Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Subspecialty

The Child and Adolescent Subspecialty Program is accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Canada.

Consistent with Royal College requirements, the Child and Adolescent program began training according to the Competency By Design model in 2021. Most residents will take two years to complete the training. It is expected that residents enter this program as PGY4 and then complete an additional 2 years of subspecialty training. 

For information regarding Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Competencies and Training Experiences please go to:

RCPSC Info for C & A Psychiatry

We have a strong program that has consistently graduated Child and Adolescent psychiatrists of the highest caliber. The University of Calgary is in a strong position to support its trainees with over 40 Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists on faculty, many of whom are actively involved in supervision of residents. We have an excellent centralized intake system which accepts thousands of referrals each year into a variety of practice settings across the spectrum of need. There are excellent opportunities for research with solid administrative support for teaching and educational placements.

We pride ourselves on providing a variety of rotation options that balance meeting Royal College requirements laid out in Competence by Design while allowing trainees flexibility to explore their interests. Our goal is to help trainees to develop personally and professionally by offering a wide spectrum of training opportunities within a small, close-knit program. Rotations are available on many different sites ranging from tertiary hospitals to community sites, including with our community partners such as Hull Services and Wood's Homes. The inpatient rotations are available on one of four units across the city. There are multiple day hospital programs for different groups of patients, including Childrens’ Day Treatment Program (CDTP) and Adolescent Day Treatment Program (ADTP). Some examples of our specialized and ambulatory experiences include Neuropsychiatry, School-based consultations, Forensic psychiatry, Family therapy (at the renowned Calgary Family Therapy Centre), School-based consultations, Early Psychosis Program (EPP), Early Childhood and Peri-natal Program (ECAP) and Complex ADHD Clinic amongst others. Many residents have also created their own electives in collaboration with the program and there’s close collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics where residents can gain a wide range of experiences.

Wellness is a cornerstone of the program. Our residents enjoy annual Retreats where they can deliberate on matters impacting them and most importantly partake in activities that help them unwind. Residents have protected academic half days every week and reduced call requirements as they progress in CAP training. There is a book fund to be used to offset the cost of learning materials and help pay for conferences and other learning opportunities. Trainees are encouraged to maintain a healthy work-life balance and avail themselves of the many amazing restaurants, events and natural wonders that this city and the surrounding area has to offer! We hope you will consider applying to our program.

Starting in the 2025 cycle, all of the Child and Adolescent Subspecialty Program across Canada will be moving to CaRMS for application and selection process. 

Application for July 2026 start date opens in CaRMS on July 10 2025 at 12:00 (noon) ET. Application deadline is on August 19 2025 12:00 (noon) ET.   Please visit CaRMS website for a detailed description of the timeline.

There are (3) residency positions each year. 

Current PGY 4 and PGY5 residents in the 2025-2026 Academic Year are eligible to apply.

Applications are accepted through CaRMS only, and documentation will include:

• Completed Application
• Personal Statement
• Three Letters of Reference
• Relevant Residency Rotation Experience
• Rotation Evaluations/ In Training Evaluation Report (ITERs) OR Competence Committee Summary Report (for programs with no ITERS)   

Program Information Session is on August 27^th, 2025, 5PM – 6PM MST 

Virtual Interviews will take place on September 19^th,2025. 

For more information about our program, please contact our Residency Program Administrator Bernice Mina-Buna.