Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE)

MCCQE Part I

The MCCQE Part I is a summative examination that assesses the critical medical knowledge and clinical decision-making ability of a candidate at a level expected of a medical student who is completing his or her medical degree in Canada.

The MCCQE Part I is a one-day, computer-based test. You are allowed up to four hours in the morning session to complete 210 Multiple-Choice Questions. You are allowed up to 3.5 hours in the afternoon session for the Clinical Decision-Making (CDM) component, which consists of 38 cases with short-menu and short-answer write-in questions.

You must take and pass the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I and the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part II to obtain the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC).

What is the MCCQE Part II?

The MCCQE Part II assesses the candidate’s core abilities to apply medical knowledge, demonstrate clinical skills, develop investigational and therapeutic clinical plans, as well as demonstrate professional behaviours and attitudes at a level expected of a physician in independent practice in Canada. Candidates must have successfully completed the MCCQE Part I and be completing their postgraduate medical education (currently there is a requirement for one year of postgraduate education).

The MCCQE Part I and II form two components of the Licentiate of the MCC (LMCC), which, in turn, is one of the prerequisites for licensure and entry into independent practice in Canada.

The MCCQE Part II is a two-day examination that consists of a series of clinical stations including pilot stations that do not count towards your total score.

The exam, based on the Blueprint, assesses your performance across two broad categories:

  • Dimensions of care, covering the spectrum of medical care
  • Physician activities, reflecting a physician’s scope of practice and behaviors