NAC Examination
You must take the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination if you want to apply to a Canadian residency program.
For information on the NAC Examination eligibility requirements, visit the Application and eligibility page.
What is the NAC Examination?
The NAC Examination is a one-day exam that assesses your readiness to enter a Canadian residency program. It is a national, standardized examination that tests the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for entrance into postgraduate training in Canada.
It is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) that includes a series of stations where you are presented with typical clinical scenarios. It includes problems in:
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Pediatrics
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Psychiatry
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
You are rated by physician examiners on up to seven different competencies per station. These competencies include:
- Quality of history taking
- Diagnosis
- Management
- Communication skills
- Quality of physical examination
- Investigations
- Data interpretation
Click here for the full definition of each of these competencies.
You can take the NAC Examination in English or French at designated centres.
To find out how to prepare for the NAC Examination, including common mistakes that candidates make, and to learn more about the exam objectives, visit our NAC Examination preparation resources page.
Why should I take the NAC Examination?
The NAC Examination is required to apply to a Canadian residency program. The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) accepts NAC Examination results as part of match application packages.
The NAC Examination is not required to obtain the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, and a pass does not guarantee a residency training position in Canada.
How do I take the NAC Examination?
You can apply to the NAC Examination during designated application periods through your physiciansapply.ca account. Your results will be accepted by residency programs directors regardless of where you take the exam. You do not have to take the examination in the province where you will be applying for residency.
Examination at a glance
Please find below additional information on the next NAC Examination dates.
| Exam session | Examination centres* | Expected application opening timeframe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 7, 2020 | Alta. B.C. Man. Ont. Ont. Que. |
Edmonton (E) Vancouver (E) Winnipeg (E) Ottawa (E ) Toronto (E) Montreal (E and F) |
Application open until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time (ET), on December 3, 2019
Fee: $2,830 |
* The centres are subject to change.
Results are available up to seven weeks after the examination date. See Results for more information.
For information regarding centre assignment, please visit the Centre selection page.
Proposed future NAC exam dates and centres
Please find below additional information on the proposed future NAC exam dates and centres.
| Exam session | Examination centres* | Expected application opening timeframe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, September 12, 2020 | Alta. Alta. B.C. Man. Ont. Ont. Ont. Ont. Que. Sask. |
Calgary (English) Edmonton (English) Vancouver (English) Winnipeg (English) London (English) Ottawa (English) Sudbury (English) Toronto (English) Montreal (English) Saskatoon (English) |
May 2020
Fee: $2,830
|
| Sunday, September 13, 2020 | Alta. Alta. Man. N.S. Ont. Ont. Ont. Ont. Que. Sask. |
Calgary (English) Edmonton (English) Winnipeg (English) Halifax (English) London (English) Ottawa (English ) Sudbury (English) Toronto (English) Montreal (English and French) Saskatoon (English) |
|
*The centres are subject to change.