The MCCQE (Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination) is a one-day, computer-based exam of 230 multiple-choice questions that tests medical knowledge and clinical decision-making at the level expected of a student finishing a medical degree in Canada. International medical graduates (IMGs) need a pass to apply to Canadian residency through CaRMS. A pass is also one of the criteria for the LMCC, and some Practice-Ready Assessment programs use it to select candidates. You write it in person at a Prometric centre, in Canada or in more than 70 other countries.
At a glance
- Questions
- 230 multiple-choice questionsTwo sections of 115, one best answer each
- Time
- Up to 2 hours 40 minutes per sectionA 6.5-hour appointment with an optional 45-minute break
- Where
- Prometric test centres onlyCanada and more than 70 countries. Remote proctoring stopped from the August 2026 session.
- Fee
- $1,500 CADPlus $232 to source-verify your degree and a one-time $150 physiciansapply.ca setup fee
- Pass score
- 439 on a scale of 300 to 600Results 4 weeks after the session, 5 after the April session
- Attempts
- Up to 4Attempts before 2018 do not count
- Sessions
- Four a yearBooked first-come, first-served. Every date: Deadline Radar
Also explained: The TDM exam · The NAC OSCE
Who needs the MCCQE?
IMGs applying to residency. To enter the CaRMS R-1 match you need results for both the MCCQE and the NAC Examination, and you can take them in either order. If you are applying for practice rather than residency, read on: the requirement depends on the route and the province.
Anyone who wants the LMCC. The Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) needs a pass on the MCCQE, a degree from an eligible school, and a source-verified degree. If you applied for the MCCQE after January 26, 2026, the MCC issues the LMCC automatically at no additional cost.
Some practice-ready routes. The MCC says the exam is used by some Practice-Ready Assessment programs to select candidates. Which ones is set by each program: the PRA comparison lists them for family medicine, and the PER licence table shows which provinces ask specialists for it.
In detail
Can you apply, and how?
You are eligible if you graduated from, or are a student at, a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools with a Canada Sponsor Note, a school accredited by CACMS, or a US school of osteopathic medicine. Students can apply up to 15 months before their expected graduation.
You apply through your physiciansapply.ca account. An international graduate can submit the exam application as soon as the source verification request for the medical degree has been submitted and paid. Once your application is accepted, you have a 12-month eligibility window to book and write the exam.
What the exam looks like
Each question has three to five options and one best answer, and there is no penalty for a wrong answer. The MCC suggests allowing about 1 minute and 23 seconds a question. Every question is classified on two axes, each with four domains and a published weighting. The dimensions of care are health promotion and illness prevention, acute care, chronic care, and psychosocial aspects. The physician activities are assessment and diagnosis, management, communication, and professional behaviours.
Studying by discipline alone misses this: the exam samples the blueprint, not a textbook's chapter order.
Scoring, results and attempts
Your total score is reported on a scale of 300 to 600, and the pass score is 439. Results come out 4 weeks after the last day of the January, August and October sessions, and 5 weeks after the April session. You can take the MCCQE up to 4 times. Starting the exam counts as an attempt, and attempts before 2018 do not count toward the limit.
Session dates for 2027
The MCC has published four 2027 sessions: January 19 to February 11, April 27 to June 1, August 10 to September 7, and October 5 to 26. Appointments open about five months before each session and go first-come, first-served, so the popular centres fill early. The Deadline Radar tracks every opening and result date.
The method I teach works in three layers (a content reference, Toronto Notes being the usual choice; a question bank run under time pressure; a schedule that forces spaced review instead of one linear read-through) and is written out in how to study for the MCCQE. Population health, ethics and Canadian law are the areas internationally trained physicians most often underestimate, and the free MCQ of the Day is written in Canadian clinical context.
From the Path to Practice Series
Common questions about the MCCQE for IMGs
More MCCQE questions, each with its official source: IMG FAQ Center.
Do IMGs need the MCCQE to apply for residency in Canada?
Yes. To apply to the CaRMS R-1 match, an international medical graduate needs results for both the MCCQE and the NAC Examination. You can take the two in either order.
Can I take the MCCQE outside Canada?
Yes. The exam is delivered at Prometric test centres in Canada and in more than 70 other countries. It is in person only: the MCC stopped remotely proctored appointments from the August 2026 session.
How much does the MCCQE cost?
The application fee is $1,500 CAD. An international graduate also pays $232 for the source verification of the medical degree and a one-time $150 to set up a physiciansapply.ca account.
What is the pass score for the MCCQE?
The total score is reported on a scale of 300 to 600, and the pass score is 439.
How many times can I take the MCCQE?
Up to 4 times. Once you start the exam, it counts as an attempt. Attempts before 2018 do not count toward the limit.
Do I still need to apply for the LMCC separately?
Not if you applied for the MCCQE after January 26, 2026. For those candidates the MCC issues the LMCC automatically at no additional cost once the criteria are met. Candidates who applied before that date apply through physiciansapply.ca.
Can I apply for the MCCQE before my degree is source verified?
You can submit the exam application as soon as the source verification request for your medical degree has been submitted and paid. You do not have to wait for the verification to finish before applying.
Sources (10), checked October 9, 2026
Every fact about the exam on this page comes from the Medical Council of Canada's own pages, read on October 9, 2026. Each fact also carries its source in the page code. The study advice is mine.
- Medical Council of Canada, MCCQE. Supports: the exam's purpose, 230 questions in two sections, four sessions a year, delivery in over 70 countries, the two-axis blueprint, use by some PRA programs.
- Medical Council of Canada, MCCQE eligibility and application. Supports: eligible schools, applying on physiciansapply.ca once the degree's source verification is submitted and paid, students up to 15 months before graduation, 4 attempts.
- Medical Council of Canada, MCCQE scheduling. Supports: in-person Prometric appointments only, the 12-month eligibility window, the 2027 session dates.
- Medical Council of Canada, MCCQE exam day. Supports: the 6.5-hour appointment, 2 hours 40 minutes per section, the optional break, time per question.
- Medical Council of Canada, MCCQE multiple-choice questions. Supports: three to five options, one best answer, no penalty for wrong answers.
- Medical Council of Canada, MCCQE results. Supports: the 300 to 600 scale, the pass score of 439, when results come out, the eight blueprint domains.
- Medical Council of Canada, Fees. Supports: the $1,500 MCCQE fee, the $232 source verification fee, the $150 account fee.
- Medical Council of Canada, Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC). Supports: the LMCC criteria and automatic issue after January 26, 2026.
- Medical Council of Canada, NAC Examination eligibility and application. Supports: both MCCQE and NAC results needed for the CaRMS R-1 match, in either order.
- Medical Council of Canada, The MCC pauses remotely proctored delivery of the MCCQE and the TDM Examination (news, June 23, 2026). Supports: the end of remote proctoring.
Independent explainer, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Medical Council of Canada; formats, fees and dates change, so confirm on mcc.ca before booking, and read the disclaimer.