Assessment Verification Period for IMGs
Introduction All International Medical Graduates (IMGs) admitted to Direct-Entry or Advanced Level postgraduate medical education in Ontario must successfully complete an Assessment Verification Period (AVP) at the beginning of the residency program. The AVP is an assessment process required by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) in order to obtain an unrestricted postgraduate medical education certificate of registration (educational license). The assessment process evaluates IMGs to ensure that they meet the level of competency necessary to function at their designated training level and is completed concurrently with training at the beginning of the residency program.
The AVP is twelve weeks in duration and during this time, a temporary educational license is issued by the CPSO. Candidates are provided with appropriate, supervised clinical activity and will be evaluated on the following:
- Clinical skills, knowledge, and judgment in their residency specialty
- Basic skills in internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and general surgery appropriate for practice in the chosen discipline
In addition, an assessment will be provided with respect to whether the candidate:
- Is mentally competent to practice medicine
- Has the ability to practice with decency, integrity, and honesty in accordance with the law
- Has sufficient knowledge, skills, and judgment to engage in the kind of medical practice authorized by the certificate
- Can communicate effectively and displays an appropriate professional attitude
Process Candidates are initially assessed by their department at the end of the 2nd week of their residency program, at mid-rotation by the end of the 8th week, and at the end of the 12-week AVP period. The Final Assessment Form is completed at the end of the AVP and will be forwarded to the Postgraduate Medical Education Office for the Dean's signature. Additional assessments can be arranged as deemed appropriate by the program.
If the candidate successfully completes the AVP, the CPSO will be notified and the temporary license will be converted to a Postgraduate Education Certificate. The candidate will then continue in the residency program and the twelve weeks of assessment will be counted towards the fulfillment of the program requirements.
If the candidate is not successful in completing the AVP, the candidate will not be permitted to continue in the residency program and the result will be communicated to the CPSO.
Note: It is an offence under the Regulated Health Professions Act for a person to practice medicine in Ontario until such time as the person is registered and authorized to practice medicine by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
The time spent completing the AVP counts towards the residency or Fellowship program. The AVP and the postgraduate program are taken concurrently, not consecutively.
