MCCQE Exam 2024: Dates, Fee, Syllabus, Centres, Eligibility

MCCQE full form is the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination. MCCQE 2024 is an important examination for medical graduates in Canada. The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) administers the test, which is divided into two parts: MCCQE Part I and Part II.

The MCCQE Part I test is a one-day computer-based test that assesses candidates' medical knowledge and clinical decision-making abilities, while MCCQE Part II is a practical, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) that evaluates candidates' clinical skills, such as communication, data collection, and patient management.

This Story also Contains

1. MCCQE Latest Update 2024
2. MCCQE Exam Highlights 2024
3. MCCQE Exam Dates 2024
4. MCCQE Eligibility 2024
5. MCCQE Registration 2024
6. How to Schedule MCCQE 2024 Appointment?
7. How to Reschedule or Cancel Your Appointment?
8. MCCQE Exam Fees 2024
9. MCCQE Exam Pattern 2024
10. MCCQE Test Day Guidelines 2024
11. MCCQE Results 2024
12. MCCQE Refunds 2024

Passing both parts of the MCCQE 2024 exam is an essential requirement for medical graduates pursuing the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), which is required for medical licencing in Canada.

The MCCQE Part I test 2024 is offered in four sessions every year. Candidates can take their MCCQE 2024 exam in an available Prometric test centre or through remote proctoring on a first-come, first-served basis.

Candidates have up to four hours in the morning session to complete 210 multiple-choice questions asked in MCCQE exam, and up to three and a half hours in the afternoon session to complete the clinical decision-making component, which comprises 38 cases with short-menu and short-answer written questions.

MCCQE for international students can be taken up to a maximum of 4 times. Exams taken before 2018 do not count towards the overall limit. Students cannot retake the exam if they have a pass result. After the third attempt, candidates will be required to wait 1 year from the time they receive the result before reapplying for their fourth attempt.

All the medical graduates or students in their final year, planning to practice medicine in Canada, must read the complete article to learn more about the MCCQE exam, test requirements, how to register, exam structure, and more.

MCCQE Latest Update 2024

In April 2025, the MCC will implement a new assessment model for the MCCQE Part I. The clinical decision-making component will be removed and the 9-hour exam appointment will be shortened to a 6.5-hour exam appointment with a scheduled 45-minute optional break.

MCCQE Exam Highlights 2024

MCCQE Exam Dates 2024

The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I is offered multiple times each year. The MCCQE 2024 results will be available about 8 weeks after each session's last day.

MCCQE Exam Date 2024

MCCQE 2025 Exam Date

Note: Exceptionally, results for the August 21–September 18, 2024 session will be released six weeks after the session's last day.

Because of a standard-setting exercise, the results for the April 2025 session will be accessible around 12 weeks after the session ends.

*Note that dates are subject to change.

MCCQE Eligibility 2024

To apply for the MCCQE Part I, you must be a graduate of, or a student who is expected to meet all graduation requirements from:

• A medical school accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS); or

• A medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and identified by a Canada Sponsor Note indicating it is an acceptable medical school in Canada; or

• A United States School of Osteopathic Medicine accredited by the American Osteopathic Association.

Extending Your Eligibility Window

Students can apply up to 15 months before their planned graduation date. Once your application is accepted, your eligibility period will begin 12 months before your anticipated graduation date. You can only arrange an exam appointment during this time.

If you decide you are not ready to write the MCCQE Part I within your eligibility window or are not sure you will be able to do so within a year, you have the option of extending your eligibility window by an additional 12 months. You will be able to extend your qualifying window when it is within 60 days of expiration, not before.

How to Extend your Window of Eligibility:

1. If relevant, make sure to cancel your appointment with Prometric as soon as possible. Refer to the guidelines below for how to cancel your appointment and the associated fees.

2. You will receive a message in your physiciansapply.ca account with instructions for extending your eligibility window 60 days before it ends. If you do not extend your window at that time, you will receive a second notice one month before it expires.

3. Follow the instructions in the message and pay the administrative fee. If the exam prices have increased since you first applied for the MCCQE Part I, you will be required to pay the change in application fees as well. These costs are nonrefundable.

Note: You will be unable to set an exam date until your application has been accepted. After your application is accepted, you will have a 12-month eligibility period to plan and take the MCCQE Part I at an available Prometric test centre or via remote proctoring. All exam appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

MCCQE Registration 2024

If the test-taker meets the qualifying conditions, he or she can apply for the MCCQE Part I at any time using their account and following the procedures below. If you do not already have an account, you must create one.

Applying as an international medical student

Follow the steps below if you are an international medical student, a graduate from a U.S. medical student, or a student from a U.S. School of Osteopathic Medicine and want to apply to take the MCCQE Part I:

MCCQE For International Students

• Prepare copies of your appropriate identity document(s), which must be presented with your exam application. Your primary identity document(s) must meet the certification standards.

• Candidates must have their medical school complete the Student attestation form. When submitting your exam application, students will need to attach the completed form.

• Review the document preparation criteria to verify that the documents are ready for uploading.

• Login to the physiciansapply.ca account.

• Click Examinations from the main menu, then Apply for an Exam.

• To submit your application, follow the processes provided on each page and upload the required documents.

• Complete payment for the MCCQE Part I application fee.

For International Medical Graduates:

• Make a source verification request (SVR) for your medical degree using your physiciansapply.ca account. You can begin the exam application as soon as you have submitted and paid for the SVR for your medical degree.

• Prepare copies of your appropriate identity document(s), which must be presented with the test application. Your primary identity document(s) must meet the certification guidelines.

• Review the document preparation criteria to verify that all of your files are ready for uploading.

• Login to your physiciansapply.ca account.

• Click on Examinations in the main menu, then Apply for an Exam.

• To submit your application, follow the processes explained on each page and upload the required documentation.

• Make payment for your MCCQE Part I application.

Note: You have up to four weeks to complete the paperwork and application. Once your application has been accepted, you will receive a notification in your account confirming that you can schedule your exam with Prometric.

How to Schedule MCCQE 2024 Appointment?

Appointments can be made up to 5 months before the commencement of an exam session and are only available during the specified exam periods. Appointments are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Once that you have scheduled your exam with Prometric, they'll send you a 16-digit confirmation number and additional instructions via email. You will also receive an appointment reminder notification around seven days before the planned appointment.

How to Reschedule or Cancel Your Appointment?

You can cancel or reschedule your appointment directly with Prometric, either online or by phone. Fees vary depending on when you cancel or reschedule. You'll need the 16-digit confirmation number you received when to reschedule it. The MCC will not schedule or reschedule your exam appointment.

• If you do not attend your exam appointment or cancel it less than 120 hours (5 days) before the commencement time of the exam, your application costs will not be refunded.

• If you have exceptional reasons for a late cancellation or absence, please provide additional proof to service@mcc.ca. Your request for a partial refund will be considered.

• Candidates who reschedule or cancel their appointment are required to pay rescheduling or cancellation costs.

MCCQE Exam Fees 2024

Note: All payments must be in Canadian dollars. Visa, MasterCard, or secured credit cards are allowed as payment methods for the MCCQE exam fee.

MCCQE Exam Pattern 2024

MCCQE test consists of two parts: Part 1 and Part 2.

MCCQE Part I: It is a computer-based test that evaluates fundamental medical knowledge and clinical decision-making skills. It is taken after medical school graduation.

MCCQE Part II: This section assesses clinical abilities through a series of standardised encounters with simulated patients. It is currently only available in Canada.

MCCQE Part 1 exam duration is 9 hours and it includes various processes, as listed below:

• Candidate’s check-in, include sign-in, security check, and, room check (if you are taking a remotely proctored exam).

• A tutorial video on test security and how the exam delivery application works.

• First morning session is of 4 hours, which requires test takers to complete a multiple-choice questions (MCQs) section.

• After this test, an optional 45-minute lunch break is provided to candidates.

• Section evening session duration is 3.5 hours, taken to complete a clinical decision-making (CDM) section.

• An optional survey after each of the MCQ and CDM sections.

MCCQE 2024 Exam Pattern

MCCQE Test Day Guidelines 2024

Candidates must have two valid government-issued ID cards for image capture and validation by the Prometric readiness agent before beginning the remotely proctored exam. Test takers appearing for the test at MCCQE 2024 test centres, must bring two valid government IDs to the exam location. If candidates fail to produce proper identification, they will not be allowed to take the exam and the application fee will be lost.

The documents required on the test day include:

1. Photo of the test-taker

2. Signature of the candidate

Note: The name should match your account name, if the names on your documents do not match the name in your physiciansapply.ca account, please contact the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) through your account before your exam appointment.

Items not permitted in the secure exam area

Certain items that are not allowed in the secure exam area after launch are listed below:

• Coat

• Keys

• Wallet

• Purse

• Any Documentation

• Jewellery, including watches (wedding rings are permitted)

• Large bags

• Phones

• Non-wired headphones

What to do if you experience an exam day incident

In some instances, candidates may experience exam-day incidents (procedural irregularities or extenuating circumstances, such as illness) that may have a negative effect on their exam day performance. A few of these difficulties are mentioned below:

• If the test-takers face technical difficulties, they should notify Prometric staff immediately.

• If candidates are taking a remotely proctored exam and are experiencing technical difficulties, they must seek assistance by visiting the Prometric technical support page.

• In addition to notifying staff on exam day, all exam day incidents (procedural irregularities and extenuating circumstances) must be reported to the MCC through your account within 7 days of your exam date.

• If applicants choose to start the exam, it will count as an attempt, even if they cannot finish it, their application fee may be forfeited, and hence the staff will not be able to help test takers with that issue.

MCCQE Results 2024

The MCC results are available approximately 8 weeks after the exam session ends. In exceptional circumstances, results for the August 21–September 18, 2024 session will be released six weeks after the last day. Candidates will be notified by email and a message in their account, informing them that they can access their final MCCQE Part I results. Soon after getting this notification, two documents will be uploaded to your account:

• The Statement of Results (SOR) provides your final result, total MCCQE Part I score, and the required score to pass the test.

• The Supplemental Information Report (SIR) gives extra information about your exam performance, including subscores and a comparison to other candidates.

Note: To avoid fraud and maintain confidentiality, your MCCQE Part I results are only available at physiciansapply.ca and are never provided over the phone or via email.

MCCQE Refunds 2024

If you cancel your MCCQE 2024 appointment with Prometric less than 120 hours before your exam or fail to appear on the day of the exam, your entire application fee will be forfeited. If you withdraw your MCCQE Part I application or let your eligibility window expire without scheduling an appointment with Prometric, you will only receive a partial refund.

Extenuating circumstances

If by some unavoidable circumstances, you have to cancel within 120 hours of your appointment or fail to attend, you could be entitled for a partial reimbursement. To obtain a partial refund, submit supporting documents to the MCC (service@mcc.ca) for evaluation. If your partial refund request is successful, the MCCQE application cost after removing the examination withdrawal fee, will be refunded to the credit card used for payment, otherwise, a credit will be given to your physiciansapply.ca account.