Program Contacts

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Important Information

Second Iteration – IMG Eligibility (MMI Requirement)

IMG applicants applying in the second iteration must have participated in the Dalhousie Family Medicine IMG MMI during the first iteration of the same match year in order to be eligible for consideration and ranking in the second iteration. IMG applicants who did not interview in the first iteration are not eligible to be considered in the second iteration.

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Licensing Requirement (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI)

To obtain a postgraduate training license in Nova Scotia after the match, Canadian Medical Graduates must register for and challenge the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE Part I) by July 1, 2026. Graduates who are unsuccessful on the exam will be subject to the decision of the relevant regulatory authority regarding licensure.

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Priority Admissions Pathways and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

Our program is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) throughout the selection process.

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Residents Seeking Transfer Through the Second Iteration

Please note: If you are a resident in a current Canadian postgraduate position using the second iteration of the CaRMS Match as a possible route to change program or specialty, in accordance with the National Transfer Guidelines, you will need to upload all in-training assessments/evaluations and a summary of your training record in addition to the other required components of your CaRMS application.

If you are shortlisted, you will be required to provide permission for the program to speak with your current Program Director.

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Applications and Ranking

Applicants must submit and rank a separate application for each Dalhousie Family Medicine site they wish to be considered for.

Each site is treated as a distinct program in the CaRMS system.

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Interview Process

Only one interview will be conducted per applicant, regardless of the number of Dalhousie Family Medicine sites applied to.

The results of this interview will be considered for all sites.

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Personal Letter

A personal letter is required in addition to the CaRMS application.

If you have particular interests or connections to specific sites, you are encouraged to address them within your single personal letter.

Previous residency training: If you have previously withdrawn from or been dismissed from a residency training program, this must be declared and explained in your personal letter.

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FMProC 2026 Dates and Requirements

First Round
Registration opens: September 10, 2025, at 12 noon ET
Registration closes: October 30, 2025, at 12 noon ET
Test window opens: October 23, 2025, at 12 noon ET
Test window closes: November 6, 2025, at 12 noon ET

Second Round
Registration opens: February 23, 2026, at 12 noon ET
Registration closes: March 9, 2026, at 12 noon ET
Test window opens: February 25, 2026, at 12 noon ET
Test window closes: March 11, 2026, at 12 noon ET

Important Notes

THESE DEADLINES ARE FINAL AND NO REQUEST FOR LATE REGISTRATION OR LATE SITTING OF THE TEST WILL BE CONSIDERED.

Applicants must have completed the FMProC assessment for the 2026 CaRMS cycle. Results are transmitted directly to CaRMS.

Applicants are only required to register, pay for, and complete the FMProC assessment once per CaRMS cycle.

Additional details and sample questions: www.fmproc.com

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Mandatory Curriculum Event: Family Medicine Resident Education Symposium (FMRES)

Dalhousie Family Medicine hosts a mandatory curriculum event each year, the Family Medicine Resident Education Symposium (FMRES).

Attendance is required for all residents at all sites.

Time off will not be approved during this period except in cases of extenuating circumstances.

FMRES 2026 will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Wednesday, August 19 to Friday, August 21, 2026.

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Return of Service (RoS)

All International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who match to Dalhousie Family Medicine residency positions are required to sign a Return of Service (RoS) agreement with the relevant provincial Ministry of Health.

This requirement applies to IMGs matched in either the first or second iteration of the CaRMS match.

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Return of Service

This program has a return of service obligation attached to it. Please review the provincial criteria for more information.

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

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Supporting Documentation / Information

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Review Process

Applications submitted after file review has opened on March 17, 2026

Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened  on  March 17, 2026

Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on March 17, 2026

 

 

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Interviews

Selection Criteria

Program goals

The Dalhousie Department of Family Medicine’s program goal is to train residents to be family physicians who through education, research, comprehensive clinical care, and engagement in partnerships, meet the needs of Maritime communities.  Residents are trained to address health needs of all populations including underserved communities and individuals with complex needs, giving them the ability to practice in diverse family practice settings.  

Our program and university value the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in residency education, and achieving a diverse and inclusive group of residents is a goal in our selection process.

Selection process goals

As a program we are looking for applicants with solid people skills, a variety of life experiences, an admirable work ethic and reasonable academic background. We look for evidence of commitment to family medicine in your personal letter. We are interested in candidates who are comfortable with self-directed learning, with teamwork, with seeking out the countless learning opportunities available, and with an interest in an appropriate balance between personal life, family, community and professional life.

Dalhousie is committed to fostering a collegial culture grounded in diversity and inclusiveness. The university encourages applications from Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, racialized persons, women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community.

File review process

Evaluation criteria :

Elective criteria

Interview process

Interview evaluation criteria :

Information gathered outside of CaRMS application

Specifically, we may consider:
Social interaction during program related events
Communication with program administration
Social media
Unsolicited reference letters
Unsolicited email references
Unsolicited verbal information on a candidate's prior performance
Unsolicited feedback from colleagues and co-workers

Ranking process

The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :
Unprofessional or inappropriate behavior   
Did not attend interview   
Interview performance was not competitive   

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Program Highlights

The Dalhousie Program - An Overview:

Have you always wanted to learn in a community setting where family physicians are respected and valued? If so, Dalhousie is the place for you. Teaching residents and students in communities across the Maritimes has been the focus of our Department from its beginnings. Our aim is to encourage residents to become effective, compassionate family physicians who can care for their patients in hospital, ambulatory and community settings. You will be able to learn office practice, in-patient care, obstetrics, procedures and emergency skills from family physicians who are skilled and experienced.

What support is available to residents in the program including rural clinical learning experiences?

Residents are only expected to pay rent in one location. If a resident is required to move to a different site for a core clinical learning experience, the cost of the rent is reimbursed to the resident. Travel expenses are paid when a resident is required to move away from their home site to another site for a core clinical learning experience. If residents are required to travel to multiple sites during a core clinical learning experience, they are reimbursed for the additional kilometres. Travel to and from work is not reimbursed. These supports are provided in accordance with the Maritime Resident Doctors’ Collective Agreement.

Are there opportunities for electives?

Yes, there are ten weeks of electives available in PGY2 year. Residents in the Dalhousie University program can arrange up to four weeks of their elective time outside of the Maritime Provinces. Other elective time should be done in the Maritime Provinces.  Residents can apply to do more than four weeks outside the Maritime Provinces for global health experiences.

What are the research requirements of the program?

A scholarly project is required to be completed during the residency. Residents receive protected time for scholarly activity. It is also expected that the residents will take advantage of any expertise available to them through their core and community practice clinical learning experiences. The purpose of the scholarly project is to introduce the resident to the process of finding answers to questions commonly encountered in primary care by critically reviewing the available literature. Where such answers are found lacking, the resident may choose to employ an appropriate methodology to design a study using proper scientific rigour to answer that question.

What about ATLS, ALARM, ACLS and NRP?

Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), Advances in Labour and Risk Management (ALARM), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - All residents are required to have an up to date ACLS prior to beginning residency. During the residency, all residents are funded to attend an ATLS course, an ALARM course, an NRP course, and an ACLS refresher.

How do residents learn evidence-based medicine and research skills?

Current approaches to practising evidence-based medicine are taught through patient and practice-based tutorials. Emphasis is on learning the skills to seek the research evidence to support clinical decision-making.

What PGY3 positions are available?

There are PGY3 positions in Emergency Medicine, Palliative Care and Care of the Elderly at Dalhousie. Individualized third year programs may also be available at a resident's request and initiative and subject to funding availability.

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THE HALIFAX PROGRAM - Introduction

Halifax site residents have the opportunity to experience a vibrant, multi-cultural urban centre that is renowned for its Maritime setting, friendly atmosphere, welcoming neighbourhoods and a diverse economy.

People who are adaptable and interested in new experiences are ideally suited for the Halifax site. This site offers the most diversity in the program with an opportunity to live in different cities, experience family medicine with a variety of supervisors and to be a part of the largest resident group in the program.

Applicants to the Halifax program must be aware of and accept that they may spend up to 2 - 3 months during the first year in New Brunswick (Fredericton, Moncton, or Saint John), and in the second year they have the opportunity to spend three (3) months in another community practice in the Maritimes.

THE HALIFAX PROGRAM - Family Medicine Clinical Learning Experiences

Core Family Medicine clinical learning experiences at the Halifax site are completed at the following Dalhousie Family Medicine Teaching Units:

• Mumford Family Medicine – Mumford Professional Centre

• Spryfield Wellness Centre – South Centre Mall 

• Other HRM community clinics 

The strength of family medicine rotations in Halifax is the opportunity to work on multi-disciplinary teams. Residents work in a collegial and stimulating atmosphere on one of the teams that includes family physicians (one of whom will be their primary preceptor), family practice nurses and a variety of other health care professionals (pharmacists, dietitians, and mental health professionals).

Residents develop their own panel of patients throughout the core family medicine and clinical half-day back experiences.

PGY1 residents also care for a panel of patients in a long-term care facility throughout core Family Medicine. Each resident, in addition. will have (at minimum) one month of Hospital Medicine experience and 2 months of Emergency Medicine experience (adult and pediatrics).

On core family medicine, all residents have access to electronic medical record systems which receive on-line laboratory and radiology results and access to computer-based resources.  The clinics which participate in call have remote access to the EMR while on call.

Family medicine preceptors at the Halifax site have many areas of expertise including Family Medicine Obstetrics, Long-Term Care, Wound Care, Emergency Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Medical Humanities, informatics and research.

THE HALIFAX PROGRAM - Unique Features

PGY1 residents at the Halifax site start residency with a four-week orientation block called Foundations in Family Medicine. There will be no vacation time approved during this month.

Halifax residents have a weekly clinical half-day back with their core Family Medicine team during their entire residency (when in Halifax, during most off-service rotations) as well as a protected academic half-day throughout the year. Halifax site residents reporting to off-site rotations are released from service to attend all Halifax site’s online academic half-day sessions.

While on core Family Medicine in PGY2, residents regularly participate in Primary Care Obstetrics, Procedural Clinics, and Duty Clinics. In addition, PGY2 residents may select a horizontal elective (one day per week for 10 weeks during the 20-week core Family Medicine block) from the following options: Care of the Frail and Elderly, Emergency Medicine, Hospital Medicine, and Obstetrics.

PGY2 residents in Halifax have a Psychiatric experience during their core. Placements are primarily inpatient based with emphasis on participating in collaborative mental health care and learning how to conduct risk assessments in an ED setting. Emphasis is on developing skills, knowledge and attitudes consistent with the needs of a practicing family physician. All residents attend a 1-week Psychiatric Emergency Service rotation at the QEII ED during the PGY2 core Family Medicine block.

Halifax residents may participate on committees and have their own monthly resident meetings. For Halifax residents in specialty rotations at sister sites, these meetings are held online to encourage participation. Resident opinion and feedback are encouraged in Halifax and many positive changes in Halifax have been a result of input received from residents (e.g., creating the Foundations month, holding procedure clinics, and horizontal electives).

Halifax site residents may spend up to three (3) months of the PGY1 year at one of our sister sites across the Maritime provinces for specialty core rotations (e.g. Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics).

This affords residents an opportunity to experience medicine in smaller Maritime communities and have the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge base consistent with the needs of future family physicians.

Some of the strengths of the Halifax program are:

• Dedicated family medicine faculty with a variety of clinical and academic interests

• Strong primary health care research division

• Informatics expertise and resources

• Multi-disciplinary team approach to care

• Experience in primary care obstetrics with a strong family practice obstetrics group

• Hospitalist and Emergency Medicine experiences to prepare residents in providing full-service care in their communities

• Obstetrical Simulation Sessions

• Procedural training

• Long term care experience

What is the ratio of residents to faculty during family medicine experiences?

Often there is 1:1 supervision for PGY1s and rarely more than 1:2. Residents will have the opportunity to teach and supervise junior learners.

What resources are available?

In the family teaching units, all teaching practices have computer work-stations with high-speed internet access and are organized with electronic medical record (EMR) systems.  Remote access to the EMR is available to facilitate being on call.

Residents have access to the Kellogg Health Sciences Library located at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine. Residents also have access to the hospital library at the QEII and IWK Health Centres. Because residents have a Dalhousie University ID number, they also have access to the Dalhousie Electronic Library when they are outside Halifax. This includes many online journals.

What is the average patient load per resident?

In Halifax, PGY1 residents see one patient every half hour during the core family medicine block. Direct feedback is given with each patient encounter in the PGY1 year. PGY2 residents strive to see one patient every fifteen minutes with feedback at the end of each clinical session. The goal for first-year residents is to see a minimum of 200+ patients upon completion of the core PGY1 family medicine block, and 400+ patients by the end of the core PGY2 family medicine block. As residents gain more experience and efficiency, they can see patients more frequently and independently. During the twelve-week PGY2/community family medicine rotation, residents are expected to work towards seeing the volume of patients a practicing family physician would see.

Our Community and Region:

Distance from nearest airport to Dalhousie Family Medicine	40km from Halifax Stanfield International Airport to the Halifax Site's medical education office, located at the 1465 Brenton Street, #402. Halifax.
Housing/Accommodation	Residents are only expected to pay rent in one location and are responsible for securing accommodations.  Average cost of accommodation varies widely depending on the community.  If they are sent to another location for core rotations (not electives) accommodation and/or travel costs will be reimbursed by the employer.
Resident contract	Maritime Resident Doctors
Electives	Residents at Halifax site are granted 10 elective weeks which can be scheduled anywhere across the Maritime provinces. Up to four weeks of elective time is permitted to be scheduled outside of the Maritime Provinces. Residents can apply to do more than four weeks outside the Maritime Provinces for global health experiences.
Other Location Information	Halifax is a major urban centre in the Maritimes and the capital city of Nova Scotia.  To discover more about Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia, click Halifax and Nova Scotia.

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Program Curriculum

This residency program is for 2 years.

Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.

Mandatory Curriculum Event: Family Medicine Resident Education Symposium (FMRES):

Dalhousie Family Medicine hosts a mandatory curriculum event each year, the Family Medicine Resident Education Symposium (FMRES). Attendance is required for all residents at all sites. Time off will not be approved during this period except in cases of extenuating circumstances.
FMRES 2026 will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Wednesday, August 19 to Friday, August 21, 2026.

Program Curriculum

The curriculum is set by the Department of Family Medicine’s Curriculum Sub-Committee which includes members from all ten teaching sites (Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, Fredericton, Halifax, Miramichi, Moncton, North Nova, Prince Edward Island, Saint John and South West Nova). Topics include common problems in family medicine, complex clinical problems, palliative care, behavioural science, procedural medicine, and practice based small group learning modules developed by McMaster University for family physicians.

Residents who are on rotations located off-site attend sessions remotely using web-based technology.

PGY1 Curriculum

PGY1 Clinical Learning Experiences Duration Variations of clinic experiences may include: Locations Foundations in Family Medicine 4 weeks   Halifax Site and teaching clinics Core Family Medicine block 12 weeks   Mumford, Spryfield, or other HRM community clinics Clinical Half Days in Family Medicine variable Weekly, during on-site off-services. Mumford, Spryfield, or other HRM community clinics Emergency Medicine 4 weeks   Halifax Infirmary (Halifax, NS) Cobequid Community Health Centre (Lower Sackville) Dartmouth General Hospital (Dartmouth, NS) General Surgery 4 weeks   Dartmouth General Hospital (Dartmouth, NS) South Shore Regional Hospital (Bridgewater, NS) Moncton Hospital (Moncton, NB) Saint John Regional Hospital (Saint John, NB) Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital (Fredericton, NB) General Medicine 8 weeks Internal Medicine Hospitalist Medicine Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre (Halifax Infirmary), or Dartmouth General Hospital Moncton Hospital (Moncton, NB) Saint John Regional Hospital (Saint John, NB) Pediatrics 8 weeks General Inpatient Pediatrics Pediatric Emergency Medicine Normal Newborn Pediatrics Community Pediatrics Pediatric Ambulatory Clinics IWK Health Centre (Halifax, NS) Moncton Hospital (Moncton, NB) Saint John Regional Hospital (Saint John, NB) Pediatric Ambulatory Clinic (IWK or community Halifax) Obstetrics and Gynecology 8 weeks Obstetrics and Gynecology Family Medicine Obstetrics IWK Health Centre (Halifax, NS) Moncton Hospital (Moncton, NB) Saint John Regional Hospital (Saint John, NB) South Shore Regional Hospital (Bridgewater, NS) Selectives 4 weeks Family medicine sub-specialties, Medicine sub-specialties, Surgical sub-specialties, Emergency Medicine, etc. Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, or within Halifax Regional Municipality. Vacation 4 weeks   Residents request and seek approval as per departmental procedure policy

PGY2 Curriculum

PGY2 Clinical Learning Experience Duration Variations of clinic experiences may include: Location Core Family Medicine block 18 weeks Includes Psychiatry Mumford, Spryfield, or other HRM community clinics Community Family Medicine 12 weeks   Nova Scotia community outside of HRM Clinical Half Days in Family Medicine variable Weekly, during on-site off-services.   Critical Care 4 weeks CCU, ICU, IMCU, Hospitalist Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre – Halifax Infirmary Dartmouth General Hospital Geriatric Medicine 4 weeks   Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre – Veterans’ Memorial Building Palliative Care Medicine 4 weeks   Victoria General Hospital Psychiatry* Integrated *Integrated into 18-wk FM block as: Approximately 3 weeks total with a Psychiatric Emergency Services week and two additional weeks in psychiatry integrated into core FM rotation Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre; and, Halifax Regional Municipality. Electives 10 weeks   Residents’ choice to be approved by Site Director. Vacation 4 weeks   Residents request and seek approval as per departmental procedure policy

 

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Training Sites

 Dalhousie Family Medicine – Site Administrator Contacts 

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Additional Information

Eligibility and Streams

• The first iteration includes separate application streams:

  • Canadian Medical Graduates (CMG): Must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, with no previous post-MD/clinical training.

  • International Medical Graduates (IMG): Must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, with no previous Canadian post-MD/clinical training.

• IMG positions are available at Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, Halifax, North Nova, South West Nova (NS), Prince Edward Island (PEI), Fredericton, and Miramichi (NB).

• Applicants to the South West Nova francophone position must provide proof of French language proficiency. Accepted tests include:

  • Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF)

  • Test de Connaissance du Français (TCF)

Return of Service (RoS) Obligation

• All IMGs matching in the first iteration must sign a return of service contract with the Ministry of Health.

  • PEI matches: RoS contract in PEI.

  • NS matches (Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, South West Nova, North Nova, Halifax): RoS contract in Nova Scotia.

  • NB matches (Fredericton, Miramichi): RoS contract in New Brunswick.

• Please review the relevant provincial criteria for specific details and obligations.

Application Requirements

• The application requirements for IMGs are identical for the first and second iterations.

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FAQ

1. How can I find out more about the program?
   Applicants are welcome to contact any of the Associate Chief Residents listed on our website (http://fmr.medicine.dal.ca) for site-specific questions. For general inquiries, you may also contact the program office directly.
   
   
2. How do I get more information about scheduling electives?
   Undergraduate electives in Family Medicine are available at all of our teaching sites. To arrange an elective or to inquire about availability, contact the Dalhousie Family Medicine Education office at dfm.undergrad@dal.ca.
   
   
3. Am I required to have a vehicle?
   Yes. Due to the rural and distributed nature of our training sites, successful candidates must have a reliable mode of transportation for all clinical rotations and educational experiences. Please note that public transit is limited or unavailable in many areas of the Maritimes, and alternative arrangements may not be feasible. This requirement may not apply to all Halifax-based residents, but is expected at all other sites.
   
   
4. What is the current resident contract like?
   Details about compensation, benefits, and resident responsibilities are available from Maritime Resident Doctors: www.maritimeresidentdoctors.ca.
   
   
5. Will I be required to travel during residency?
   Some required rotations and elective experiences may involve travel within or between sites. The amount of travel depends on each resident’s training plan and site assignment. Residents are expected to plan accordingly. Support for travel and accommodation is available in certain circumstances, in line with program and collective agreement policies.