Dear colleagues,
By now you will have likely heard that the MCCQE2 examination has been abolished. This is a profound victory for residents across Canada, as well as a significant relief for the thousands of residents this exam has impacted over the years. We have achieved this through strong provincial and national-level advocacy, ensuring that the voice of residents was heard clearly at all levels.
PARIM recognizes that this fight is not over until all affected residents are fully reimbursed for this exam, and are able to attain full licensure to practice medicine. To that end, here are a few answers to common questions, and actions that we will be taking to continue our advocacy:
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For added clarity, the MCCQE2 exam has been eliminated. It has not simply been postponed to a future time. There will likely be discussions over the months and years ahead to find an alternative for this exam, but there is no plan currently to bring it back as it exists today.
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The MCCQE2 exam will no longer be required to gain the LMCC designation. As such, a prior failure of this exam should not preclude you from getting your LMCC. All other LMCC requirements remain (MCCQE1, complete >12 months of residency, etc). For further details on your specific requirements, check the MCC website and/or the letter from RDoC.
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Assuming you have achieved the other required licensing credentials, receiving the LMCC designation should be sufficient for granting full licensure in Manitoba. We have reached out to the CPSM to formally confirm this point.
- Those who were scheduled to take the exam in Spring 2021 should expect to receive their LMCC within the next two months. All others will receive it at a later time, though we do not know exactly how long. We have asked the CPSM if candidates will have to wait until receiving their LMCC to gain full licensure, or if a mechanism will be available for full licensure with proof of LMCC eligibility. Since many of you will be entering practice shortly, we hope to have an answer for you as soon as possible. Feel free to reach out to the CPSM individually as well.
- Exam refunds will be processed within the next 30 days. While this is welcome news, remaining questions include: a) how will refunds be processed if you do not have the original credit card, b) will the MCC refund any processing fees, and c) what additional fees the MCC will charge to obtain the LMCC designation. While we don't have answers to all of these, know that we are aware of these concerns and will share more information with you as it becomes available.
We will continue to collect information and advocate for resident physicians in Manitoba until all of these issues are resolved. As always, please feel free to contact us if you have questions, comments or concerns.
Regards,
