Education · 1 of 4

The path

Two routes end in the same emergency department.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Top marks in biology, chemistry, math and English. You need a very high average for a science undergrad.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   3 to 4 years

   Any major works. Keep a GPA (grade point average) above 3.8, volunteer, do research. Write the MCAT (medical school admission test).

3. 3

   Medical school, the MD (doctor of medicine)

   3 to 4 years

   Acceptance rates are 5% to 15%. Classes, then clinical rotations including emergency shifts.

4. 4

   Residency, route A: Royal College emergency medicine

   5 years

   Matched through CaRMS (the residency matching service). Trauma, critical care, pediatrics, toxicology. Leads to FRCPC (Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada) and most academic trauma centre jobs.

5. 5

   Residency, route B: family medicine plus CCFP-EM (the family medicine emergency year)

   3 years

   2 years of family medicine, then 1 competitive extra year. Most community and rural emergency doctors in Canada took this route.