When you make the decision to become a doctor, you’re set on a lifelong path of hard work, grit, compassion, and commitment to serving others. All of this requires planning, patience, and a vision. If the medical field is calling you, read on to find out how you can work your way to a thriving and rewarding career in medicine and practice as a doctor in Canada.

1. Complete your undergraduate degree

Typically, those en route to becoming a doctor will opt for a Bachelor of Science degree, but that does not mean you can’t get into medical school with another degree. As long as you’ve completed those core pre-requisite courses such as chemistry and biology with a good GPA, you’re eligible to apply. Don’t underestimate the value of volunteering in various labs to gain hands-on research skills! Your undergrad experience will help you build a solid foundation, and the greater the diversity of your experiences, the more attractive you will appear as a medical student candidate!

1. Write your MCAT

The MCAT, or the Medical College Admission Test, is a standardized exam that is written by prospective medical students and is a way to shine light on your excellent academic knowledge. Usually, prospective medical students will write their MCAT in their third year if they are planning to apply for medical school in their fourth year. The content of the exam is usually heavily focused on introductory-level biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and psychology. Allow yourself ample time and pace yourself as you study for this exam. While many medical schools rely on MCAT scores for admissions, there are several medical schools in the Caribbean that actually have exemptions to MCAT scores requirements. Read on to learn more about these schools!

1. Get ready for Medical School

Medical school will take 4 years to complete. In Canada, there are only 17 medical schools across the entire country, and enrolment into these 17 medical schools has remained stable over a span of a decade, instead of increasing over time with the country’s growing healthcare demands. This means that admission is extremely competitive in Canada. Some medical schools receive up to 1000 applications for only 100 spots for first-year medical students!

Instead of adding your application to the mix and gambling their prospects, many aspiring doctors opt to complete their medical degree abroad and return to Canada to complete their residencies and practice as independent physicians after completing their licensing exams. There are many Caribbean medical schools that are fully accredited and provide a competitive academic and hands-on experience with a degree that is in line with US and Canadian medical school systems, producing highly qualified doctors that are equipped to practice in North America. The American University of Barbados, School of Medicine (AUB) is one such medical school that is CAAM-HP accredited, which means that graduates are eligible to write their medical licensing exam. This brings us to the next step in the process to becoming a doctor in Canada…

1. Complete your Licensing Exam

In order to practice in Canada, an international medical student must write the MCCEE, or the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Exam. There are 2 parts to this exam, the Qualifying Exam Part I (MCCQEI) and Part II (MCCQEII). You will need to pass both parts in order to become a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) to practice as a doctor in Canada. As an international student, the advantage of studying at an accredited Caribbean medical school like the American University of Barbados, School of Medicine is that you are eligible to write the MCCEE as it is a recognized medical school by the Medical Council of Canada.

1. Residency

This is the step where you finally get to practice medicine in the field and receive critical training directly from other doctors! This step in the process can take between 2 to 6 years, depending on what type of medicine you decide to specialize in, such as neurology, oncology, or family medicine. In order to qualify for a residency in Canada, you must complete the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) exam after completing the MCCEE. If you are not a Canadian citizen, then you must also apply to be a permanent resident (PR).

It may seem like a long journey, but the satisfaction of being a part of a coveted and rewarding career path like medicine is parallel to no other. Becoming a medical student in the Caribbean, such as at AUB, School of Medicine in Barbados, is a highly desirable option for many Canadians for many reasons. It is as a top Caribbean medical school with reasonable admission requirements and affordable medical school tuition fees in comparison to other North American medical schools. Consider studying at AUB, School of Medicine to kickstart a successful step on your journey to becoming a doctor.