Education Leave

1. How many working days do I receive for exam preparation and writing?
2. If my exam is made up of more than one part scheduled on separate days, how would the exam leave apply?
3. When can exam leave be scheduled?
   
4. Am I eligible for exam leave if I am writing an American certification exam?
5. Is conference leave available?
   
6. How early do I need to apply for exam or conference leave?

1. How many working days do I receive for exam preparation and writing?
Article 10.03:
Outside of those Programs modified to accommodate preparation for Canadian qualifying and licensing examinations through recommendation of their Residency Program Committee, each Resident shall be entitled to up to five (5) working day without loss of pay to prepare and write Canadian qualifying and licensing examinations, which includes those of the Medical Council of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Under their working contract, resident physicians are entitled to five days for exam leave for each exam that meets the the following criteria:

• Canadian qualitfying and licensing exam
• Exams of the Medical Council of Canada, College fo Family Physicians of Canada, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

These days can include the day of the actual writing of the exam (can be a weekend day), travel days, and preparation time.

2. If my exam is made up of more than one part scheduled on separate days, how would the exam leave apply?
Resident physicians receive five days for each exam they take; if that exam has more than one part, those days may be split between the different sections of the exam.

3. When can exam leave be scheduled?
While travel and writing days are dictated by the date(s) of the exam, preparation time is not. Exam leave preparation days do not have to fall immediately prior to the exam, in the same rotation as the exam, or on consecutive days. As there is usually more than one resident physician writing these exams, it is wise to book your time off early. If you book early, you may also be able to take advantage of any remaining flex or float days.

4. Am I eligible for exam leave if I am writing an American certification exam?
Article 10.03:
...A Resident shall be granted unpaid leave up to five (5) working days for the purpose of taking American professional certification examinations.

Yes, resident physicians are eligible for unpaid exam leave to write certification exams in the U.S.

5. Is conference leave available?
Article 10.01:
Residents who are performing at a satisfactory academic level may be granted leave with pay to attend educational events such as medical conferences, provided that the educational event and the attendance at such educational event is approved by the appropriate University Program Director or Department Head. This leave shall not be unreasonably requested or denied.

Yes, a flexible amount of paid conference leave is available with the approval of your program director.

6. How early do I need to apply for exam or conference leave?
Article 14.04:
Applications for education leaves of absence shall be made in writing to the Program Director a minimum of four (4) weeks in advance of the exam date in order that Resident substitutions may be arranged. Applications shall indicate the date of departure on leave and the date of return. Confirmation of the leave shall be made by the Program Director within two (2) weeks of the initial request.

Requests should be made in writing at least a month before the requested time away. The sooner these requests are submitted, the more likely resident physicians are to get the days they want. Resident physicians should be prepared to be flexible about the scheduling of these absences, especially their exam preparation time.