In Canada, psychiatry training is completed through a five-year, full-time residency program that combines both longitudinal and block-based clinical experiences. Training requirements are established by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and additional information can be found on their website. These national training standards are implemented centrally and consistently by the UBC Department of Psychiatry across all distributed residency tracks, including Fraser Health–Greater Vancouver, Vancouver, Victoria, Interior, Northern, and Research. This ensures that residents receive a high-quality, standardized educational experience while benefiting from the unique clinical opportunities available within their chosen training track.

Clinical rotations mandated by the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada


For further details of each year, including sample schedules, please click on the links below:

Postgraduate Year (PGY) 1
Postgraduate Years (PGY) 2-3
Postgraduate Years (PGY) 4-5

Longitudinal training mandated by the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada


a) At least two years of supervised treatment of patients (and their families) with a severe and persistent psychotic illness for no less than two direct care hours per month, which must be documented and evaluated separately from other rotations.

b) Training in evidenced-based psychotherapies sufficient to meet the Objectives of Training in Psychiatry. This must involve no less than 32 weeks or 8 months of the PGY2-5 experience.

For further details of the concurrent & longitudinal training please click here: Longitudinal Training