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December 3, 2024 5:46 pm (GMT)

June 2022 Newsletter

In This Issue:

  • MCCQE1 Dates
  • Compensation in Canada
  • Featured Opportunity
  • Qualifying to Practice in Alberta
  • Opportunities to Practice Across Canada
  • Need help with the PhysiciansApply.ca account?

MCCQE1 Exam Dates

The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam (MCCQE1) is required for licensing as a medical doctor in Canada, among many other requirements! There is no longer a MCCQE2.

The MCCQE Part I is a summative examination that assesses the critical medical knowledge and clinical decision-making ability of a candidate at a level expected of a medical student who is completing their medical degree in Canada.

The remaining dates in 2022 are August 17 – September 21 and October 19, 2022 – November 9.

In 2023, the dates of the MCCQE1 will be:

January 25 – February 22
April 12 – May 24
August 23 – September 20
October 18 – November 8
The ability to schedule for a particular period is approximately 6 weeks in advance.

The results are available approximately eight weeks after the session’s last day. It is important to consider this period when determining when you will arrive in Canada.

Compensation in Canada

There are several ways Canadian physicians are compensated.

Fee-for-Service (FFS)

This is by far the most common payment method. For each patient you see and treat you will earn a payment from a provincial government. This amount varies by the service provided and the province where you are practicing. Usually, the clinic where you practice will have a person who bills the government on your behalf. Then the clinic will deduct a percentage to pay for clinic space, staff wages, computer services, medical supplies, and other overhead. The percentage is usually 30% but can be more or less. A downtown location might charge 35% because of the higher clinic rents they pay. A very low percentage, possibly 15%, will usually indicate a clinic owner desperate for a physician. Be wary of these low percentages as the clinic may be very poorly run.

The benefit of Fee-for-Service is that you can create a very high income for yourself, and you have greater autonomy as to when you work. GP’s can make £600,000 working very long hours – a great way to fatten your bank account. Of course, most doctors need time for their families and themselves, so £160,000 – £225,000 is more realistic and this is after the overhead deduction.

Guaranteed Salary or Alternative Payment Program

A guaranteed salary is available working on government contracts in a few cases. Yes, it is nice to have a guaranteed base salary, but you may soon be disappointed if you are practicing beside someone on a Fee-for-Service model. Guaranteed salaries are usually available in situations where it is hard to generate a significant FFS income.

Doctors find that they are essentially working for the government and that comes with far less autonomy and considerably more admin reporting.

Other Payment Models

Much less popular are Blended Payments, Enhanced FFS, Population Based Funding, and Value Based Compensation.

These payment models provide enhanced payments by offering both FFS and additional payments. These might be for quality longitudinal care, chronic disease management, maternity care, mental health care and care for the elderly. Sometimes a group practice is paid an amount that is distributed by the clinic, or an annual payment is made for registered family practice payments (called capitation payments).

Depending on which province in Canada one is practicing, the FFS model will account or 70-85% of all payments made to GP’s.

Featured Opportunity - Cowichan Valley, BC/b>

We have been asked to recruit a GP for a wonderful clinic in the beautiful Cowichan Valley area of Vancouver Island. There are fourteen award-winning wineries in the Cowichan Valley. Imagine yourself sitting at an alfresco dinner set among the vineyards! Wine tasting with your friends is a great way to enjoy an afternoon.

The area is about 45 km north of Victoria and 45 km south of Nanaimo and has a population of 90,000. You will enjoy one of the best climates in all of Canada with temperatures ranging from an average of 5 C in December to 23 in August. Residents take advantage of four distinct seasons. You can ski in the winter at Mount Washington or golf, hike, sail, and fish for salmon in the summer.

The Clinic – You will enjoy practicing medicine in one of the best clinics in the Cowichan Valley. You will have two exam rooms (one could be used as an office). Hours are flexible within 8 am – 5pm weekdays, The clinic is closed weekends.

You can mold your practice as you desire. Estimated gross earnings are $350,000 – $600,000 (£200,000-£350,000) depending on the number of patients you see.

Nearby is excellent specialist support – internal medicine, general surgery, orthopedics, psychiatry, geriatrics, plastic surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, OB/GYN as well as physiotherapy, chiropractors, massage therapy, and alternative medicine practitioners.

If you are an outdoors type of family, this may be the best place to practice in all of Canada. All sports – cricket, baseball, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, and field hockey among others are all enjoyed!

The lifestyle is simply healthier – organic farms nearby, clean ocean air, interesting hikes and great schools for the mind!

Contact [email protected] to learn more about this position.

Qualifying to Practice in Alberta

If you want to practice in the beautiful province of Alberta, then it is now possible to be placed on the General Register as an independent physician if you have your Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) and an eligibility letter from the College of Family Practitioners of Canada.

Alberta is known for its natural beauty with many communities lying at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

The province’s two major cities are Calgary an Alberta. For many years, Calgary has been thought of as a “Western” town and Edmonton has been known for oil production. While this is still true to some extent, both cities have evolved into major metropolises with everything a major city can offer.

If you would like to explore opportunities to practice in Alberta, please email [email protected] for more information.

There are plenty of opportunities in clinics where your native Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu will be welcome by patients.

Opportunities to Practice Across Canada

Canada

There are opportunities for general practitioners across Canada whether you are looking for rural locations with smaller towns, practicing on an island, practicing in a major city or anywhere between.

Canada is a very multi-cultural country. Canadians come from a vast range of nations, races, religions, and heritage. This multicultural diversity comes from centuries of immigration. As a result, a diverse population is now one of the distinctive features of Canadian society.

Some examples of Canada’s official support of multiculturalism and diversity:

The government of Canada funds programs and projects which promote multiculturalism.
Police and military officers may wear a turban as part of their uniform if their religion requires them to wear one.
Michaëlle Jean, who was born in Haiti and immigrated to Canada with her family as a refugee when she was a child, served as a governor general of Canada.
The government of Canada values the population diversity and tries to protect the cultural heritage of its citizens. Through the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, the government encourages Canadians to take pride in their language, religion, and heritage, and to keep their customs and traditions, as long as they do not break any Canadian laws.

To find the perfect clinic for you to practice medicine in Canada, contact John Livingstone at [email protected]

At Canada Medical Careers there is never any cost to physicians for our recruitment services. Our clients pay the immigration legal fees for you to relocate to Canada. We have many openings across Canada and all communication is confidential. We offer personal, first-class service by Canadians based in British Columbia. We live here and know Canada.

Royal College of General Practitioners

MRCGP and Family Practice Exams in Canada

The College of Family Physicians of Canada is the recognized licensing authority for family physicians in Canada. Those physicians coming from the UK, Ireland, Australia, or the USA will usually not have to write the examination required to practice as a General Practitioner in Canada. Verification of your MRCGP, MICGP, FRACGP, FACRRM, or DABFM will be required. For more information on this certification visit CFPC.ca and check out the Education and Professional Development section. Members in good standing will use the CCFP certification.

We like questions!

It’s likely that you will have questions along your journey to practicing in Canada. Don’t hesitate to contact John Livingstone at: [email protected]

Or call WhatsApp +1 250-885-8802 (9 AM – 6 PM Pacific Time)