Onboarding Requirements
All trainees are considered students of the University of Calgary and are required to register with the University of Calgary’s online system. The myUofC Student Center will allow trainees to view assessed tuition, submit Form B documents for approval, and more. Trainees will receive registration link to their email.
Instructions on how to complete your initial registration can be found here. For Tuition information visit our tuition page.
Residents are required to complete the registration process annually. Instructions on how to complete returning registration can be found here.
Trainees of the University of Calgary are eligible to receive an ID card, called a UNICARD. The UNICARD will enable access to basic campus services, including after hours access to the Health Sciences Library, but does not include campus recreation.
If you have previously attended the University of Calgary, and still retain your previously issued UNICARD, you do not need to have your card reissued.
To get your card, visit the UNICARD website, where you can submit your photo online. You will also need to have your UCID at the time of submission. Once your card is ready, you can pick it up at the UNICARD office, located in the main lobby of the International House on main campus.
Letters of Engagement (LOE) issued to residents and Letters of Offer (LOO) issued to clinical fellows are formal appointment letters confirming and outlining the terms of training positions.
The training period stated in the issued appointment letter must be valid. Expired appointment letters will be re-issued as necessary to account for extensions to training. All appointment letters must be the signed by the trainee and returned to your program administrator.
The Medical Education Office oversees onboarding for Alberta Health Services systems. This includes network accounts, ID badges, and clinical access.
Trainees will not be allowed to commence training until all documentation has been submitted, and a recognition memo has been issued.
All trainees must have medical liability protection with the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) for the duration of their training. Delays in obtaining liability protection will affect the commencement of training.
Applying for membership – Incoming residents can expect an invitation email from the CMPA by late April. Residents who have not received this email, as well as clinical fellows, may apply for membership by registering on the CMPA website.
Trainees who already have CMPA coverage, but are new to the University of Calgary, will need to contact CMPA to transfer existing coverage and update contact information.
A current postgraduate training license with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA), must be issued before the commencement of training. CPSA licensure is renewed annually, starting in May.
Applications are completed online and accessed via an invitation email.
If you are graduating from medical school this year, do not wait for your medical degree, as processing applications usually takes 3-4 weeks.
English Language Proficiency requirements can also be found on the CPSA website.
A criminal records check (including vulnerable sector search) is required as part of your application and may take up to 8 weeks or longer to process.
Trainees who have not been issued their CPSA licensure by their commencement date will not be allowed to start.
The Nest is a central SharePoint portal for U of C trainees. Currently hosting additional orientation materials, the site is expanding to become the definitive home for residency information, designed to reduce email overload by consolidating critical updates into one accessible location.
Site Features:
- Orientation Hub: Essential and Recommended resources, orientation event information (Available Now).
- Program News: Real-time updates and departmental announcements.
- Volunteer Calls: Leadership and community engagement opportunities.
- Notices & Reminders: Centralized deadlines to keep inboxes clear.
As development continues, The Nest will serve as the definitive repository for all professional updates, ensuring trainees remain informed and prepared while reducing inbox congestion.
Trainees can access the site once their UC email account is active.
All trainees are required to activate UCalgary email accounts. Once active, all subsequent communications from the Postgraduate Medical Education office will be directed to this account.
Instructions on how to activate UCalgary email accounts can be found here.