Benefits Of An Eu Citizenship

[Maxwe11]

I'm currently looking at back-up plans for medical school in case Canada/US does not work out; however, I've realized that I am a dual citizen (Canada and EU). 

 

As an EU citizen, if I applied to an Irish Medical school, would my fees be lower (same fees towards an EU citizen)? In addition, if I were to apply to a residency, I would be seen an equal applicant to a native born EU citizen of Ireland? 

 

If the following are true, then would it be possible (with some difficulty) to come back and practice as a physician in Canada? I'm assuming this would depend on many factors, such as the province, the residency that I specialized in, etc. 

 

If someone who is knowledgeable about the benefits of applying to Ireland Medical schools as an EU citizen, or returning to practice medicine in Canada after residency mind helping me out? I would really appreciate it.

 

Thank you.

 

 

[Edict]

I'm currently looking at back-up plans for medical school in case Canada/US does not work out; however, I've realized that I am a dual citizen (Canada and EU). 

 

As an EU citizen, if I applied to an Irish Medical school, would my fees be lower (same fees towards an EU citizen)? In addition, if I were to apply to a residency, I would be seen an equal applicant to a native born EU citizen of Ireland? 

 

If the following are true, then would it be possible (with some difficulty) to come back and practice as a physician in Canada? I'm assuming this would depend on many factors, such as the province, the residency that I specialized in, etc. 

 

If someone who is knowledgeable about the benefits of applying to Ireland Medical schools as an EU citizen, or returning to practice medicine in Canada after residency mind helping me out? I would really appreciate it.

 

Thank you.

 

No for the fees, because you haven't lived there for the last 3 years so you haven't paid taxes. 

 

But for internship and residency i've heard you can be considered on the same level as an EU applicant. 

 

It would seem possible for sure if you did med school and residency in Ireland or Canada or the States to come back to Canada. Can't say i'm an expert on this but this is what I know so far. 

[jnuts]

Complex question.

 

EU citizenship is a huge benefit if you're thinking of going to Europe.  As a fall back you can easily integrate into their training system and are treated the same as a domestic graduate.  I was in your position and it made the decision to go to medical school in Ireland much easier as well as decreasing the stress of matching back tremendously.  One third of the North American students in my graduate entry program also held an EU citizenship. The common pathway for Irish EU grads is to start training in Ireland, the UK, or Aus.  There is good reciprocity between all of those jurisdictions.  If you have not lived in the EU for at least 3 of the past 5 years you will have to pay foreign fees for medical school.  If you have lived there you need to apply through the domestic stream and not through the Atlantic Bridge to benefit from lower domestic fees

 

After you're fully qualified in certain countries you can return to Canada, but you're correct that it depends on the province.  Here's the Ontario rules http://www.cpso.on.ca/Registering-to-Practise-Medicine-in-Ontario/Registration-Requirements .  Here are the BC rules https://www.cpsbc.ca/for-physicians/registration-licensing/applying/imgs/provisional . For additional provinces, just look for the provicial licensing authority and you should be able to find their rules and requirements.  Most provinces will grant some form of license if you are certified by the RCPSC (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) or CFPC (College of Family Practitioners of Canada).

 

For College certification, there is a big difference between family practice and specialties.  Here's the CFPC  link: http://www.cfpc.ca/RecognizedTraining/.  The CFPC recognizes training in the US, UK, Australia, and Ireland.  The advantage to the CFPC reciprocally recognized training is that you do not need to sit the CFPC (family practice) exams.  You do need to sit the MCC exams which are the Canadian general medical exams (some provinces will also except the USMLE). If you are planning to return to Canada I'd suggest taking the MCCEE/QE1/QE2 as soon as possible regardless of where you are training.  These exams are usually written in your last year of medical school and after your first year of postgraduate training.  If you waited until you could transfer, going back and re-learning undergraduate medicine after you've spent years specializing would be a huge headache.  

 

Specialties are different.  The RCPSC recognizes training from the US (ACGME), Hong Kong, the UK, Ireland, and Australia (http://www.royalcollege.ca/portal/page/portal/rc/credentials/start/routes/international_medical_graduates#jurisdiction).   Most importantly, the RCPSC recognition only entitles you to sit the Canadian specialty exam.  The RCPSC exams are very difficult and contain a lot of Canadian specific content and general consensus practice standards.  There are no standardized study resources. Any existing review material gets handed down through Canadian residency programs and is not generally shared.  It would be incredibly difficult to get through these exams if you had not trained in Canada.  Most foreign trained specialists I've met have academic appointments that allow you to avoid writing the RCPSC exams.  Additionally, RCPSC recognition is limited to certain foreign colleges and specialties.  You would also need to sit the MCC exams as described above.

 

There's an important caveat. Specialty training in the UK or Ireland is much longer than Canada.  To get to the level where a transfer back without residency is possible is a very long process.  Family medicine is at least 6 years, surgery is closer to 13.  Over those years there are multiple hurdles and progression is not a certainty.  The training consists of multiple programs and not a combined residency like Canada or the US. Junior doctors can stall out or struggle to gain admission to competitive specialty training streams.  While working towards full qualification (consultancy) the pay scale is certainly livable. However, if you have massive student debt, servicing it could push you pretty close to the poverty line.  Trainees who fail to progress continue in these lower paying positions almost indefinitely. 

 

Reciprocity is a developing area and the two Colleges are creating alternative pathways and programs.  Explore the RCPSC and CFPC websites to get a sense of future directions.  As always, predicting how this question could be answered in 10 years is difficult.

[funkyowl]

There has been a new rule brought in regarding how international students with dual EU citizenship are considered for an Irish internship compared with home students. You won't be considered on equal footing anymore. See: http://forums.premed101.com/index.php?/topic/89364-information-for-those-with-eu-citizenship-considering-irish-medical-schools/