Requirements

1. 1. Learner must complete the Visiting Electives Application Form. The application must be submitted to the PGME office at least eight weeks prior to the scheduled elective. Failure to comply with this timeline will result in denied permission to complete elective. The application may be submitted prior to collecting all of the required documents, however, the following items are still required to register for an elective:
      1. Proof of acceptance from the McMaster clinical program
      2. Written permission from the applicant’s home university program director (MUST state good standing of learner, elective dates, training level, and funding source)
         Note: The funding must be in accordance with the scale of remuneration of the PARO-CAHO Agreement
      3. Proof of current respiratory mask fit testing that will cover learner during the time of the elective
      4. Proof of liability insurance with the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)
      5. Proof of licensing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). Applicants should visit the CPSO website to begin the process at least eight weeks prior to the elective
   2. It is the responsibility of the learner to reach out to our program assistants to arrange scheduling for an elective
   3. A minimum of eight weeks prior to the elective, learners must complete the McMaster Health Screening Record and provide supporting documents to the McMaster Health Screening Office.
      1. Complete the McMaster Health Screening Record and attach back up documentation (I.e. home school immunization records, public health report, etc.) addressing all the required items listed on page two of the form
      2. Any questions about health screening should be directed to hrsadmin@mcmaster.ca

The applicant will be contacted by the PGME office and will be required to register in person prior to the start of the elective.

McMaster University is accepting international elective residents, however a 14 day self-isolation period is required prior to starting your elective training. You can find isolation accommodations on our COVID-19 website

International citizens in residency training at an international university require extensive paperwork to complete an elective at McMaster University. Preparations should be undertaken five to six months prior to the elective’s proposed start date. Failure to comply with this timeline will result in denied permission to complete an elective. Learners are responsible for all associated costs related to their elective at McMaster.

Requirements

1. Visiting Electives Application – Learners are expected to complete the McMaster postgraduate International electives application form and provide the following:
   1. 1. Acceptance letter from the McMaster program (including rotations, dates, hospital sites, and preceptor information):
         1. It is the responsibility of the learner to reach out to our program assistants to arrange scheduling for an elective
      2. Written permission from the learner’s home university program director which includes:
         1. Approval of the elective rotation dates
         2. Verification of the resident’s level of training and standing in the program
         3. Disclosure of the trainee’s medical school and year of graduation
         4. Description of the goals and objectives
      3. Letter from the trainee’s sponsoring agency, confirming its approval. If the international trainee’s sponsoring agency has not signed a postgraduate training agreement with the McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences, then the letter must confirm full financial support for the duration of the elective training and verify that this funding is in accordance with the scale of remuneration for Ontario residency trainees.
      4. Up-to-date curriculum vitae that includes (including applicant’s date of birth, citizenship status and e-mail address)
      5. Copy of passport
      6. Copy of medical degree (with English translation as well as original language, where applicable)
      7. Copy of medical school transcripts (with English translation as well as original language, where applicable)
      8. Copy of medical council of Canada evaluation exam results MCCEE (if taken)
2. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) License – candidates must be eligible for license with the CPSO, the body that regulates the practice of medicine in Ontario. CPSO requires that:
   1. The learner must be a PGY3 level or higher in a university residency training program of the same specialty they are applying to. Family Medicine residency trainees must be a minimum of PGY2 level
   2. The duration of the elective is limited to a maximum of six months
   3. The learner obtains a work authorization permit valid for McMaster University
   4. The language of patient care during previous training must have been in English or French
   5. The applicant successfully completes a two-week pre-entry assessment program (PEAP) during the first two weeks of training in order to continue in the elective rotation (USA residents are PEAP exempt)
3. Funding – Learners must be fully funded for the duration of the elective by an acceptable sponsoring agency.  Foreign governments and foreign government funded agencies are considered acceptable sources of funding for non-Canadian trainees.  The funding is required to be in accordance with the scale of remuneration of the PARO-CAHO Agreement
4. Work Permit – Learners must have a work permit that is valid for the duration of their elective. The PGME office will provide the learner with the work permit application information and a Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) approved letter of employment that will enable the appointee to apply for the appropriate work permit.
   1. 1. Note: Learners should begin work permit process at least three months in advance of the elective start date
5. A minimum of eight weeks prior to the elective, learners must complete the McMaster Health Screening Record and provide supporting documents to the McMaster Health Screening Office.
   1. Complete the McMaster Health Screening Record and attach back up documentation (I.e. home school immunization records, public health report, etc.) addressing all the required items listed on page two of the form
   2. Any questions about health screening should be directed to hrsadmin@mcmaster.ca

The applicant will be contacted by the PGME office and will be required to register in person prior to the start of the elective.

Learners can apply for an elective rotation outside the City of Hamilton at the distributed campus locations of McMaster University (Burlington, Grand Erie Six Nations, Halton, Niagara, Osler, and Waterloo).

To request an elective at a distributed campus, please complete the Distributed Campus Clinical Placement Application.  If there is capacity for your placement request, the Campus Coordinator will contact you directly to notify you.  If there is no capacity at your first choice campus location, it will be passed on to your second choice, etc. Once the Campus Coordinator approves the requested elective dates, they will request all other necessary documents.

PGME Requirements

1. Learner must complete the Distributed Campus Clinical Placement Application. The application must be submitted at least eight weeks prior to the scheduled elective. Failure to comply with this timeline will result in denied permission to complete the elective. The application may be submitted prior to collecting all of the required documents, however, the following items are still required to register for an elective:
   1. Proof of acceptance from the McMaster clinical program
   2. Written permission from the applicant’s program director at home university (MUST state good standing of learner, elective dates, training level, and funding source)
      1. Note: The funding must be in accordance with the scale of remuneration of the PARO-CAHO Agreement
   3. Proof of liability insurance with the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)
   4. Proof of licensing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). Applicants should visit the CPSO website to begin the process at least eight weeks prior to elective
2. A minimum of eight weeks prior to the elective, learners must complete the McMaster Health Screening Record and provide supporting documents to the McMaster Health Screening Office. This does not apply to current McMaster PGME learners.
   1. Complete the McMaster Health Screening Record and attach back up documentation (I.e. home school immunization records, public health report, etc.) addressing all the required items listed on page two of the form
   2. Any questions about health screening should be directed to hrsadmin@mcmaster.ca

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