Introduction
Medical training in Canada can be roughly separated in two distinct steps. The first step, the MD portion of the curriculum, is also divided in two: pre-clerkship  (2 to 3 years) centered on knowledge acquisition, and then clerkship (1.5 years to 2 years) with its clinical-based teaching. Once students have finished their medical degree, they must complete a residency (also known as postgraduate education) in the university of their choice before beginning their practice. The admissions process from MD education to residency is organised by CaRMS.

Description

“The Canadian Resident Matching Service is a not-for-profit organization that works in close cooperation with the medical education community, medical schools and residents/students, to provide an electronic application service and a computer match for entry into postgraduate medical training throughout Canada.” From www.carms.ca

The match process is based both on student and medical school rankings. While CaRMS has been used in English-speaking faculties of Canada for the last 40 years, candidates from Quebec schools have only been using the system since 2006. Since then, CaRMS has allowed Quebec students to easily match in residency programs throughout Canada.

The CaRMS’s Process
CaRMS is an entirely computer-based system that allows candidates to complete their application online. Once the applications are validated by the program directors, selected candidates will be convened for an interview. Once the interviews are completed, candidates rank all their individual options according to their preference of residency site and speciality. It is not required that candidates rank all the programs in which they applied, even if they have gone though the interview process. The CaRMS’ algorithm then proceeds to establish the match by pairing rankings from the candidates and the residency programs. It is important to be aware that the CaRMS’ match has a binding nature and that matched candidates are required to work as residents in the program in which they have matched for at least one full year.

If a candidate does not successfully match after the first iteration, he or she can take part in the second iteration of the match. The candidate will have to go through the same process and can apply to vacant residency spots.

My Application to CaRMS
Your CaRMS application is based on the requirements of the residency program you are applying to. It includes:

• Your dean’s letter
  • It varies by university, but generally reports on your activities in medical school.
• Your medical school transcript
  • It is directly sent to CaRMS by your medical school.
• A picture
  • It should be as professional as possible.
• Your CV;
• A letter of motivation
  • The content of the letter will vary by program and university.
• Letters of reference (generally two or three)
  • They can be written by staff members or by any other significant individual in your curriculum. When choosing your references, the question that needs to be answered is: “Who will be best able to recommend my application to this specific program at this specific university?” An individual can write more than one reference letter for different universities and residency programs;
• Letters of approval or support.
  • They are required for some programs.
  • These are less personal than the letters of recommendation.
  • An individual must approve your candidacy by confirming you are adequate as a candidate by completing an approval document.
  • This individual may be someone that has written one of your reference letters.

Candidates are not allowed to read the letters of reference or approval. It is suggested that students prepare prepaid and preaddressed envelopes for their referees. Mail tracking can also be quite anxiolytic for students!

Translation, if needed, is at the expense of the candidate. For the reference letters, it is suggested that you prepare two prepaid and preaddressed envelopes, one for your referee to mail the letter to the translator and another from the translator to CaRMS.

Myths

• You must have completed an elective in the program you are applying to: FALSE.
  • A Good academic record, reference letters and an interview explaining the interest of a candidate for the residency program can suffice.
• You must have completed an elective in the university you are applying to: FALSE.
  • Look around and you will see living examples of residents that had not completed any electives in their residency university.
• There is only one interview for the Family Medicine programs in the three francophone universities: TRUE.
  • Applicants will have an interview with randomly-selected interviewers from two out of the three universities. Each interviewer’s notes are independent and are sent to each Family Practice Unit the applicant has applied to.
• Couples can apply jointly to CaRMS: TRUE.
  • A specific algorithm prioritizing a common residency location is used for the match process.

Timetable for 2010-2011
September 8^th 2010: CaRMS’ Applicant Webstation (AWS) opens
November 26^th 2010: Deadline for completing applications
December 1^st 2010: Program directors begin to review the applications
January 22^nd to February 13^th 2011: CaRMS’ interviews
February 22^th 2011: Deadline for submitting rank order list
March 7^th 2011: Match day!

The FMEQ and CaRMS

• Any complaints or questions? Please go to our website (www.fmeq.ca) or get directly in touch with the representative to pedagogical affairs (pedagogique@fmeq.ca).
• Position on the CaRMS’ Board of Directors:
  • There is presently no student representative for the three francophone Quebec schools on the CaRMS’ Board. The FMEQ has asked the CaRMS’ Board for official representation and we hope to get a favourable response during the upcoming autumn 2010 trimester. We do however remain in close contact with CaRMS to defend your concerns and to improve the match process.

For more information
www.carms.ca
www.fmeq.ca