The Medical Council of Canada has published the next NAC Examination. It runs on Saturday, May 1, 2027. Applications open on November 18 and close on December 9, 2026, so if you plan to write it, you have three weeks to apply.
The dates
| Step | May 2027 session |
|---|---|
| Applications open | November 18, 2026 |
| Applications close | December 9, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Test accommodation documents due | January 5, 2027 |
| Last day to withdraw with a partial refund | January 5, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Last day to change your centre choices | January 12, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Last day to tell the MCC about a scheduling conflict | January 28, 2027 |
| Centre assignment in your physiciansapply.ca account | End of March 2027 |
| Exam | Saturday, May 1, 2027 |
| Results | Late June 2027 |
Every date is from the MCC’s NAC Examination scheduling page, read on October 22, 2026. The MCC says all dates are subject to change.
Where you can write it
The MCC lists eight centres for May 2027: Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton, London, Ottawa (marked FR on the MCC page), Toronto, Windsor and Saskatoon. Calgary, a September 2026 centre, is not on the May 2027 list. When you apply you rank up to three centres in order of preference, and the MCC assigns one.
Who cannot take this session
If you wrote the NAC in September 2026, you cannot write it in May 2027. The MCC’s rule:
“The NAC Examination cannot be taken in consecutive sessions (for example, a candidate who took the May 2024 NAC Examination will only be able to retake it in May 2025 or later).”
MCC, NAC Examination eligibility and application
You can take the NAC three times in total, whether you passed or failed before. Only your most recent result counts, and it does not expire.
What it costs
The application fee is $3,320. If you withdraw before the withdrawal deadline, January 5, 2027 for this session, the MCC refunds it less a $538 withdrawal fee (MCC examination and service fees).
What to do now
- Decide now whether May 2027 is your session. The MCC has not yet published a date for the fall 2027 session.
- Have your physiciansapply.ca account ready before November 18, so you can apply in the first days of the window.
- If you need test accommodations, gather the documents now. They are due on January 5, 2027.
- Pick your three centres before you apply. You can change them until January 12, 2027.
The MCC’s own advice on the same page: “If you have a deadline to meet for receiving your NAC Examination results, we strongly recommend taking the earliest exam date offered to allow for unforeseeable circumstances.”
Sources
- Medical Council of Canada, NAC Examination: scheduling and important dates (read October 22, 2026)
- Medical Council of Canada, NAC Examination: eligibility and application (read October 22, 2026)
- Medical Council of Canada, Examination and service fees (read October 22, 2026)
The format, the scoring and who needs the NAC are in the NAC exam, explained. Every date is also on the Deadline Radar. Preparing now? NAC: A Complete Strategy Guide and The 100-Day NAC Study Plan are built for it.
This is my reading of the MCC’s published dates and rules, written to help you plan. It is not official advice from the MCC, which is the final authority on your application. See the disclaimer.