Ontario accepting applications for internationally trained doctors to fight coronavirus

International medical graduates who have already passed their exam to practice medicine in Canada or who graduated from medical school within the past two years now have the opportunity to apply for a temporary license that will allow them to work in Ontario.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is allowing candidates who have not yet secured a Canadian medical residency position to apply for Supervised Short-Duration Certificates.

These certificates will allow international medical graduates to practice in Ontario for 30 days, with the possibility to continue working for longer if their temporary license is approved for renewal.

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International medical graduates in Canada may be eligible for this opportunity if they have:

completed a medical degree from an accredited medical school;
practiced medicine full-time within the previous two years (including medical school);
confirmation of employment from one of the approved categories of facilities laid out in the Medicine Act, including public hospitals; and
identified a supervisor.

In order to apply, the CPSO requires a confirmation of employment directly from the hospital, which can be sent to inquiries@cpso.on.ca.

Certificates have been issued since last month, however few doctors have applied, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports. Ten out of the 12 doctors that applied before April 3, obtained certificates through this program.

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