QE1 466, YOG 2019, CARMS
Hi everyone,
I would really appreciate some honest advice on whether I should continue investing my time and money into the CaRMS route or focus entirely on the PRA pathway.
My profile:
- MBBS (2019)
- Passed MCCQE1 with a score of 466
- GMC-registered UK doctor
- 9 months of paid NHS clinical experience in Acute Medicine, Elderly Care, and Gastroenterology, along with multiple UK clinical electives before securing a paid NHS role
- My NHS contract expired, and I had to leave the UK. With the current UK graduates recruitment priorities, I don't realistically expect to obtain a training post until I secure ILR or British citizenship.
- Over 7 years of clinical experience
- Passed MRCP UK PART1, preparing for MRCP UK PART2.
- Multiple PubMed-indexed research publications
- Completed clinical audits and quality improvement projects
- Presented research at an international medical conference in London
- Currently working as a doctor in the Maldives
- In the process of obtaining Canadian permanent residency
- Goal = Family Medicine Physician or FM match.
My current plan is to return to my home country and complete a 1-year structured Family Medicine training program to become eligible for the PRA pathway in Canada, rotations will start in January so I have these 5 months to decide.
Given my profile, year of graduation, MCCQE1 score, UK experience, and academic portfolio, do you think it is still worth pursuing the CaRMS pathway, or would it be more sensible to focus entirely on PRA?
The main reason I am leaning toward PRA is the shorter time and financial aspect. Travelling to Canada for electives and the NAC OSCE would be a significant financial burden + uncertainty with the cost of time/years if go unmatched or score low in nac osce, whereas the PRA pathway appears to be a more practical option for my circumstances.
I would greatly appreciate honest advice, especially from those who have successfully matched through CaRMS or entered practice through the PRA pathway. Thank you!