Family medicine and other specialties examinations

Family medicine and 53 other specialties are officially recognized in Québec (Appendix 1 of the Regulation respecting the terms and conditions for the issuance of the permit and specialist's certificates by the Collège des médecins du Québec).

In order to demonstrate his/her ability to practice medicine independently, the candidate must successfully complete the final exam in family medicine or the exam corresponding to his/her specialty. The final exam includes one or more components that are administered by an organization with which the Collège des médecins du Québec’s Board of Directors has concluded an agreement. This organization also determines the candidate’s eligibility for the final exam.

The prerequisite exams for the issuance of a CMQ permit to practice and specialist’s certificate are harmonized with those of the

  • College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) in the case of the specialty of family medicine; or the
  • Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) in the case of the 53 other specialties.

Eligibility for the final exam is determined by the CFPC or RCPSC. Candidates must register for the final exam with the CFPC or RCPSC in accordance with the terms and conditions established by these organizations.

Family Medicine / Postdoctoral training

Family Medicine / 24 months

Other specialties / Postdoctoral training

Adolescent Medicine / 60 months
Anatomical Pathology / 60 months
Anesthesiology / 60 months
Cardiac Surgery / 72 months
Cardiology (adult or pediatric) / 72 months
Clinical Immunology and Allergy / 60 months
Colorectal Surgery / 72 months
Community Medicine / 60 months
Critical Care Medicine (adult or pediatric) / 60 months
Dermatology / 60 months
Diagnostic Radiology / 60 months
Emergency Medicine / 60 months
Endocrinology and Metabolism / 60 months
Forensic Pathology / 72 months
Gastroenterology / 60 months
General Pathology / 60 months
General Surgery / 60 months
General Surgical Oncology / 84 months
Geriatric Medicine / 60 months
Gynecologic Oncology / 84 months
Hematological Pathology / 48 months
Hematology / 60 months
Infectious Diseases / 60 months
Internal Medicine / 48 months
Maternal-Fetal Medicine / 84 months
Medical Biochemistry / 60 months
Medical Genetics / 60 months
Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases / 60 months
Medical Oncology / 60 or 72 months
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine / 60 months
Nephrology / 60 months
Neurology / 60 months
Neuropathology / 60 months
Neurosurgery / 72 months
Nuclear Medicine / 60 or 72 months
Obstetrics and Gynecology / 60 months
Occupational Medicine / 60 months
Ophtalmology / 60 months
Orthopedic Surgery / 60 months
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery / 60 months
Pediatrics / 48 months
Pediatric Emergency Medicine / 60 months
Pediatric General Surgery / 84 months
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology / 72 months
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation / 60 months
Plastic Surgery / 60 months
Psychiatry / 60 months
Radiation Oncology / 60 months
Respirology (adult or pediatric) / 60 months
Rheumatology (adult or pediatric) / 60 months
Thoracic Surgery / 84 or 96 months
Urology / 60 months
Vascular Surgery / 60 months


© 2009 Collège des médecins du Québec