Family Physician Assessment
International Medical Graduate Assessment for Conditional Licensure (IMGACL)

What is the IMGACL?

  • It is an assessment program for family physicians
  • IMG physicians are expected to have the skills on par with rural family physicians in Manitoba
  • IMG’s in the IMGACL will work as family physicians in rural underserviced areas of Manitoba for return of service

How am I assessed in the IMGACL?

  • Assessment is 3 months long
  • Conducted in rural and/or city locations, often multiple locations
  • May have multiple preceptors
  • The 3 components are:
    • Clinic 1 (4 weeks)
    • Clinic 2 (4 weeks)
    • Acute care in ER setting (4 weeks)
  • The 3 components are often distinct 4 week periods, but not necessarily
  • IMG physicians are evaluated after each rotation
  • Poor evaluation in any of the 3 components will result in immediate release from the program

If I apply, will I be admitted to the IMGACL?

  • An application does not guarantee admission
  • IMGACL is a competitive program
  • IMGACL has a new admission process that parallels the MLPIMG

How do I apply to the IMGACL?

  • Check to see if you meet the requirements of the program (see Eligibility)
  • Downloadable instructions on how to apply to IMGACL are available.
  • The application and selection process is the same for all applicants—there are no exceptions
  • Candidates must meet the requirements for conditional registration with CPSM (Shortlisted applicants only will be asked to submit an application to the CPSM for Conditional Registration)
  • The application process involves 3 main steps:
    • Application – review of Applicant credentials and experience
    • CAPE Assessment
    • Interview
  • Top ranked candidates at each step to go to the next step in a reverse pyramid manner
    • Proceeding to one step does not guarantee movement to the next step,
      i.e. A candidate may be selected to write the CAPE but may not be selected for the interview
  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure
  • The program is not responsible for missing documents or incomplete packages

Details of each step of the application process

  1. Application
    1. Fill in the IMGACL Application
      1. It must be completed, a Curriculum Vitae will not substitute
    2. Have all the exams and tests that you have completed included in the package or sent separately and ensure they will arrive on time (check important dates)
      1. English proficiency exam
      2. MCCEE and MCCQE1 (required) and MCCQE2(optional)
      3. Reference letters
      4. Immigration status
    3. Applications are reviewed and ranked
    4. Applicants must meet the requirements for conditional registration (Shortlisted applicants only will be asked to submit an application to the CPSM for Conditional Registration) (see conditional registration below)
    5. Highest ranked applicants are invited for the CAPE
    6. Not all applicants will be invited for the CAPE
  2. Conditional Registration  
    1. Granted from College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM)
    2. Candidates must meet the requirements for conditional registration
      1. Website: http://www.cpsm-secure.com/3_2_10_conditional.php
      2. Forms & requirements: http://www.cpsm.mb.ca/7_1_conditional.php
    3. Must be received by CPSM by IMGACL specified due date
    4. Must be approved by CPSM prior to interview step in process 
    5. It is candidate’s responsibility to ensure these deadlines are met
  3. CAPE Assessment
    1. Clinicians Assessment and Professional Enhancement (CAPE)
    2. CAPE is a measure of your performance relative to provincial standards for physician practice
    3. 3-day assessment
    4. 4 components
      1. Multiple choice questions
      2. Structured oral interview
      3. Therapeutics assessment
      4. Clinical and communication skills evaluation using standardized patient scenarios
    5. Information about how to prepare for the CAPE is sent to invited applicants only
    6. The results of the CAPE and the application rankings are analyzed and form a ranking
      The ranking is used to select individuals to be invited for an interview
  4. Interview        
    1. Personal interview-- lasts 30 minutes
    2. Not a knowledge interview
    3. Two or more interviewers independently rate candidates’ answers
    4. Structured questions are the same for all applicants
    5. Applicants are responsible for their transportation to the interviews
  5. Acceptance into the IMGACL
    1. Stages of the application process are weighted as follows:
      1. Application details (10%)
      2. CAPE (50%)
      3. Interview (40%)
    2. Committee reviews and tallies scores for individuals
    3. Highest ranking applicants will be offered positions in MLPIMG

Getting ready for the IMGACL

  1. You will be interacting with multiple departments and agencies (Important organizations)
  2. You have conditional registration with CPSM
  3. Obtain written offer of employment from a Regional Health Authority (RHA), private clinic, hospital, or other employer that will include
    1. Funding for the assessment (16 weeks) and orientation (4 weeks) by RHA/employer
    2. Return of service agreement
  4. Employment
    1. Employers are RHAs, hospitals, or private clinics 
    2. Employment will be rural
    3. Physician Resource Coordination Office (PRCO) will facilitate job offer and agreements http://www.healthemployment.ca/
    4. Meet and greet is offered by Manitoba Health (MH) to meet employers and facilitate job offers
  5. Assessment
    1. 3 months in duration
    2. Assessment sites cannot be verified in advance and may be in multiple locations
    3. It is the responsibility of the candidate to arrange for and cover the cost of their accommodations during the assessment.  
    4. The IMG Program will arrange for the assessment and inform candidates of the location.
  6. Orientation
    1. Mandatory
    2. 4-week structured orientation for all IMG’s  (Orientation)
    3. Conducted in Winnipeg
    4. Prepares candidates for the Canadian Health Care System
    5. Salary during this period is provided by the Sponsor and is based on attendance
    6. Candidates must arrange for and cover the cost of their accommodations during orientation

Post-training
Successful candidates will:

  1. Obtain conditional licensure
  2. Work for their sponsor (employer) for return of service
  3. Mentorship - International Medical Graduate Mentorship and Clinical Enhancement (IMGMCE)
    1. Physicians are assigned a mentor for a 1 year term
    2. Must complete reports
  4. Assigned a practice supervisor for the duration of their conditional licensure
  5. Mandatory audits
  6. Have 5 years to obtain Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)
  7. Have 7 years to obtain Certificate of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP)