Important: This information is intended to provide you with some basic knowledge on the licensing process. It’s up to the individual student to contact their provincial regulatory body to make sure they are familiar with the process for returning to Canada or the US. While we review this content on an annual basis, it is subject to change at any time. Please ensure you review all information provided by the regulatory bodies for the most up-to-date information.
Graduates of Irish Medical Schools regularly secure residency programs at elite institutions in Canada and the United States. Most Canadian students apply to both Canada and the US with those that do not match in Canada usually matching in the United States via the US Match together with the US graduates.
Through years of collaboration, Irish universities have developed close ties with US and Canadian Universities to develop an impressive network of clinical programs where our students undertake elective rotations during their medical degrees. This is a significant help in developing contacts and exposure to North American residency programs and a key reason why Ireland is the most popular choice for North Americans seeking a medical degree abroad.
With Ireland only 6 hours flight time from the East Coast of North America, navigating these valuable clinical opportunities is very manageable.
Another option is to pursue an additional year of training in Ireland, the Internship Year. This is a paid position where the new graduate undertakes a year of training at a teaching hospital in Ireland. Unlike applying for residency in North America the internship year allows new physicians to experience a range of specialties in a hospital setting before choosing the specialty they would like to pursue. In recent years the Irish Health Service has significantly increased the number of Internship places available to non EU graduates with all non-EU applicants being accommodated in 2020 & 2021.
The transition to medical training in Ireland from North America is very straightforward as the systems of education are very similar. With almost 1,600 North Americans studying medicine in Ireland there is plenty of support amongst your peers (see below, NIMSA and CIMSA)
The dental degrees awarded are recognized by the dental licensing authorities in the United States, Canada and the European Union. However, you should check with your national and state/provincial licensing authorities for specific details on applicable licensing procedures and additional training that may be required of foreign-trained dentists.
Canada
The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) and the Dental Council of Ireland was signed on December 5th, 2012. Under this agreement, the CDAC and the Dental Council of Ireland agree that each party recognizes the accreditation standards and policies of the other party as being equivalent to its own. There are twelve dental programs covered under this agreement, ten in Canada and two in Ireland (University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin).
Students who graduate from University College Cork (UCC) or Trinity College Dublin (TCD) after December 5th, 2012 will be accepted for licensing in Canada as graduates of an accredited dental educational program and do not need to meet other educational requirements typically required of graduates of non-Canadian Dental schools.
Note: Any student who is enrolled in an accredited program at the time of the MRA being terminated, and proceeds to successfully complete said program, shall be considered to have graduated from an accredited program and shall subsequently benefit from the provisions of the MRA.
Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada
National Dental Examining Board of Canada
Canadian Dental Regulatory Authorities Federation
Dental Council of Ireland
Graduates from Canada must pass their national examinations in order to be eligible to apply for licensure and to practice in their state or province of choice.
In Canada, the profession of physiotherapist is regulated in all Canadian provinces and territories (except the Northwest Territories and Nunavut). The provincial / territorial regulators set the standards for licensure. However, all graduates must take and pass the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE), which is administered by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR), who also administer the Credentialing Process for international physiotherapy graduates. Having passed the PCE the graduate then applies for a license to the Province or Territory where they wish to practice.
NOTE: The CAPR discontinued the Clinical Component of the PCE in January of 2022 and is currently examining new systems for clinical evaluation. Having passed the written component of the PCE, the graduate will now apply for a provisional or interim license to the Province or Territory where they wish to practice.
Candidates are encouraged to contact the provincial or territorial Physiotherapy regulatory body in the province/territory in which they wish to practice for information on licensing.
The pharmacy degrees awarded in Ireland are recognized by the pharmacy licensing authorities in Canada, the United States and the European Union. However, you should check with your national and state/provincial licensing authorities for specific details on applicable licensing procedures and any additional training that may be required of foreign-trained pharmacists.
If you wish to practice as a pharmacist in Canada you must meet the requirements set by the individual provincial and territorial licensing bodies across Canada known as Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (PRAs).
While Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (PRAs) have many similar requirements, each jurisdiction may have variations or unique conditions for licensure. To learn more about each of the provincial and territorial requirements for licensure, please visit the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada website.
Pharmacists Gateway Canada
Canadian Pharmacists Association
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada
Graduate qualifications in law from Irish universities are recognized internationally. The process when returning to Canada and meeting the requirements to practice as a lawyer is as follows:
After graduation you apply to have your credentials assessed by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). NCA assessment will focus on the core common law subjects which you will have covered in the Irish Law Schools. You will then likely be required to complete challenge exams in the following five areas to demonstrate your competence in these core subjects. This is typically required of all graduates trained outside Canada.
NCA Tutor is a popular choice for an exam prep program.
Once you have successfully completed these requirements the NCA will issue you a Certificate of Qualification. This certificate will allow you to apply to a province for a license to practice law (not Quebec which is not a common law province). Please visit the Federation of Law Societies of Canada website for detailed information.
Articling
You must Article in in the province where you choose to seek a license. Articling takes up to a year to complete. During this time undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) and take the Bar Exam.
Called to the Bar
Upon completion of the PLT course and successful completion of the Bar Exam you will be ‘called to the Bar’ and commence your legal career.
Graduates of Irish Medical Schools regularly secure residency programs at institutions in the United States and Canada. Most Canadian students apply to both the US and Canada with those that do not match in Canada usually matching in the United States via the US Match together with the US graduates.
Another option is to pursue an additional year of training in Ireland, the Internship Year. This is a paid position where the new graduate undertakes a year of training at a teaching hospital in Ireland. Unlike applying for residency in North America the internship year allows new physicians to experience a range of specialties in a hospital setting before choosing the specialty they would like to pursue. However, a place in the internship year is not guaranteed for non EU students.
The transition to medical training in Ireland from North America is very straightforward as the systems of education are very similar and there is plenty of support amongst your peers (see below, NIMSA and CIMSA)
Students intending to practice in the United States can find more information about practicing in the United States through the American Student Dental Association. To be eligible for licensing in the United States, graduates of Irish Dental Schools will likely be required to complete additional training in a School of Dentistry located in the United States.
American Dental Association
American Student Dental Association
American Dental Education Association
Graduates from the USA must pass their national examinations in order to be eligible to apply for licensure and to practice in their state or province of choice.
For Physical Therapists in the United States, candidates must take and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), before they can apply for state licensure. As licensure can vary state by state, we would encourage you to contact your state licensing authority for information on their respective requirements to practice.
The pharmacy degrees awarded in Ireland are recognized by the pharmacy licensing authorities in Canada, the United States and the European Union. However, you should check with your national and state/provincial licensing authorities for specific details on applicable licensing procedures and any additional training that may be required of foreign-trained pharmacists.
Graduates of non US Pharmacy schools must have completed a 5 year pharmacy curriculum. Graduates then take the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Exams (FPGEE). FPGEE is administered twice a year in the spring and fall.
Graduates are also required to take the TOEFL iBT test (delivered via the internet) which measures your ability to use and understand English at the university level.
Having passed the FPGEE and the TOEFL iBT you can then apply for FPGEC certification. Almost all states accept Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification for obtaining a pharmacist license. However states may require pharmacy internship hours.
Graduates then take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination NAPLEX . This is the same pharmacy licensing exam taken by US graduates.
You should contact the pharmacy licensing authority in the state you wish to practice for official information on licensing procedures, examinations, and other possible requirements e.g. internship hours, state exams.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT)
Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Exams (FPGEE)
Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC)
The licensing process is State driven so in the first instance you should check with the State Bar Association in the State in which you intend to practice. You will probably also need your degree to be assessed by the American Bar Association which is familiar with Irish Law Degrees.
When your credentials are approved you will then be eligible to sit for the state’s bar exam. This is the same exam graduates of US Law Schools are required to take. This process can take several month to a year allowing you time to prepare for the Bar Exam. Most states also require Multiple Professional Responsibilities Exam (MPRE).
Having had your credentials verified, passed the Bar Exam and the MPRE you can then commence the practice of law.
Resources
The North American Irish Medical Students Association (NIMSA), the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) and the Canadian International Medical Student Association (CIMSA) are student-run societies that support Canadian and American medical students in Ireland. Each university has its own branch of the larger society.
Their objective is to build a support network of North American students for North American students. Their remit is to share information and strategy around Board Exam prep, Clinical Elective Programs, Research Opportunities, Residency Applications etc. These societies have a close and collaborative working relationship with School Administrators and are a vital part of the conversation in organizing a smooth transition to residency programs in North America.
On entry students are encouraged to join these societies and proactively engage in a series of practical career-focused workshops, and attend hosted Canadian and US medical specialty talks and webinars. These societies have been in place for decades and provide a vital source of accurate information and support for North American students.
Before submitting your online application, please fill out the Application Request Form. After we receive your submission, we will write to you within 1 – 2 business days regarding program eligibility, application instructions, admissions requirements, deadlines, and other guidelines.
Find Out HereFollow the application instructions exactly. Take the time to read the instructions provided with your application.
Find Out HereWith clinical exposure beginning in Dublin, you are exposed to patient-centred learning from the first year of your training as a doctor.
The RUMC programme offers an additional option for obtaining a medical degree at a lower cost than attending the entire programme in Ireland.
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