By Dr. Bilal Akil, MD, CCFP-EM · Dates checked on the MCC and CaRMS websites on 25 October 2026
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The dates the planner uses
Every date below comes from the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) or CaRMS. Where a result date is our arithmetic, it says so.
MCCQE sessions in 2027
The MCC lists four 2027 sessions and says results are available 4 weeks after the last day of the January, August and October sessions, and 5 weeks after the last day of the April session (MCC: MCCQE scheduling).
| Session | Result, about (our arithmetic from the MCC rule) |
|---|---|
| 19 January – 11 February 2027 | 11 March 2027 |
| 27 April – 1 June 2027 | 6 July 2027 |
| 10 August – 7 September 2027 | 5 October 2027 |
| 5 – 26 October 2027 | 23 November 2027 |
Application for the MCCQE is ongoing. An IMG can apply as soon as the source verification request for the medical degree has been submitted and paid for, and the MCC asks you to allow up to 4 weeks for the application to be processed. Appointments open about 5 months before a session starts and are booked first come, first served at Prometric test centres (MCC: MCCQE eligibility and application).
NAC Examination sessions
| Session | Apply | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 19 and 20 September 2026 | Closed | Late November 2026 |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 18 November – 9 December 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET) | Late June 2027 |
| September 2027 | Not yet published by the MCC | |
The NAC is offered twice a year, typically in May and September, and results come about 8 weeks after the exam (MCC: NAC scheduling). You can take it at most 3 times, and not in consecutive sessions (MCC: NAC eligibility).
CaRMS application deadlines
| Match | Applications and documents due | Match Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 first iteration | 26 November 2026, 12:00 noon ET | 2 March 2027 |
| 2027 second iteration | 16 March 2027, 12:00 noon ET | 20 April 2027 |
| 2028 first iteration | 25 November 2027, 12:00 noon ET | 1 March 2028 |
| 2028 second iteration | 15 March 2028, 12:00 noon ET | 19 April 2028 |
Sources: CaRMS 2027 first iteration, 2027 second iteration and future matches (2028). File review begins five minutes after each deadline, and CaRMS warns that some programs will not review late applications or documents.
Every 2027 first-iteration milestone (times ET)
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 9 September 2026, noon | CaRMS Online opens; program descriptions posted |
| 15 October 2026, noon | Program selection opens |
| 5 November 2026, 17:00 | Deadline: translation requests for references |
| 13 November 2026 | Deadline: transcripts and MSPRs sent by faculties (sending them is the applicant’s responsibility) |
| 25 November 2026, 21:00 | Deadline: referees submit references |
| 26 November 2026, noon | Deadline: applications and documents submitted and assigned; file review begins 12:05 |
| 12 January 2027 | Programs finish initial interview-offer status updates |
| 16 January – 7 February 2027 | National interview period (IMG interviews are coordinated separately, with no set national period) |
| 21 January 2027, noon | Ranking opens |
| 18 February 2027, 15:00 | Deadline: rank order list (firm) |
| 2 March 2027, noon | Match Day |
| 12 May 2027, 15:00 | CaRMS Online access closes |
Source: CaRMS 2027 R-1 first-iteration applicant timeline (updated 13 May 2026; CaRMS notes dates are subject to change).
2027 second iteration: the dates that matter
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2 December 2026, noon | Registration opens for applicants new to CaRMS |
| 5 January 2027, noon | CaRMS Online opens |
| 4 March 2027, noon | Descriptions of unfilled programs posted; program selection opens |
| 16 March 2027, noon | Deadline: applications and documents; file review begins 12:05 |
| 8 April 2027, 15:00 | Deadline: rank order list (firm) |
| 20 April 2027, noon | Match Day |
Source: CaRMS 2027 R-1 second-iteration timeline (updated 13 May 2026).
How to read your plan
Why the planner aims at the application deadline. File review starts at the deadline, so a result that arrives later may not be seen by programs that close their review then. Check each program’s description on carms.ca for how it treats late documents.
Tight dates. When a result is due less than two weeks before your deadline, the plan marks it as tight. The MCC says a specific session date cannot be guaranteed and recommends taking the exam early enough to allow for the unforeseen.
Which exam first. For IMGs heading to the CaRMS match, the MCC says you can take the NAC and the MCCQE in the order you prefer. Our post on which to write first as an IMG covers the trade-offs.
How to read a CaRMS program description as an IMG
Program descriptions are where each program sets out what it is looking for, and CaRMS says they can be updated throughout the match, so check back often. Browse them by discipline or by university on carms.ca. For each program on your list, look for:
- Which stream you can apply in. Some positions are open to IMGs and some are not. CaRMS explains application streams in its Help Center, and each province’s rules are in the eligibility criteria.
- Time since graduation and recent clinical experience. If you have had gap years, this is where a program says what it accepts. It differs from program to program.
- The documents it asks for. Assign exactly what each program requests, by 26 November 2026 at noon ET for the first iteration.
- Whether it reviews late applications. CaRMS warns that some programs won’t.
- Language requirements, which vary by province (CaRMS summary).
- Selection criteria and interviews: what the program weighs, and how and when it interviews.
Something unclear? CaRMS advises contacting the program directly, since the information comes from the programs themselves. To see how competitive a discipline has been, use the CaRMS R-1 data and reports.
The exams you need first, and the provincial routes
The Medical Council of Canada says IMGs applying to the CaRMS R-1 match need results for both the MCCQE (formerly MCCQE Part I) and the NAC Examination, in whichever order you prefer (MCC: CaRMS and MCC exams). The same page sets out three provincial routes:
- Quebec: meet the Collège des médecins du Québec requirements before you apply, including recognition of equivalence of your MD degree (CMQ).
- British Columbia: IMGs take part in UBC’s Clinical Assessment Program (BCIMG CAP).
- Alberta: complete the Alberta International Medical Graduate Program for IMG-designated positions (AIMG).
Official links for IMGs
| Link | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| CaRMS | CaRMS Online, timelines, match updates |
| CaRMS application documents | What to submit and how documents reach CaRMS |
| CaRMS Help Center | Applicant questions, streams, contacting CaRMS |
| physiciansapply.ca | Your MCC account: exam applications, documents, results |
| MCC Objectives | What the MCCQE is written to |
| MCC preparatory products | The MCC’s official practice tests |
| Free NAC resources | The MCC’s free NAC preparation material |
| Score interpretation | How to read your MCCQE and NAC results |
| Prometric: MCC exams | Book your MCCQE test centre appointment |
| AFMC Student Portal | Visiting electives at Canadian medical schools |
| World Directory of Medical Schools | Check how your medical school is listed |
| Choosing Wisely Canada | Canadian recommendations on tests and treatments to avoid |
| Thrombosis Canada clinical guides | Canadian guidance on anticoagulation, DVT and PE |
| Canadian Immunization Guide | Canada’s vaccine recommendations |
From our free masterclass
Dr. Bilal Akil’s free MCCQE1 and NAC OSCE masterclass of 24 October 2026 is free to watch. Three points for CaRMS:
- Your MCCQE score matters most. In Dr. Akil’s experience, it is the strongest single predictor of matching.
- Do electives in Canada: that is where Canadian letters of reference come from.
- Check gap-year rules program by program in the program descriptions, as above.
The full talk summary, the NAC station flow and every link on this page are in the free CaRMS 2027 resource guide (PDF).
Frequently asked questions
Can I still enter the 2027 CaRMS match if I haven’t written the MCCQE?
Only the second iteration, and only if you have also passed the NAC by 16 March 2027 (the September 2026 session reports in late November 2026). The last 2026 MCCQE session ended on 21 October 2026. The January–February 2027 session ends on 11 February, so its result is due about 11 March: before the second-iteration deadline of 16 March 2027, but with only about 5 days to spare. The next NAC (1 May 2027) reports in late June, after both 2027 deadlines.
When do I apply for the May 2027 NAC?
Between 18 November and 9 December 2026, through physiciansapply.ca. The exam is on Saturday 1 May 2027 and results are due in late June 2027.
What is the CaRMS deadline for the 2028 match?
25 November 2027 at 12:00 noon ET for the first iteration, with Match Day on 1 March 2028. The second iteration closes on 15 March 2028.
Do I need to pass both exams for CaRMS?
Yes. CaRMS’s basic eligibility for IMGs requires a pass in both the NAC and the MCCQE, and notes that some provinces may allow exceptions to either. Check the summary of MCC examination requirements for each province you apply to.
When is CaRMS Match Day 2027?
2 March 2027 at 12:00 noon ET for the first iteration, and 20 April 2027 at noon ET for the second iteration.
What is the CaRMS second-iteration deadline in 2027?
16 March 2027 at 12:00 noon ET for applications and documents. The rank order list is due 8 April 2027 at 15:00 ET.
Where do I find CaRMS program descriptions?
On carms.ca, by discipline or by university. They were posted on 9 September 2026 for the 2027 first iteration and can be updated during the match.
Related guides
Every 2027 R-1 date is in our CaRMS 2027 timeline for IMGs. Session details are in MCCQE exam dates 2027 and NAC OSCE dates 2027.
Planning for the MCCQE? mccQbank has 2,600+ bilingual MCCQE practice questions. Start with 30 free questions.
mccQbank is not affiliated with the Medical Council of Canada or CaRMS. Dates are subject to change by those organizations; confirm on their websites before you book.