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Program Information

Re-entry Program for Canadian Doctors

Through the Re-Entry Program, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) offers funding each year for physicians currently practicing in Canada to re-enter postgraduate medical training. The purpose of the program is to increase flexibility in the medical training system and provide opportunities for physicians to pursue areas of interest after a period of practice, while at the same time addressing the need of a variety of physician services in Ontario.

All Re-Entry positions have a two-year return of service requirement anywhere in Ontario. Each year, the ministry has funding for numerous Re-Entry training positions. These are often in Family Medicine, Specialty Training, Community Medicine and Public Health. Please refer to the MOHLTC website for detailed information about positions offered in a given year.

Program Funding Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Re-Entry funding, you must meet all the following criteria at the time of application.

Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent resident of Canada.
Hold a current certificate of registration for independent practice from your provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons. (Note: if you are holding a restricted certificate of registration, you are not eligible to apply).
Have been in active, full-time practice in Canada for a minimum of 12 consecutive months at the time of application.
- For physicians who are practicing in another province, you must be eligible for an independent certificate of registration from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Please check their website www.cpso.on.ca for requirements.

Individuals with undischarged return of service agreements outside of Ontario may not be eligible to begin ministry-funded training positions and should contact the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for further information at 416.327.8339 or send an email to: PPUProgramOfficer@Ontario.ca

Application Process

Applicants who are interested to apply for funding in the Re-Entry Program to pursue retraining have to submit an application to the ministry before the deadline. To see the list of required documents, please see “Documents Required for Application”.

The applicant can apply to a maximum of three specialties in each application cycle. After the deadline, the ministry will forward applicant’s re-entry application package to the Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office at the university which applicant has identified in the “Specialty of Interest and Location of Training” form. Applicants are required to write a personal letter for each specialty of interest to explain why they are interested and their career goals. Through the PGME office, applicant’s application package will be forwarded to the program directors at their universities.

Timelines

Program Directors will contact candidates directly if they require further information, and to arrange interviews if applicable. This will occur several weeks after application packages are distributed to programs in the early spring. The Ministry is not responsible for arranging interviews or discussing selection criteria used by Program Directors when reviewing applicants.

Decision

The timeline to get decisions from program directors for re-entry candidates may vary from program to program. If you are selected by a program director, the ministry will inform you in writing about the decision. The program may also inform you of the decision directly. But in any event, you will receive the Re-Entry Return of Service package from the ministry. You are required to submit the Letter of Appointment to the ministry showing your training start date and level of training. You will be required to sign the Return of Service agreement before the start of residency.

If you are not selected by the program director, the ministry will inform you in writing. The program directors’ decision is final. If you wish, you may reapply to the program next year.

Residency Start Date

Candidates can start residency training within 18 months from the July 1 start date of the academic year.

Submission by mail - Please submit all the required documentation in one envelope and mail it to the address below before the deadline.

Mr. Alan Campbell
Program Officer
Physician Planning Unit
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
56 Wellesley St. West, 12th Floor
Toronto ON M5S 2S3

Submission by e-mail - If you wish to submit your application electronically, please attach all the required documents (preferably in PDF format) in one e-mail and send to: PPUProgramOfficer@Ontario.ca before the deadline.

Note: The “Certificate of Professional Conduct” from your provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons may come separately either by mail or email (same address as above).

Return of Service Agreement

Once the ministry receives confirmation that you have a confirmed training appointment with a university, we will send you a return of service (ROS) package that includes the ROS agreement, the ROS addendum and the Re-Entry ROS Fact Sheet.
The ROS agreement states the terms and conditions of your ROS requirement.
Please sign and submit the original ROS agreement to the ministry before the start your residency.
Return of Service Addendum

The ROS addendum specifies the practice location of your ROS in Ontario. This addendum has to be signed by you, the community/hospital and ministry staff.
The ROS addendum is due to the ministry on or before the last day of your training.
A copy of the ROS agreement and addendum is available upon request.

Please contact the Program Officer by e-mail at PPUProgramOfficer@Ontario.ca or by phone at 416.327.8339

Length and Location of ROS

The length of ROS for the Re-Entry candidates will be two years anywhere in Ontario.
Re-Entry candidates choose the location for their ROS.
Return of Service Locations - Masters of Public Health / Community Medicine positions

The ROS locations for candidates who completed the Masters of Public Health or the Community Medicine training must be made to a local Public Health Unit. Eligible Public Health Units will be determined in consultation with the ministry’s Public Health Practice Branch.