Residency: building your application

A program is a defined period of postgraduate medical education training in a specific discipline. All programs in the CaRMS match are accredited training programs.

Residency program accreditation in Canada is the responsibility of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Collège des médecins du Québec.

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

You fill in your personal details directly in CaRMS Online. The personal information CaRMS lists includes your date of birth, gender, citizenship and your MINC, and you can also add other medical identification numbers.

What the MINC is

The MINC (Medical Identification Number for Canada) is a unique, lifetime identifier for everyone who enters the Canadian medical education or practice system. It was developed to give a reliable way of identifying every individual in those systems.

How you get one

MINCs are issued by the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) or by a provincial or territorial medical regulatory authority, the prime users of the MINC system. The MCC gives you a MINC once your identity documents are reviewed and your exam application is approved.

Why CaRMS requires it

The MINC is mandatory in the CaRMS application because it gives CaRMS a seamless and secure way of verifying and processing applicant information and documents. CaRMS limits its use of the MINC to the purposes of the Application and Matching Program: it is a single, secure means of identifying applicants for registration, verification and document processing.

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

Yes. CaRMS lets applicants create a bilingual account in English and French. You may not submit an application in a language other than English and/or French.

To create a bilingual application, log into your CaRMS Online account, select Personal Information under the MY INFORMATION tab, and select Both English and French under Application Language.

If you apply to both French and English programs, CaRMS Online lets you control which programs receive French or English applications and documents. You must have a bilingual application to choose the language of your application to a specific program.

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

First complete the Declaration section under MY APPLICATION. Read the information carefully: the Declaration is mandatory before you can apply to programs. Then go to MY APPLICATION, select Applications to Programs, and confirm your status with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

You are done when, in "My Application - Applications to programs", you have:

• selected and added the programs you wish to apply to;
• assigned all necessary documents to each program; and
• submitted your application to each program.

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

There is no limit on the number of programs to which you can apply; however, an application fee may apply.

Opening of the article; the full answer is on CaRMS.

Official source: CaRMS help centre Updated by CaRMS 2026-04-23

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

Quoted from the official source on the date shown, trimmed and selected by me. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you act. This is not official or legal advice, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it. Disclaimer

Yes. Every match year, international medical graduates (IMGs) must transfer their Medical Council of Canada (MCC) exam results and documents from physiciansapply.ca to their CaRMS Online account. This applies to new and returning applicants alike, even if you took part in an earlier match.

Canadian medical graduates should not transfer their scheduled MCCQE exam.

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

When you schedule an MCC exam, the MCC reviews and accepts your identity documents. They remain valid in your physiciansapply.ca account for up to 10 years, depending on the expiry of the document you submitted. That period is your Identity Validity Period (IVP).

If it is available, you can transfer your IVP from physiciansapply.ca to your CaRMS Online account.

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

No. Programs only see your latest result and what you consent to share. When you connect physiciansapply.ca to CaRMS, the MCC lists "only the latest" MCCQE and NAC Examination results, and "only the most recent examination document" is added to your CaRMS account. You then choose whether each exam is shared with programs, and separately whether to share it if the result is a pass, a fail or other. Programs filter the scores you share by how far they sit above the pass score; there is no filter for attempts.

Programs also rarely ask about failed exams. In my census of all 875 program descriptions for the 2027 R-1 match, none asks how many attempts you took, and one program, University of Saskatchewan Pediatrics (its Regina and Saskatoon streams), asks for an explanation and a remediation plan if an exam was unsuccessful.

Previous unsuccessful matches: CaRMS says it "is not able to provide previous year match results" to programs. 39 of the 875 program descriptions ask you to explain an unmatched cycle: Dalhousie Family Medicine and Family Medicine integrated Emergency Medicine, Simon Fraser Family Medicine, and anesthesiology and pathology at Saskatchewan and Calgary.

One open question: documents from an earlier match stay in your CaRMS account, and CaRMS has not said whether a fail transferred in an earlier match year is replaced when a newer pass comes in. Many programs also ask you to explain failures during medical school, which your transcript and MSPR show. If a program or a form asks about your exam history, answer truthfully.

Correction, September 2026: I first answered that most programs ask you to mention a failed exam or a previous unmatched cycle. A follower questioned it, I checked the program descriptions and the CaRMS help centre, and they were right.

Official source: Medical Council of Canada: physiciansapply.ca transfers to CaRMS Online (MCC guide, November 2020) Checked 2026-09-30

• CaRMS: Why does my MCC exam say "Incomplete Record"? (sharing consent for pass, fail and other)
• CaRMS: How do I assign any examination scores and documents to my applications?
• CaRMS: Why were the MCCQE examination filters changed in CaRMS Online?
• CaRMS: Can our program access match results from a previous match year?
• CaRMS: Will my documents still be available if I participate in a future match?
• CaRMS: R-1 program descriptions (2027 match)

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

Through physiciansapply.ca, free of charge for organizations registered with the MCC, and through the MCC's File Transfer Service, for a fee, for any other organization.

Organizations registered with the MCC

Organizations must register with the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) to receive credentials through physiciansapply.ca. The Canadian medical organizations on the MCC's list are the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. There is no fee for sharing documents with organizations registered with the MCC.

The CaRMS match

CaRMS can transfer these documents from your physiciansapply.ca account: your Medical Council of Canada examination scores, your medical school transcript, and your diploma. Transfer the diploma only if you do not already have a diploma in the Document Tracking section of your CaRMS Online account.

Organizations not registered with the MCC

You can still give them access to documents in the repository through the File Transfer Service. It covers source-verified medical credentials, the Educational Credential Assessment report, individual examination results, and the Registration and examination summary. A fee applies per document. If you transfer more than 4 documents to the same third party in a single transaction, you are charged for only 4. The organization receives an email when the files are transferred and must access them within 30 days.

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

If a program lists the CV as a required document, it means an independent document that you create, even if your "My Information" section holds the same information. A CV is a brief account of your education, qualifications and previous occupations.

Check the program descriptions of your selected programs to see whether they request a custom CV or résumé and what information they want in it. Programs do not see the document title, so you can create several versions for different programs.

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

Personal letters express your interest in the programs you are applying to. You must create them in the "Documents - Personal letter" section of CaRMS Online: fill in the required fields, then click SAVE. You cannot upload a personal letter as an extra document.

Only one personal letter can be assigned to each program. The system will not let you assign more than one to the same program.

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

The CaRMS application is meant to be self-serve and most application documents can be uploaded directly into your account.

Opening of the article; the full answer is on CaRMS.

Official source: CaRMS help centre Updated by CaRMS 2026-04-01

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

Quoted from the official source on the date shown, trimmed and selected by me. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you act. This is not official or legal advice, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it. Disclaimer

The photograph is intended to be used solely for identification during interviews and not for evaluation or selection purposes. It is therefore masked from file reviewers/ programs until 3 days prior to interview period. A professional-looking head shot should be used wherever possible.

Opening of the article; the full answer is on CaRMS.

Official source: CaRMS help centre Updated by CaRMS 2026-08-01

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

Quoted from the official source on the date shown, trimmed and selected by me. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you act. This is not official or legal advice, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it. Disclaimer

You must assign documents to each program you apply to. Under MY APPLICATION, select Applications to Programs, then click the pencil icon in the ACTIONS column to assign the requested documents to that program.

To assign one or more documents to several programs at once, click MASS ASSIGNMENT on the Applications to programs page. Select the documents in the table on the left, select the programs in the table on the right, and click ASSIGN.

Application materials marked as required in a program description are assigned automatically.

Exam scores

A program can request either the score of an examination only, or the score and the document(s). If a program requests only the score, make sure you either enter the score in the right section under My Information or transfer it from the institution concerned, depending on the exam.

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

If you decide to assign additional documents, make sure they are value-added documents only that can showcase your sincere interest in that program or discipline (publications, evaluations, etc). Otherwise, it is best to only assign documents that the program has specifically requested in their program description.

Official source: CaRMS help centre Updated by CaRMS 2026-01-30

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

Quoted from the official source on the date shown, trimmed and selected by me. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you act. This is not official or legal advice, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it. Disclaimer

It is strongly recommended to avoid using reference letters from individuals who pose a conflict of interest in terms of familial and/or personal relationships as this could go against the “Failure to act in a professional or ethical manner” clause of the Match violations policy.

Opening of the article; the full answer is on CaRMS.

Official source: CaRMS help centre Updated by CaRMS 2026-02-06

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

Quoted from the official source on the date shown, trimmed and selected by me. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you act. This is not official or legal advice, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it. Disclaimer

If a letter is submitted early, CaRMS will notify applicants if the specialty in their letter of reference does not match the specialty stated on the request coversheet. If the letter is uploaded by a referee through CaRMS Online, we try our best to spot check them as a courtesy but it is not a guarantee.

Official source: CaRMS help centre Updated by CaRMS 2026-04-01

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

Quoted from the official source on the date shown, trimmed and selected by me. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you act. This is not official or legal advice, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it. Disclaimer

As outlined in clause 5.17 of the CaRMS Applicant Agreement, reference requirements may change between match cycles. References submitted for a previous match cycle are not guaranteed to meet current requirements and may be removed from an applicant’s account.

Opening of the article; the full answer is on CaRMS.

Official source: CaRMS help centre Updated by CaRMS 2026-09-27

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

Quoted from the official source on the date shown, trimmed and selected by me. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you act. This is not official or legal advice, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it. Disclaimer

Each is valid for one match cycle only, that is, both the first and the second iteration of one R-1 match.

The Casper test

The Casper must be taken each year. Under the policy of the exam centre, Acuity Insights, a result is valid for one match cycle only. Any Casper written before that match year's test sessions is no longer valid and is removed from all applications, so last year's result cannot be reused. If you take the test for the first iteration of an R-1 match, you cannot take it again in the second iteration of the same cycle. More information and registration: https://acuityinsights.app/casper/

The FMProC

The FMProC must be taken each year. Under the exam centre's policy it is valid for one match cycle only (for example, both iterations of an R-1 match). More information: https://fmproc.com/

The AIMG MMI

Your result is valid for one match cycle (both iterations of the R-1) and expires at the close of that cycle. More information: https://www.aimg.ca/assessments/multiple-mini-interviews/

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

The Family Medicine Professional Choices Assessment (FMProC) is a 70-minute online Situational Judgement Test (SJT). It helps family medicine programs assess four attributes that are critically important to being a family physician: professional integrity, adaptability, team-working skills, and empathy and compassion.

CaRMS's newer article (updated 2026-05-14) says the FMProC is required for all family medicine programs in the R-1 match. An older CaRMS article said certain family medicine programs in the 2026 R-1 Main Residency Match would require it. More information: https://fmproc.com/

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

This answer is my reading of the official source, not official or legal advice. It may be incomplete, out of date or wrong, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it: confirm on the official page before you act. Disclaimer

Information on registering for the FMProC is available here: https://fmproc.com/ Once registered, you will be able to complete the assessment within the offered assessment “window”. You need a device with reliable, online access and an enabled camera. The use of a cell phone to access the test is not recommended.

Opening of the article; the full answer is on CaRMS.

Official source: CaRMS help centre Updated by CaRMS 2026-04-01

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

Quoted from the official source on the date shown, trimmed and selected by me. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you act. This is not official or legal advice, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it. Disclaimer

If you are participating in the first iteration of the 2027 R-1 match, you must assign your FMPRoC score to programs by the application deadline of November 26, 2026 at 12:00 (noon) ET.

Opening of the article; the full answer is on CaRMS.

Official source: CaRMS help centre Updated by CaRMS 2026-09-22

Writing your CaRMS CV and personal letter? The recorded session and four files: CV and Personal Statement for CaRMS

Quoted from the official source on the date shown, trimmed and selected by me. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you act. This is not official or legal advice, and I take no responsibility for decisions made on it. Disclaimer