Updated: June 2, 2011

Before you start, choose a tumour group site for your fellowship and be prepared to discuss your general ideas and what you expect to gain from this fellowship.

Letter of Offer

A letter of offer including research goals and objectives as discussed with the relevant tumour group supervisor, the fellowship term and percentage of clinic time expected will be sent to you. You are to include an acceptance of the offer along with a completed  UBC Fellowship Application form UBC Application Form and send to the program administrator for processing. Please refer to the UBC Webpage  for further information.

Certificate of Standing

The next step is for you to provide us with a Certificate of Standing/Professional Conduct from each and every place where you have been registered for postgraduate training or practice during the five years prior to coming to British Columbia. Also a letter from your program head approving your fellowship.The certificate of standing is an official document that must be signed by a registrar or a person in charge of the registration department within your jurisdiction. This document is to confirm your registration and membership status with your current licensing authority and to indicate your standing ie whether or not you have been the subject of an investigation, complaint, or a disciplinary action in the state or province where you practice medicine.

Completed Package

Your completed package should include:

1. Acceptance of Offer
2. CV
3. Credentials
4. Medical licence
5. Certificate of standing
6. Registration fees $150CND in the form of a certified cheque or visa upon arrival.

Application Package

The above package will be forwarded to the University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Medicine for authorization and subsequently to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) requesting a temporary licence. This process takes six to eight weeks for completion.


Letter of Registration

A formal approval letter (letter of registration) will be provided by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC granting you a temporary licence to practice in BC. The letter of registration is a temporary registration for educational purposes stating the terms and conditions applicable (for example geographic restriction, focus of practice, completion of examinations or other as stipulated by Council).

The letter of registration states that it is mandatory that foreign workers have their credentials verified through the Commission for Foreign Education Medical Graduates International Credentialing Services (ECFMG-ICS). Verification costs approximately $150USD, takes approximately three months and is paid online by the fellow.

All new fellows applying for temporary registration must undergo a criminal record search. A criminal record search authorization form will be sent to you along with the letter of registration.There is an administration fee of $20CDN.

Non-Canadian Applicants

Any candidate for licensure in British Columbia must have the ability to speak, read, and write English to the satisfaction of the Registration Committee at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. Physicians who have not meet these requirements are required either a TOEFL iBT (internet-based test). The score can be directly sent to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC through the TOEFL site upon receiving a recipient code from the College. You must have a total score of 95 and a score of 25 on the spoken component or alternatively they may sit the Academic IELTS examination with a minimum score of 7 in each component with an overall band score of no less than 7. This is a requirement to all applications for licensures that are received to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. This information may be obtained from the College website www.cpsbc.ca under General Registration and Licensure Requirements. The TOEFL is valid for two years from the date taken.

Work Permit

See website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/work.asp

Temporary Work & Resident Visa

Once you arrive at the Canadian airport, you are to present the immigration officer with your work permit and they will will issue you a temporary work visa as well as a temporary resident visa. The processing fee is $150CDN.

For All Applicants

Before arriving to the BC Cancer Agency, you must go to two places 1st is the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (https://www.cpsbc.ca/node/157) in person to complete your registration with the following documents:

1. Original Medical Degree (if not in English, you must bring the original translation as well as the original degree)
2. Original Specialty Diploma or an original letter addressed to the college from the director of the training program in which you are enrolled
3. Original Canadian Immigration documents authorizing you to be in Canada for the purpose of this registration (work permit and passport)
4. The Certificate of Standing from the licensing authority where you were working immediately prior to coming to BC, dated within 45 days of commencement of your registration in BC
5. Work Visa

The processing fee is $125CDN.

2nd is the Service Canada for your Social Insurance Number (SIN). You will need original documents to apply for your SIN card.

You must go in person with all your original documents:

Harry Stevens Business Building
125 10th Avenue East
Vancouver, British Columbia


Temporary residents Need:

Work permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Visitor record issued by CIC, indicating you are authorized to work in Canada.

Diplomatic identity card and a note of permission of employment issued by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT).

Important note for temporary residents: you will receive a temporary SIN card that begins with the number "9". Your SIN card expires on the date indicated on the front of the card. This expiry date is based on the CIC document that authorizes you to work in Canada

For further information, please contact the program administrator at medoncresprog@bccancer.bc.ca