Medical Genetics & Genomics: the Practice Eligibility Route
Requirements as published by the Royal College. Last reviewed August 2026.
Medical Genetics & Genomics at a glance
- Required time in training
- 5 yearsSTR: Five (5) years of approved residency training
- 2026 exam timing
- Written in the Fall; Applied in the Spring (following year)
- Apply for assessment of training
- by August 31 of the year before your exam
- Register for the exam
- February 1 – April 15 of the exam year
- Exam attempts
- Maximum 4 attempts per component within a 5-year eligibility period
The Royal College reads your postgraduate training and practice record in Medical Genetics & Genomics against the published Specialty Training Requirements. Those requirements are set out in full below, so you can see how your own training compares before you apply.
What licence can I get, and when?
Certification is national. Licensure is provincial. You do not need Royal College certification (FRCPC) to be licensed. Several provinces license you at an earlier PER stage, and the earliest any province accepts is the eligibility letter alone. The table applies to every specialty that reached exam eligibility through the PER.
Full province table: MCCQE, job offer and licence type
| Province | MCCQE | RC written | RC applied | Licence issued | Job offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Required | Required | Required | Full | Not required |
| British Columbia | Not required | Required | Required | Provisional | Required |
| Saskatchewan | Required | Required | Required | Provisional | Required |
| Manitoba | Not required | Required | Required | Provisional | Required |
| Ontario | Not required | Required | Not required | Provisional, 3 years | Required |
| Nova Scotia (a) | Not required | Not required | Not required | Defined, 6 to 24 months | Required |
| Nova Scotia (b) | Not required | Required | Required | Full | Required |
| New Brunswick | Not required | Not required | Not required | Special, then Defined | Required |
| Newfoundland & Labrador, PEI | Required* | Not required | Not required | Provisional | Required |
* The MCCQE may be waived where the candidate has five or more years of independent practice abroad. Case by case, never guaranteed.
Educational only. Rules change, and each regulator decides on factors that may not be listed here; Filipe Santos MD does not make licensure decisions. Checked October 9, 2026 against each regulator's pages; Ontario confirmed with the CPSO in October 2026. Confirm with the regulator before you act.
Province notes (Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the MCCQE) are in the PER guide.
How training is structured
The Royal College sets out the training for Medical Genetics & Genomics in the blocks below. An internationally trained specialist is assessed on whether their own training and practice record is comparable in structure and content.
Requirements document: 2009, Editorial Revision May 2016, Version 1.2 (applies to those who begin training on or after July 1st, 2010)
Required experiences10
Specific experiences the Royal College names for this discipline.
- 1.1 A minimum of twenty-four (24) blocks of basic clinical training, normally completed in the PGY1-2 years
- 1.1.1 A minimum of eight (8) blocks of Internal Medicine, including at least two (2) blocks of inpatient rotations outside a critical care unit (Adult Neurology may be substituted for up to two (2) blocks of Internal Medicine)
- 1.1.2 A minimum of eight (8) blocks of Pediatrics, including at least two (2) blocks of inpatient rotations outside a pediatric critical care unit and one (1) block of neonatal intensive care
- 1.1.3 A minimum of two (2) blocks of Maternal-Fetal Medicine or equivalent service providing fetal assessment and management of pregnancies at high risk due to maternal or fetal indications
- 1.1.4 A minimum of one (1) block or longitudinal equivalent focusing on general (non-genetic) counseling and communication skills
- 1.2 A minimum of thirty-six (36) blocks of approved residency in Medical Genetics and Genomics
- 1.2.1 A minimum of two (2) blocks in a cytogenetics laboratory
- 1.2.2 A minimum of two (2) blocks in a molecular genetics laboratory
- 1.2.3 A minimum of two (2) blocks in a biochemical genetics laboratory
- 1.2.4 A minimum of eighteen (18) blocks of Medical Genetics and Genomics, involving the care of a variety of patients of all ages with genetic and metabolic diseases
Flexible or selective components2
Where the requirements allow a choice.
- 1.1.5 A maximum of five (5) blocks of elective experiences relevant to Medical Genetics and Genomics, with a maximum of three (3) blocks in Medical Genetics and Genomics
- 1.2.5 A maximum of twelve (12) blocks of research or electives in areas relevant to Medical Genetics and Genomics, as approved by the candidate's program director and by the residency program committee
Common questions
More questions about specialists trained abroad, each answered once with its official source, are in the IMG FAQ Center.
What is the Practice Eligibility Route in Medical Genetics & Genomics?
The Practice Eligibility Route (PER) is the Royal College process by which an internationally trained specialist can be assessed for eligibility to sit the certification examination in Medical Genetics & Genomics without repeating a Canadian residency. The Royal College reads your postgraduate training and practice record against the published Specialty Training Requirements for the discipline.
What training does the Royal College expect in Medical Genetics & Genomics?
The Specialty Training Requirements describe five (5) years of approved residency training. The full block-by-block structure is set out on this page, taken from the Royal College document for this discipline.
Does meeting the training requirements guarantee eligibility?
No. Eligibility is a committee decision made on your individual file, and other factors are considered. This page reproduces the published requirements so you can see how your own training compares before you apply; it is not an eligibility ruling.
Where do I start?
Read the seven steps in the PER guide, then have your training mapped against the Specialty Training Requirements before you pay any fees. The free PDF for this specialty carries the steps, the document checklist, and the Medical Genetics & Genomics requirements in one file.
The Medical Genetics & Genomics guide as one PDF
The seven PER steps, your document checklist, and the Medical Genetics & Genomics training requirements in a single file. Free. Not sure the PER is your route? The screener checks your file against every route in about two minutes.
Other specialties27
Canadian clinical fellowships in Medical Genetics & Genomics are in the Fellowship Finder.
Adapted from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Specialty Training Requirements for Medical Genetics & Genomics. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Royal College; every application is reviewed individually and final decisions rest solely with the Royal College. Verify current requirements at royalcollege.ca.