Can an IMG become a PA?
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are Physicians who were trained outside of Canada. The PA profession is a great way to build upon the knowledge you have already acquired in your education and practice, and learn within the Canadian Health Care system.
In my own graduating class, we had two IMGs who successfully gained admission into the McMaster PA program. Each year there are examples of IMG candidates, and/or individuals with degrees (e.g. dentistry, physiotherapy, pharmacy, etc.) from outside of Canada apply.
I. What is an IMG?
International Medical Graduates are individuals who obtained their medical training and physician degree outside of Canada. IMGs may also have experience running their own clinic, working for a hospital, or operating their own practice.
II. PA as a potential career path for IMGs
Physician Assistants (PA) are licensed healthcare professionals educated in the medical model who practice medicine.
PAs graduate from a Baccalaureate or Master’s Degree program that may be affiliated with a medical school. PAs practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician within a patient-centered healthcare team. PAs can work in any clinic setting to extend physician services, complement existing services and aid in improving patient access to health care:
PAs conduct histories, physical examinations, order and interpret investigations, perform diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, diagnose and treat illnesses, and educate patients on treatment options and counsel on preventative health
PAs assist in surgery, prescribe medications, and perform procedures that fall within their scope of training and experience, as long as it falls within the scope of their supervising physician
A PA’s practice mirrors that of their supervising physician
PAs work to extend physician services and can work autonomously, but are not independent practitioners.
The PA profession is a great option for IMGs to continue practicing medicine within a Canadian health care system. PAs see patient in clinic, perform procedures, prescribe medications, engage in patient education, and also assist in surgery.
III. Completing an accredited PA program in Canada
a) What does the PA school curriculum in Canada look like?
The first year of PA school is didactic/classroom learning where you learn all of the basic medical foundations.
The second year of PA school is clinical rotations where you complete 4, 6 or 12 weeks in different areas of medicine: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency medicine, General Surgery, Psychiatry, Women’s Health, Paediatrics, as well as electives.
b) Can I skip parts of the PA program or apply directly to PA jobs as an IMG?
No. To become a Physician Assistant in Canada, you must complete an accredited Physician Assistant Program in Canada. IMGs cannot skip or advance past any aspects of the program due to their prior medical education. To complete a PA program successfully, you must complete both the first didactic year and second clinical rotation year, finishing all courses for the program.
IV. PA Admission Requirements for IMGs
a) What PA programs can IMGs apply to?
There are 5 accredited PA programs in Canada.
Once you complete a PA program, you can write the Canadian PA certification exam and become a CCPA (Canadian Certified Physician Assistant) as well as apply to PA jobs in Canada that include clinic, hospital, occupational health, and military settings.
b) How can I apply to a PA program in Canada?
You must first ensure you meet ALL of the PA admission requirements before you apply. This includes completing the minimum amount of undergraduate coursework (2-4 years) at a university level, meet the minimum required GPA, and have all necessary documentation required.
If you do not meet these requirements, then your application will not be considered. Please ensure you have met all of the admission requirements BEFORE you go through the process of applying for PA school (and paying all the application fees).
c) What are the requirements to get into PA school?
Each PA program has different requirements for their admissions process.
Visit the official PA program websites to learn about what their specific requirements are for IMGs:
University of Toronto’s PA program Admission Requirements: Look for the section on “International Medical Graduates”
University of Manitoba Master of PA Studies Admission Requirements
d) What if I’m not a Canadian Citizen or PR of Canada?
To Apply to a Canadian PA program, you MUST be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada.
Why is this a requirement? Although I cannot speak on behalf of the PA Programs, keep in mind that obtaining a Canadian PA program degree allows you only to practice in Canada. The Canadian PA degree (BHScPA, BScPA, MPAS) does not allow you to practice as a PA in the United States, UK, Australia or other countries.
e) Is medical experience outside of Canada taken into consideration for PA applications?
Yes - the University of Toronto’s PA program does formally look at patient experience as part of their application process, which you would enter into the supplementary application.
On Manitoba’s PA program admissions process, you can speak about your previous health care experience on the Pre-PA Resume you submit, on the Statement of Intent, and during the Interview.
McMaster’s PA program does not require you to submit any information about your previous health care experience or medical practice. If you come across a question on the supplementary application or PA school interview that gives you the opportunity to bring up an example from your previous medical experience - you can go ahead and do so!
English Language Requirements to Apply to PA school
The IMG applying for PA programs must meet English language requirements, and this differs for each school.
From University of Toronto’s PA program: “If your first language (the language you learned at home as a child and still understand) is not English, you may be required to present proof of English facility.” Learn about English Language requirements from the University of Toronto.
From McMaster’s PA Program: “All students must meet McMaster University’s English language proficiency requirement for admission. If you require further information, please contact: (905) 525-4600.” Learn more about the English Language requirements from McMaster University.
From Manitoba’s Master of PA Studies Program: “The College of Physician and Surgeons of Manitoba (the Manitoba Physician Assistant regulatory agency) and the Max Rady College of Medicine requires an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0 across all bands for Registration on the Educational Registry. As MPAS students must be eligible for registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba on the Education Registry, the 7.0 scores are required for program acceptance and the Physician Assistant Registry.” Learn more about Manitoba’s Graduate studies English language proficiency requirements.
How important is fluency in English in applying to PA programs?
Proving your English Language proficiency is a minimum requirement for all Canadian PA programs.
To submit a competitive application, I have the following suggestions:
Good writing: However, more importantly, your written and verbal English fluency is pivotal for the written supplementary application. Once submitted, these applications are read by the admissions committee, and in addition to other criteria determine whether or not you get invited for a PA school interview. Attention to basic details such as - good grammar, accurate spelling and a good flow is important - like how employers toss resumes that have simple spelling mistakes demonstrating that the candidate did not take time to review their application.
Good content: Another component is good content - how well you are able to articulate your thoughts and experiences in a way that demonstrates that you are the perfect candidate for a PA program. This is also a challenge for native English speakers as well and excelling in this area can help differentiate you from other PA program candidates.
Can someone verify if my English test score (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.) are good enough to get into the PA programs?
Please refer to the PA program websites for specific instructions on what constitutes the minimum scores require to prove English Language Proficiency (see links above).
If you are still uncertain, you can post the question to our Canadian Pre-PA Student Facebook Group to get feedback from other Pre-PAs, PA students and practicing PAs in Canada.
Getting certified as a PA once completing PA school
Once you have completed a Physician Assistant Program, you are to write the PA Entry Exam administered by the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC). You cannot skip this step even if you’ve had previous medical experience.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the PA program a stepping stone to become an Physician in Canada?
No. PA programs are designed to produce Physician Assistants. Some of the PA programs also provide pass/fail transcripts and may not count towards GPA for medical schools. You would still have to go through the same steps to become a Physician in Canada (e.g. applying for residency program or a medical school) that you would have with or without completing a PA program.
Q. Do PA programs accept college-level courses towards your GPA?
No, they only accept undergraduate-level (university-level) courses towards calculating your GPA.
Q. Are there any PA programs that accept international students?
If you are not a Canadian Citizen or Permanent resident of Canada, you may consider applying to a PA program that accepts international students. There are none in Canada that accept international students. However, there are some PA programs in the United States that accept non-residents/citizens into their programs. You can become a PA in the United States (PA-C) then have the flexibility to practice in both United States and Canada.
Q. Is there an IMG to PA bridging program?
No. There is no “special track” for IMGs or any other health care professionals who have previous health care experience in the PA program. All PA students must undergo 24-25 months of PA schooling.
Q. Can IMGs skip over the coursework and practice directly as PAs?
No they cannot, you must go through all aspects of PA schooling (24-25 months, depending on the program) before you can practice as a PA in Canada). You may be interested in learning more about the Clinical Assistant program in Manitoba.
Q. How important is the supplemental application and interview for getting into a PA program?
The supplemental application and interview are extremely important components to getting into a PA program. In addition to your GPA, and other required documents (which varies between schools) how well you complete the supplemental application will help to determine if you get invited to the Multi-Mini Interview. Then, how well you perform on the Multi-Mini Interview, in combination with other components of the application (GPA, etc) will help determine if you get into the program.
