Overview
As a member of the military, Emergency Medicine Specialists (FRCPC(EM)) are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and belong to the Medical Specialist occupation in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). They provide specialized urgent and emergent resuscitative care in both pre‑hospital and hospital environments for Canadian Forces Health Services on domestic and international operations. They have the prospect to be a leader within the CAF Health Services and serve as mentor and educator to the full spectrum of military health care providers.

Primary responsibilities include:

Being part of multidisciplinary emergency resuscitation teams in deployed settings, both in Canada and internationally;

As a member of specialized Forward Air Evacuation teams, providing in‑transport care for injured or ill CAF members during evacuation;

Educating and mentoring other providers in emergency medicine and advising on best practices in resuscitation care;

Maintaining a high level of clinical skills by holding a position within a civilian health care facility that meets approved CAF requirements;

Contributing to the development and application of health care policies within the CAF.

Work environment
Emergency Medicine Specialists in the CAF maintain their clinical readiness by being embedded as clinical staff in larger academic civilian hospitals across Canada, working alongside their civilian colleagues. Their primary clinical duties are supplemented by participation in education and research, and they are part of one Canadian Field Hospital. They maintain operational readiness through annual military skills training and field exercises and, when required,



deploy to unique and challenging clinical environments as part of a Health Services team on domestic and international operations.

Entry plans
Direct Entry Options

If you are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Emergency Medicine and have an unrestricted licence to practise in a Canadian province or territory, you may be eligible for enrollment and to commence basic training. To find out more information or to apply to the CAF as an Emergency Medicine Specialist, please contact our recruiters at [email protected] . Indicate “MEDICAL SPECIALIST” in the subject line of your e‑mail.

Training
After enrollment, you will begin 6 weeks of Basic Military Officer Qualification training (BMOQ) at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint‑Jean‑sur‑Richelieu, Quebec. Topics include general military knowledge, leadership, regulations, weapon handling, field training, navigation, and first aid, alongside a rigorous physical fitness program. Successful completion is a prerequisite for further training.

All physicians, including Emergency Medicine Specialists, attend the Basic Medical Officer Course (BMOC) at the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre (CFHSTC) in Borden, Ontario. This 6‑week blended program introduces the organisational structure, history,



and unique aspects of military medicine. It is offered twice per year in varied session lengths.

Emergency Medicine Specialists may pursue further specialisation, receiving subsidised educational opportunities in exchange for additional service years. Supported training often includes fellowship programmes at Canadian universities and may cover pre‑hospital care, disaster medicine, simulation education, or toxicology.

Advanced training opportunities may include:

Flight Surgeon (Aerospace Medicine)

Dive and Hyperbaric Medicine

Mobile Surgical Resuscitation Team training

Nuclear, Chemical and Biologic Threats and Response

Forward Acute Care Resuscitation Team training

Military and health care leadership

Part time options
The Canadian Forces Health Services Reserves support, augment, and sustain CAF health services. To qualify, you must possess an unrestricted licence in your clinical field and maintain clinical currency in a civilian workplace. Part‑time roles are available through the Primary Reserve at various locations, with a minimum annual commitment of 14 days of service or training.

Specialities available for part‑time service include:

Anesthesiology

Emergency Medicine

General Surgery

Internal Medicine (General, Infectious Diseases, Critical Care)

Orthopaedic Surgery

Radiology

Neurosurgery

Plastic Surgery

Thoracic Surgery

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Pediatrics

Otolaryngology

Urology

Ophthalmology

Cardiology

Gastroenterology

Pathology

Dermatology

Related Careers
Medical Officer (CCFP(EM))

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📌 Emergency Medicine Specialist (Medical Specialist) (Ontario)
🏢 Canadian Armed Forces | Forces armées canadiennes
📍 Ontario