Family Practice Limited.

Specialist assessment (PRA MB-SP)

How to apply

Family physician training (MLPIMG)

Application deadline: The application period for the 2024 MLPIMG program is now closed. Applications for the 2025 MLPIMG program will become available Summer 2024.

Submitting an application does not guarantee admission to the MLPIMG. Incomplete applications or applications that do not meet mandatory requirements will not be reviewed.

Family physician assessment (PRA MB-FP)

Application deadline: Not currently accepting applications

An application package will be made available here closer to the application deadline.

Submitting an application does not guarantee admission to the PRA MB-FP. Incomplete applications or applications that do not meet mandatory requirements will not be reviewed.

Specialist assessment (PRA MB-SP)

Candidates may not apply directly to the PRA MB-SP program. Instead, candidates are selected by a screening panel including members of the IMG program. The process works like this:

  • Sponsoring Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) submit specialist position vacancies to the Manitoba Healthcare Providers Network (MB Health).
  • Candidates who have already applied for provisional membership with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) apply for positions posted on the Manitoba Healthcare Providers website.
  • The Manitoba Healthcare Providers Network provides a shortlist of applicants to a screening panel comprised of representatives from the IMG Program, specialty department, sponsoring RHA, Manitoba HealthCare Providers Network and (when applicable) Manitoba Privileges Advisory Committee (MPAC.)
  • Once the screening panel identifies a suitable candidate, the University of Manitoba IMG Program office arranges the PRA-Specialty Practice assessment.
Follow these steps to begin the application process:
  1. Apply to the CPSM for registration as a provisional (specialty practice-limited) member and satisfy mandatory requirements.
  2. Register with the Manitoba Healthcare Providers Network and provide an electronic copy of CV and Canadian Residency/Immigration status (preference will be given to Manitoba Residents and those who have Canadian Permanent Resident status)
  3. Review the postings on the Manitoba HealthCare Providers Network website and follow the instructions to apply for the position.

Learn more

Contact us

International Medical Graduate Programs 
Room 260 Brodie Centre
727 McDermot Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB  R3E 3P5
Canada

204-975-7757