MCCQE 2026: Syllabus, Format & Fees (formerly MCCQE Part I)
Medical Council of Canada exams for international medical graduates
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) runs the exams that international medical graduates take on the way to residency and licensure in Canada. The main written exam is the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE), called the MCCQE Part I until 1 April 2026. International graduates applying for residency through CaRMS also take the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination. The licence to practise itself is granted by each province's or territory's medical regulatory authority.
INTERFACE has prepared doctors for international licensing exams for many years. Our MCCQE Qbank gives you 3000+ exam-style multiple-choice questions with answers and detailed explanations, organised by topic, with performance analysis.
MCCQE syllabus
The MCCQE assesses the critical medical knowledge and clinical decision-making expected of a medical student completing their medical degree, as preparation for supervised practice. Its content comes from two sources: the MCC Examination Objectives and the exam blueprint.
- MCC Examination Objectives: the attributes expected of graduates entering residency in Canada, organised by the seven CanMEDS roles: Medical Expert, Communicator, Collaborator, Leader/Manager, Health Advocate, Scholar and Professional. The Medical Expert objectives are grouped into clinical presentations, population health and its determinants, and the ethical, legal and organisational aspects of medicine.
- Blueprint: every exam is balanced across two sets of four domains, shown below.
Dimensions of care (the spectrum of care a patient may need):
- Health promotion and illness prevention: 25% (±5%)
- Acute: 25% (±5%)
- Chronic: 25% (±5%)
- Psychosocial aspects: 25% (±5%)
Physician activities (what the doctor does):
- Assessment and diagnosis: 20% (±5%)
- Management: 35% (±5%)
- Communication: 25% (±5%)
- Professional behaviours: 20% (±5%)
To prepare, the MCC suggests working through each CanMEDS role and its key and enabling objectives, and spending extra time on any areas you find weak. Older MCCEE and MCCQE Part II materials no longer match the exam: the MCCEE ended in 2018, the MCCQE Part II in 2021, and the clinical decision-making cases were removed from the MCCQE in April 2025.
MCCQE exam format
Since April 2025, the MCCQE has been a multiple-choice exam only; the former clinical decision-making component (38 cases) was removed.
- 230 multiple-choice questions in two sections of 115 (including unscored pilot questions)
- Two hours and 40 minutes for each section, with a break between them
- Three to five answer options per question
- Delivered by Prometric at test centres worldwide, up to four times a year (the MCC has also offered remote proctoring); the October 2026 session runs from 1 to 21 October at Prometric test centres
- Fee: CAD 1,500 (2026), plus CAD 150 to open a physiciansapply.ca account and CAD 232 per credential for source verification
- Maximum of 4 attempts; after a third failure you must wait one year from your result before the fourth
How to apply as an international medical graduate
Your medical school must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools with a Canada Sponsor Note. You create a physiciansapply.ca account, submit a source verification request for your medical degree, and apply for the MCCQE there; final-year students can apply up to 15 months before graduation. Once your application is accepted, you book a seat with Prometric on a first-come, first-served basis. The NAC Examination, a half-day clinical exam (OSCE) of 12 stations held twice a year, assesses your readiness to enter a Canadian residency program and costs CAD 3,320.
Passing the MCCQE also counts in other countries: the Medical Council of Canada is one of the competent authorities recognised by the Medical Board of Australia (see our AMC exam guide). The UK GMC, however, accepts the MCCQE instead of PLAB only if parts 1 and 2 were passed by 27 October 2020; see all about PLAB and our PLAB exam guide. If you are weighing Canada against the US, see our USMLE exam guide. Fees and rules change, so always check mcc.ca before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
> Is the MCCEE still offered?
No. The MCCEE was last held on 11 November 2018. International medical graduates now go directly to the MCCQE (formerly the MCCQE Part I).
> What is the MCCQE syllabus?
The MCCQE is based on the MCC Examination Objectives, organised by the seven CanMEDS roles, and a blueprint that balances four dimensions of care (25% each) and four physician activities: assessment and diagnosis 20%, management 35%, communication 25% and professional behaviours 20%.
> How many questions are in the MCCQE?
230 multiple-choice questions in two sections of 115, including pilot questions, with two hours and 40 minutes for each section.
> Can I take the MCCQE outside Canada?
Yes. The MCCQE is delivered by Prometric at test centres worldwide. You book a seat after your physiciansapply.ca application is accepted; check the MCC website for whether remote proctoring is offered for your session.
> How much does the MCCQE cost in 2026?
The MCCQE application fee is CAD 1,500, plus a one-time CAD 150 physiciansapply.ca account fee and CAD 232 per credential for source verification.
Have a question about the Canadian exams? Contact us.
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