FACT: IF A PROGRAM IS ON YOUR RANK ORDER LIST, AND YOU ARE
MATCHED, YOU ARE LEGALLY BOUND TO ACCEPT THAT MATCH
RESIDENCYLINK
CARMS MATCHES ARE LEGALLY BINDING
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The CaRMS contract is an important part
of the match process—it exists to protect you and your match. It legitimizes the
match process by laying out exactly what
is expected of participating applicants and
programs, as well as CaRMS’ responsibilities. You read and agree to the contract
when you first log into CaRMS Online to
begin building your application.
Understanding your match contract
When you submit a rank order list (ROL),
you are legally bound to accept the position you are matched to. So it’s important
that you rank only programs in which
you would be willing to train; do not
rank those in which you would not
be willing to train in. Remember that
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you are not obligated to rank all of the
programs you have applied to, including
any you have interviewed with. A match
can occur with your first choice or your
21st choice in your submitted ROL. Regardless, you are bound by the match
contract to accept the position you are
matched to.
Likewise, your match is protected because
the programs are held to the same standard. They are legally bound to provide
training to matched residents.
Violating the match contract
As is the case with any legal contract, there
are consequences if either of the parties
does not abide by the match contract.
The Residency Link series of communications provides medical students and medical graduates
with tips and useful information to facilitate their R-1 match year.
FEB
2015
RESIDENCYLINK
You are legally bound to accept a match with any program listed on your submitted ROL.
So, when submitting your ROL, remember: if you don’t want it, don’t rank it.
If an applicant matches to a program but decides to not accept the match, the school will
report the violation to the CaRMS violations
review committee as outlined in the Match
Breaches Policy and the applicant will be sent
a letter to explain the legal obligation to accept
the match. If the issue remains unresolved,
the violations review committee will impose a
penalty. The nature of the penalty is at the discretion of the committee, but the most common consequence is disqualification from entry into CaRMS matches for up to three years.
If a program does not honour its responsibilities under the match contract, it faces similar
sanctions.
CaRMS.ca
300-171, rue Nepean Street
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0B4, Canada
All contract breaches are reported to the relevant licensing authorities and medical colleges (and in the case of international medical graduates, to the ECFMG). So, a contract
violation becomes part of your professional
history.
613.237.0075
(Toll-free/Sans frais) 877.CARMS.42