We are working closely with our partners in the Canadian medical education community during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are committed to sharing important match-related news and information in this ever-evolving situation.
July 31, 2020
News release from the AFMC:
The 2021 Resident Match Day Confirmed
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, July 31, 2020 – Today, the AFMC finalized the 2021 R-1 Match Timeline. Match Day will be April 20, 2021.
Key dates include:
- Monday November 2, 2020: R-1 Match application opens
- Monday February 8, 2021: Application due date
- Monday March 8 to Sunday March 28, 2021: National interview period
- Tuesday April 20, 2021: Match Day 1st iteration
- Thursday May 20, 2021: Match Day 2nd iteration
AFMC would like to thank the AFMC Resident Matching Committee (ARMC) which has worked tirelessly on the compressed timeline and engaged with the medical education community to reach consensus. ARMC membership includes representation from the Faculty of Medicine Deans, Postgraduate Deans, Undergraduate Deans, Student Affairs Deans, the Canadian Federation of Medical Students, the Fédération des médecins residents du Québec, the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec, Resident Doctors of Canada and the Canadian Resident Matching Service.
May 4, 2020
News release from the AFMC:
AFMC decision regarding the 2021 R-1 match
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, May 4, 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic has led to medical students being removed from clinical rotations in early March, 2020. Students from the class of 2021 will be returning to clinical rotations after having missed up to 4 months of clerkship. This will have a significant effect on the final year of medical school. The top issue is the ability for students to become competent in core disciplines and have reasonable access to home and visiting electives to enable career decision making. This has led to the need to compress the timeline of the R-1 Match processes to ensure that students have reasonable exposure before applying to residency that graduates will start on July 1, 2021.
The AFMC Resident Matching Committee (ARMC) has been meeting regularly to work on a compressed timeline. ARMC membership includes representation from the Faculty of Medicine Deans, Postgraduate Deans, Undergraduate Deans, Student Affairs Deans, the Canadian Federation of Medical Students, the Fédération des médecins residents du Québec, the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec, Resident Doctors of Canada and the Canadian Resident Matching Service. All members of the ARMC had the opportunity to consult with the group they represent. The AFMC Board Chair, Dr. David Anderson and the Chair of the AFMC Standing Committee on Education, Dr. Preston Smith were directly engaged and also consulted with the leadership of the Chairs of Family Medicine, Family Medicine Program Directors and the Chairs of Medicine.
The AFMC Board has made the following decisions regarding the 2021 R-1 Match:
- Interviews will be in a virtual format including those for local candidates.
- The match timeline will be:
- The Last Day of the Application Period: February 7, 2021
- The File Review Period: February 8 to March 5, 2021
- The Virtual Interview Period: March 8 to March 28, 2021
- The Second Iteration Match Day being no later than: May 18, 2021.
The ARMC has identified opportunities for process improvements that will support all those involved in match activities. AFMC will work with our faculties and partners to ensure that improvements to processes will enable a successful R-1 match for 2021.
We will be providing regular communications regarding the 2021 R-1 Match as information becomes available. Thank you to our entire medical education community for their extensive engagement and flexibility during these challenging times.
May 26, 2020
News release from the AFMC:
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, May 26, 2020 – The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada’s Board of Directors has decided that all interviews for the 2021 Fall Subspecialty Residency Match, Spring Subspecialty Residency Match and Family Medicine, Enhanced Skills Match will be in a virtual format including those for local candidates.
After broad consultation the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada Resident Matching Committee (ARMC) has decided to not alter the previously approved subspecialty match timelines.
Key match timeline milestones remain:
Fall Subspecialty Residency Match
Deadline for assignment of applications and documents: August 26, 2020
Match Day: November 4, 2020
Spring Subspecialty Residency Match
Deadline for applications and document assignments: September 9, 2020
Match Day: November 18, 2020
Family Medicine, Enhanced Skills Match
Deadline for assignment of applications and documents: September 16, 2020
Match Day: December 16, 2020
The AFMC Resident Matching Committee (ARMC) has been meeting regularly to review all 2021 match timelines. ARMC membership includes representation from the Faculty of Medicine Deans, Postgraduate Deans, Undergraduate Deans, Student Affairs Deans, the Canadian Federation of Medical Students, the Fédération des médecins residents du Québec, the Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec, Resident Doctors of Canada and the Canadian Resident Matching Service.
Thank you to our entire medical education community for their extensive engagement and flexibility during these challenging times.
