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The Pools Classification Framework

The Pools Classification Framework was cooperatively designed by the Ontario Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) based on location of medical license, legal status, funding source, and training level of the trainee.

Pool Classifications for PGY Trainees (Residents)

A Source M.D. Medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME; includes all Canadian and many U.S. medical schools)
  Legal Status Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident/Landed Immigrant
  Funding Group(s) 1

2, 3, 4 (usually PGY2 or higher)

  Training Level PGY (Resident)
B Source M.D. not accredited by Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
Legal Status Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident/Landed Immigrant
Funding Group(s) 1

2, 3, 4 (usually PGY2 or higher)

Training Level PGY (Resident)
C Source M.D. not accredited by Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
Legal Status Employment Visa
Funding Group(s) 4
Training Level PGY (Resident)

Pool Classifications for Fellows

D Source M.D. All
Legal Status Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident/Landed Immigrant (also Employment Visa if U.S. Citizen)
Funding Group(s) 2, 3, 4, 5
Training Level Fellow
E Source M.D. All
Legal Status Employment Visa
Funding Group(s) 2, 3, 4, 5
Training Level Fellow

Trainees are grouped into five funding groups with Group 1 including all trainees who receive CEB funding and Groups 2-5 identified as ‘Not CEB’.

Group 1 Ontario Ministry of Health Clinical Education Budget (CEB) funding
Group 2 Other Ontario Government Funding
Group 3 Provincial/National Government / Agency Sponsorship, Institutions and Charitable Organizations
Group 4 Foreign Funding Source
Group 5 Fellowship Funding; including Private / Corporate Sponsorship and Clinical Earnings