If you are reading this, you are probably staring at your screen, slightly frustrated, trying to figure out how to become a doctor in Canada. I’ve been there. Or, well, I’ve helped enough people through it to feel the phantom headache.
The path to medical licensure in Canada is a bit of a maze. And standing right at the entrance of that maze is the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) and its digital gatekeeper: the MCC Online Application Portal.
Most people know it simply as “the portal.” Officially? It’s called physiciansapply.ca.
If you’re an International Medical Graduate (IMG) or even a Canadian student, this website is going to be your new best friend. Or your worst enemy. Maybe a bit of both. You will spend hours here uploading documents, paying fees (so many fees), and checking for status updates at 2 AM.
So, grab a coffee. I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know about the portal in 2026. No jargon, no corporate speak. Just the instructions you actually need.
PhysiciansApply.ca vs. MCC.ca: Clearing the Confusion
First off, let’s clear up a common mix-up.
When you Google “Medical Council of Canada,” you land on mcc.ca. This is their informational website. It’s nice, it’s clean, it has news updates. But you can’t do anything there. You can’t apply for exams, and you certainly can’t upload your diploma.
For the actual work, you need the MCC Online Application Portal, which lives at physiciansapply.ca.
Think of mcc.ca as the brochure, and physiciansapply.ca as the engine room. This portal is a centralized system. It used to be that you had to send paper everywhere. Now, the MCC tries to keep it digital. It connects you with:
- The Medical Council of Canada (obviously).
- Provincial medical regulatory authorities (the people who give you your license).
- Immigration authorities (if you need an ECA).
- Residency programs (via CaRMS).
It’s actually a pretty powerful tool. When it works.
Getting Started: How to Register in 2026
Okay, let’s get you an account. This part is usually straightforward, but don’t rush it. Mistakes here are annoying to fix later.
Step 1: Account Creation
Head over to physiciansapply.ca and look for “Create an account” or “Login”.
You’ll need a valid email address. Pro tip: Use a personal email (like Gmail), not your university or hospital email. You might lose access to that work email in a year, but your MCC account is for life. Literally. You will likely use this portal 20 years from now to share documents.
Fill in the basics. Name, date of birth, gender. Make sure your name matches your passport exactly. If your passport says “Jean-Luc,” don’t write “Jean.” The MCC is incredibly strict about names. If there’s a typo, they might flag your identity verification later.
Step 2: Paying the Account Fee
Ah, the first of many payments.
Just opening the account isn’t free. As of early 2026, there is a non-refundable account set-up fee. It’s usually around $300+ CAD. Yeah, I know. It stings a bit just to get access to a website. But you can’t proceed without it.
You’ll need a credit card. Visa or Mastercard. Debit cards often struggle here unless they are Visa Debits. Once you pay, you’re in.
Step 3: Identity Verification (The Tricky Part)
This is where people get stuck. You have an account, but it’s “unverified.” You can’t apply for exams yet.
You need to prove you are who you say you are. Usually, this involves submitting a Certified Identity Confirmation Form.
- Download the form from the portal.
- Take it (and your passport) to a lawyer, notary public, or a commissioner of oaths.
- They need to sign it and stamp it.
- You also need to attach a passport-style photo.
Wait—scratch that. Check the current instructions on your dashboard. Sometimes they allow online notary services now, which is a lifesaver if you are in a remote area. But traditionally, it had to be physical.
Once you upload this form and a copy of your ID, the MCC staff reviews it. This can take a few weeks. Don’t book an exam date in your head for next week; it’s not happening.
Mastering the Dashboard: Key Services
Once you are logged in and verified (green checkmarks are the best feeling), the dashboard opens up. It looks a bit utilitarian, but it works. Here is what you will be using most.
Source Verification (SVR)
This is the big one for IMGs. Canada does not just trust that you have a medical degree because you uploaded a PDF. They want Source Verification.
The MCC partners with ECFMG (based in the US) or uses their own channels to contact your medical school directly.
- You upload your diploma.
- You pay a fee (Source Verification Request or SVR fee).
- The MCC contacts your school. “Did this person graduate?”
- Your school says “Yes.”
The problem? This can take months. Literally, 3 to 6 months is normal. Sometimes longer if your school’s administration is… relaxed.
My advice: Do this immediately. The moment you decide you want to come to Canada, open an account and start the SVR. You don’t need to be ready for exams to do this. Just get the paperwork moving.
Applying for Exams (MCCQE Part I & NAC OSCE)
You use the portal to apply for the MCCQE Part I (Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination).
Important 2026 Update: The MCCQE Part I format has evolved. It’s now more streamlined, but the application window works on a “first-come, first-served” basis for scheduling with Prometric.
In the portal:
- Click on “Examinations”.
- Check your eligibility. (Usually, you need your medical degree SVR in progress or completed, or be a student).
- Pay the exam fee. (It’s hefty—over $1,400 CAD).
- Receive an Authorization to Test (ATT).
This portal is only for the application. You don’t take the exam here; you take it at a Prometric center or via remote proctoring. But the portal is where you get your results.
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for Immigration
If you are applying for Permanent Residency via Express Entry, you likely need an ECA report. The MCC is the designated body for doctors.
You can request this report directly through the dashboard. It basically summarizes your source verification into a document that says, “Yes, this is equivalent to a Canadian MD.” Immigration Canada (IRCC) needs this.
Technical Troubleshooting & “Pro-Tips”
It’s technology. It breaks. Here is how to handle the common headaches.
“I Can’t Log In” – Solutions
You type your password. Invalid. You try again. Invalid. Panic sets in.
- Browser Issues: The portal can be finicky with browsers. If Chrome is acting up, try Edge or Firefox. Honestly, clearing your cache fixes 50% of the problems.
- The “Loop”: Sometimes you log in, and it redirects you back to the login page. This is a cookie issue. Open an Incognito/Private window. It almost always works.
- Locked Out: If you fail too many times, it locks you out. You have to wait (usually 30 minutes) or reset your password via email.
Document Upload Errors
“File format not supported.”
The MCC is strict about PDFs.
- Resolution: 300 DPI or higher. Color scans are better.
- Size: Keep it under the limit (usually 5MB or 10MB). If your scan is huge, Google “compress PDF” and shrink it down.
- Translation: If your diploma is in Spanish/Arabic/Russian, you cannot just upload the original. You need a certified translation. The portal has a list of approved translators. Do not use your cousin who speaks English well. It will be rejected.
Payment Failures
Your card gets declined. It happens.
- International Cards: If you are paying from Nigeria, India, or Pakistan, sometimes banks block the transaction because it’s a large foreign amount (~$1500 CAD). Call your bank before you click pay. Tell them, “I am making a transaction to the Medical Council of Canada.”
- Receipts: Always download your receipt immediately. You might need it for tax purposes or reimbursement later.
Costs and Timelines (2026 Breakdown)
Medical licensing is expensive. I wish I could sugarcoat it, but I can’t. Here is a rough estimate of what you are looking at in 2026 (prices are approximate CAD and subject to change, check the portal for exact cents).
| Service | Estimated Cost (CAD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Account Setup Fee | ~$300 – $350 | Immediate |
| Source Verification (per doc) | ~$200 – $250 | 2 – 6 Months |
| MCCQE Part I Exam | ~$1,470 | Apply months in advance |
| NAC Examination | ~$3,000+ | Specific sessions only |
| ECA Report | ~$150 | 2 – 4 Weeks (after verification) |
| Translation Fees | Varies ($100+) | Varies |
Total Budget: You should probably set aside $5,000 – $7,000 CAD just for the MCC portion of your journey. This doesn’t include CaRMS application fees or travel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I need a physiciansapply.ca account if I’m a Canadian student? A: Yes. Eventually. You will need it to sit for the MCCQE Part I and to get your Licentiate (LMCC) later.
Q: Can I share my documents with multiple provinces? A: Yes! That’s the beauty of the portal. Once a document is “Source Verified,” it stays in your repository. You can “share” it with CPSO (Ontario), CPSBC (British Columbia), etc., with just a few clicks. (There is sometimes a small sharing fee, of course).
Q: What is a MINC number? A: Medical Identification Number for Canada. The portal will assign you one or help you find yours. It’s a unique ID that follows you for your whole career.
Q: My verification is taking forever. Can I speed it up? A: Not really. The MCC is waiting on your school. If it’s been 3 months, you can try contacting your medical school’s registrar directly and asking them to check their email/mail for the request from MCC/ECFMG. Sometimes a polite nudge from you works better than an email from Canada.
The MCC Online Application Portal is a tool. It’s not perfect, and it’s certainly not free, but it is the bridge you have to cross to practice medicine in Canada.
My biggest piece of advice? Start early. Earlier than you think. The system works, but it moves at the speed of bureaucracy. Treat your physiciansapply.ca account like your professional passport. Keep it updated, check it legally, and don’t lose that password.
Good luck. You’ve got this. The medical system in Canada needs you, even if the paperwork makes it feel like they’re playing hard to get.