Postgraduate training

About

A Postgraduate Training licence is an educational licence that allows physicians to train in Nova Scotia.

For physicians enrolled in another Canadian training program and completing an elective at Dalhousie, download and complete the Postgraduate Training Licence – Elective Application Package.

If you are a postgraduate trainee and want to moonlight outside your training program, you must apply for a Postgraduate Practising licence.

Before you apply

Ensure you meet all licensing requirements listed in the credentials section below.
Verify your medical degree, postgraduate training, and specialty certificates using one of the following:
- physiciansapply.ca: Verification of credentials | Medical Council of Canada (mcc.ca)
- Federation Credentials Verification Service: FSMB | Federation Credentials Verification Service
- confirmation directly from the issuing institution to the College
Register for the Medical Council of Canada’s Qualifying Exam Part 1 (when applicable — see credentials checklist)

Credentials

Recognized medical degree

Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools with Canadian ‘Sponsor Notes’

Enrollment at Dalhousie

You must be accepted into a postgraduate training program at Dalhousie University.

Examinations

The Medical Council of Canada’s Qualifying Exam Part I must be attempted prior to starting your training program.

For graduates of medical schools outside of Canada, one of the following is required:

Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part 1
United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps 1 and 2
National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Parts I, II and III
Federation Licensing Examination (Flex) Components 1 and 2
Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Levels 1 and 2

These exam requirements do not apply for candidates who have trained outside of Canada, and are applying for an elective or fellowship at Dalhousie.

English language proficiency

You will be exempt from language testing if you have one of the following:

you successfully completed one of the following technical examinations in English:
- Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I
- College of Family Physicians of Canada certification examinations (written and oral)
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada certification examinations (written and oral)
a letter from your postgraduate training program confirming that your training was conducted in English and that the primary language for patient care was also in English
- please note this only applies if you completed your postgraduate training within the last 5 years

Otherwise, the College will require one of the following:

IELTS* – Academic taken within the 24 months prior to applying, with a minimum score of 7 on each component
OET – Medicine taken within the 24 months prior to applying, with a minimum score of B on each component
CELPIP* – General taken within the 24 months prior to applying, with a minimum score of 9 on each component

* The College will only accept the IELTS-Academic and CELPIP-General until January 1, 2027. Any test results dated before January 1, 2027, will be considered when determining an applicant’s ELP.

Completing your application

For applicants entering their first year of training at Dalhousie as a PGY1, complete the following application form: PGT-PGY1 Application Documentation Checklist (PDF, 1 MB)

For applicants who meet the following criteria:

Entering training at Dalhousie at a PGY2 level or higher; or
Licensed outside of Canada and completing an elective at Dalhousie; or
Completing a period of medical training at Dalhousie that is not part of a postgraduate training program

Please complete the following application form: Postgraduate Training Licence Application Package All Other (PDF, 572 KB)

After submitting the application form, your Registration Agent will set up your application in the system.

Once your application is set up, you will receive a notification and access to a list of documents required to complete your application for licensure.

The College acknowledges that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship. We also acknowledge that people of African descent have been in Nova Scotia for over 400 years, and we honour and offer gratitude to those ancestors.