Revamping to save time and money

Thanks to Drs Ng and Burke1 for outlining the current plans to streamline the certification examinations faced by Canadian residents. Having just completed the family medicine certification process (including the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination [MCCQE] Part I and II, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada’s Certification Examination in Family Medicine), I can attest to the redundancy of the process. The current structure seems to be a relic of the days when all residents did first-year internships. Today, when residents have entered specialized programs at the outset, the MCCQE Part II is a waste of time for all involved residents (eg, the dozens of orthopedic residents who will be brushing up on their psychiatry and family medicine this winter). As suggested by the authors, the 2 parts of the MCCQE should be combined and written by all Canadian graduates at the end of medical school to ensure an equal competency. This will save family medicine residents money and time.

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