Re-entry

The Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office recognizes that physicians in practice may discern they wish to change their scope of practice to an entirely different area of medicine which requires retraining. The PGME Office will receive applications from such physicians for a small number of residency positions allocated annually for this purpose. Not all programs are available every year.

Principles of Re-entry:

  1. Re-entry positions must not be in competition with trainees entering through any annual selection process which takes place either through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS), other matching organizations, or independent of these (i.e. programs that are not yet part of a national matching process).
  2. Re-entry position allocations are prioritized based on a combination of physician resource need for the discipline and program capacity.
  3. Re-entry position funding is not guaranteed and is subject to grant funding.

Eligibility & Limitations of Re-entry Applicants

  1. Any physician in Canada currently in unrestricted practice, for at least five (5) years, is eligible for this re-entry process
    1. Preference will be given to physicians currently living and working in Alberta
    2. Physicians in unrestricted practice who are currently enrolled in a postgraduate residency program are not eligible
  2. International medical graduates who have not done their postgraduate training in Canada are not eligible for this re-entry process
  3. Applicants may only submit an application for a maximum of two (2) programs
  4. Applicants must meet the licensing criteria for registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) for postgraduate education.

Selection Criteria (including but not limited to):

This is a competitive process. There are a small number of positions available and no program has designated spots. Selection criteria include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  1. Length of continuous practice (preferably in Alberta)
  2. Physician resource need for the discipline of application
  3. Program capacity
  4. Appropriateness of individual applicants as determined by the program and based on academic record and references

APPLICATION PROCESS

Re-entry Applicants funded by Canada's Department of National Defense

Re-entry applicants funded by Canada's Department of National Defense should follow the below application timeline and submission requirements. Further questions can be directed to pgspon@ualberta.ca.

Application Timeline

Application Deadline: Sunday, December 1, 2024
File Review & Interview Period: December 2, 2024 to February 9, 2025
Latest Decision Date (by which candidates are notified): Friday, March 4, 2025
Start of Training: July 1, 2025
Number of Positions Available: To be determined; typically 2-3 positions total

Please note that information about program availability will not be posted online. Applicants should apply for the program of interest and will be informed of availability following the application deadline.

Application Submission

Applications must include the following:
  1. Re-entry Application Form (download the form, fill it out, then submit one form per application, to a maximum of two applications)
  2. A Personal Letter of Interest (please indicate the name of the program you are applying for and the reason for application)
  3. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  4. Three (3) Letters of Reference (referees should send these directly to pgspon@ualberta.ca)
  5. If currently in practice in Alberta, a copy of current CPSA licensure

All documents must be submitted no later than the application deadline noted above. Late applications will not be considered.

All applications must be submitted electronically via email to pgspon@ualberta.ca.