MCCQE Part I (MCCQE): The Complete 2027 Guide

Facts checked October 2026 — confirm at mcc.ca

The short version

The MCCQE (formerly MCCQE Part I) is the Medical Council of Canada’s qualifying exam — required for the Licentiate of the MCC (LMCC) and for entry into Canadian residency programs. Since 2025 it is 230 multiple-choice questions in one day, scored on a 300–600 scale with a pass mark of 439. The application fee is CA$1,500. It is offered in four windows a year at Prometric centres worldwide, in English or French. Always confirm current fees and dates at mcc.ca — they change.

Who has to take it

Canadian medical students and graduates (you can apply up to 15 months before graduation).
International medical graduates (IMGs) whose school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools — your degree must be source-verified through the MCC.
Everyone applies through a physiciansapply.ca account. Once approved, you get a 12-month eligibility window to schedule with Prometric. Maximum 4 attempts, and you can’t retake it after passing.

Format — what exam day looks like

230 MCQs, two sections of 115, single best answer, 3–5 options per question.
One sitting of about 6.5 hours, with an optional 45-minute break between sections — roughly 1 minute 20 seconds per question. Stamina is part of the test.
The old Clinical Decision Making (CDM) component was permanently removed in 2025 — the exam is MCQ-only now.
Content follows the MCC Objectives: Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Preventive Medicine & Community Health — plus the Legal, Ethical and Organizational aspects of Canadian practice, which trip up candidates trained outside Canada more than any clinical topic.

Scoring

Scores run 300–600 (mean 450, standard deviation 30).
439 passes.
The standard is criterion-referenced — set by a panel of practising physicians, not curved against other candidates.
Residency programs see your score, so a strong pass is worth more than a bare one.

2027 session windows

January 19 – February 11, 2027
April 27 – June 1, 2027
August 10 – September 7, 2027
October 5 – 26, 2027

Results are released after each window closes and posted to your physiciansapply.ca account.

What it costs (CAD, confirm at mcc.ca)

MCCQE application fee: CA$1,500
physiciansapply.ca account setup (one-time): CA$335
Source verification per credential (IMGs): CA$232

Budget for the exam fee to be non-refundable — withdrawing late can forfeit it.

How to prepare (a 12-week shape that works)

Weeks 1–2 — Baseline — Sit a timed block across all disciplines. Your weak areas decide the plan, not your favourites.
Weeks 3–9 — Question-first study — Work by discipline, weakest first. For every miss, write the one-line rule you should have known — the miss log is the highest-yield document you’ll own.
Weeks 10–11 — Mixed timed blocks — Exam conditions: 115-question sections, no pausing. Train the pace (about 80 seconds a question) and the break discipline.
Week 12 — Taper — Miss log and high-yield topics only. Protect sleep; the exam rewards a fresh brain more than a crammed one.

Where MediLingo fits

the MCCQE punishes dead time — commutes, queues, the ten minutes between things. MediLingo turns that time into practice: 3,900+ gamified questions across 21 specialties, built for one-question-at-a-time microlearning with streaks, XP and duels, so the daily habit actually sticks across 12 weeks. Start with the MCCQE track, then drill your weak specialties.

Our questions are AI-generated and cross-reviewed against current clinical guidelines, with expert human review in progress — and the bank is free in full for medical students in 72 countries. Elsewhere it’s CA$9.99/month with a 30-day free trial.

Start free — try the MCCQE track · Try today's sample question

Frequently asked questions

Is the CDM section still part of the MCCQE?

No. The Clinical Decision Making component was permanently removed in 2025. The exam is 230 multiple-choice questions only.

How many questions are on the MCCQE, and how long does it take?

230 MCQs in two sections of 115, in a single appointment of about 6.5 hours, with an optional 45-minute break between sections.

What score do I need to pass the MCCQE?

439 on the 300–600 scale (mean 450). The pass standard is criterion-referenced, set by a panel of physicians.

How much does the MCCQE cost?

The application fee is CA$1,500, plus a one-time CA$335 physiciansapply.ca account fee; IMGs also pay CA$232 per credential for source verification. Confirm current fees at mcc.ca.

How many times can I take the MCCQE?

Up to 4 attempts. You cannot retake the exam after passing.

When is the MCCQE offered in 2027?

In four windows: January 19–February 11, April 27–June 1, August 10–September 7, and October 5–26, 2027, at Prometric centres and in English or French.

Can international medical graduates take the MCCQE?

Yes — if your medical school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and your degree is source-verified through the MCC, you can apply through physiciansapply.ca. You do not need to be in a Canadian residency program to sit the exam.

MediLingo is not affiliated with the Medical Council of Canada. Exam details change — confirm fees, dates and rules at mcc.ca before applying. Guide facts last checked October 2026.