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Canada Specific Healthcare Question 11


Explain to a lay individual the pathway for becoming a Cardiologist and Dermatologist in Canada following High School.
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Excellent Answer
The first step to becoming a Cardiologist or Dermatologist is to complete a four-year undergraduate ‘pre-medical education’ programme, after which applicants must apply to a medical school and obtain a medical degree. When applying to medical school, many require applicants to complete the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), as well as the provision of personal statements and references, alongside participating in interviews. However, this will be dependent on the medical school in question. After completing medical school, the routes for Cardiology and Dermatology differ. To become a Cardiologist, students must complete postgraduate speciality training to earn a certification in Cardiology, which consists of three years of resident training in Adult or Paediatric Cardiology, after which a 3-hour written exam must be taken. To become a Dermatologist, residents must complete five years of advanced medical and surgical training after medical school, followed by medical examinations that provide individuals with a Specialist Certificate in Dermatology. For both specialties – in fact, for all medical specialties in Canada – a mandatory ‘Maintenance of Certification Program’ must be completed after provision of certification, monitored by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.