US Residency Matching for Canadian Medical Graduates

[mayerofcanada]

Hi guys,

This question has probably been asked in various forms on this site, but I couldn't find anything specific to future changes (2026) and beyond, so I wanted to create a thread.

I'm wondering how matching into the US will be for 2026+ MD Grads from Canadian schools. Since ERAS will consider all CMGs in the same pool as IMG (status specifically), will that make things more challenging? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. I would like to apply to US schools, but I'm unsure if it's worth it with these new changes. 

As a CMG, would it be better to do residency in Canada and apply to CaRMS then go to the US via fellowship? 

Thanks!

[zoxy]

2 hours ago, mayerofcanada said:

Since ERAS will consider all CMGs in the same pool as IMG

There are no pools in the US. All positions are open to all candidates, regardless of their country of graduation.

2 hours ago, mayerofcanada said:

will that make things more challenging?

 You will need ECFMG certification which will require Step1 and Step2. Previously Canadians didn't need ECFMG certification, which negated the explicit need for Step 1 and 2, but this is essentially moot as programs wouldn't accept you without USMLEs.

2 hours ago, mayerofcanada said:

I would like to apply to US schools but I'm unsure if it's worth it with these new changes.

Why would you like to apply to US schools?  Being worth it or not is dependent on your career goals.

2 hours ago, mayerofcanada said:

As a CMG, would it be better to do residency in Canada and apply to CaRMS then go to the US via fellowship? 

Again, what are your career goals? Being better would depend on your career goals.

[bearded frog]

In general, there are very few and specific circumstances where it would be worth it for a CMG to spend the time/effort/money to build a compeditive US residency application at the potential expense of a Canadian one. An example would be if you were a dual citizen wanted to live and work in the US for personal reasons.

[mayerofcanada]

On 11/8/2022 at 11:28 AM, bearded frog said:

In general, there are very few and specific circumstances where it would be worth it for a CMG to spend the time/effort/money to build a compeditive US residency application at the potential expense of a Canadian one. An example would be if you were a dual citizen wanted to live and work in the US for personal reasons.

When you say "worth it" are you just referring to the extra hoops and hurdles one would have to go through to go to US as a CMG vs just staying and going through CaRMS

[bearded frog]

9 hours ago, mayerofcanada said:

When you say "worth it" are you just referring to the extra hoops and hurdles one would have to go through to go to US as a CMG vs just staying and going through CaRMS

Worth it to go through the application process. You have a limited amount of time for electives, USMLE studying/taking, and mental energy/lifetime to work on applications for residency. It would be very hard to build a compeditive US application with the USMLE, electives, letters, etc. while also not making some sort of sacrifice of elective or other time that could go towards a Canadian application.

In the end you may end up with two mediocre applications and find no love as opposed to a strong CaRMS app (or US app if you're gunning that way).