Incoming Electives & Observerships

The University of Calgary’s Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office welcomes visiting trainees for clinical electives in accredited residency programs. These opportunities allow eligible Canadian and international trainees to gain supervised clinical experience within our institution. Observerships, however, are managed directly by the individual residency program and Alberta Health Services (AHS) Medical Education Office. 

Incoming Electives: 

• Canadian Trainees: Must apply at least 4 months before the elective start date. Required documents include a support letter from the home program, confirmation of salary funding, and licensing details. 
• International Trainees: Must apply at least 8 months in advance. Additional requirements include a CV, passport, home program approval, and work permit documentation. Elective trainees must meet Alberta Health Services (AHS) credentialing requirements, obtain licensure through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA), and provide proof of liability insurance. 

Observerships: 
Observerships provide non-clinical learning opportunities for trainees to observe clinical practice within a residency program. All observerships are arranged directly through the specific residency program and Alberta Health Services Medical Education Office (AHS-MEO). Observers are not permitted to have direct patient contact. 

For detailed information on application procedures and specific requirements for Canadian electives, international electives, and observerships, please refer to the sections below.