Physician Rural Externship Program (PREP)
The Physician Rural Externship Program (PREP) provides University of Saskatchewan (USask) medical students with an opportunity to experience family medicine practice in rural and remote Saskatchewan communities.
PREP is available to USask undergraduate medical students between their second and third year of study and provides hands-on clinical learning experiences outside of Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert and the following bedroom communities: Balgonie, Clavet, Delisle, Emerald Park, Langham, Lumsden, Martensville, Pense, Pilot Butte, Warman and White City.
The program provides an opportunity for students to apply their clinical knowledge, establish contacts and learn what rural family medicine practice is all about.
PREP is a collaborative initiative between the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) and University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine.
Why Participate in PREP?
Over the past 15 years, PREP has seen 407 USask medical students take part in placements across 44 rural and remote communities in Saskatchewan.
Year-after-year, students respond with positive feedback that the experience was more than they anticipated and gave them superb access to clinical skill development, helping to prepare them for their clerkships and excite them about family medicine practice.
“It was an excellent experience. I got to see a wide scope of practice from natal care to geriatrics. Some of the doctors in the clinic also did ER which I was able to shadow as well. The preceptors were very helpful and adamant to get me to take part and see various procedures and patients.”
PREP Participant, 2025
- USask undergraduate medical students between their second and third year can apply.
- A placement of at least four weeks is recommended. Placements can start as early as May 19, 2026 and continue until the start of the 2026–27 school year on July 20, 2026.
- A shorter placement, to a minimum of two weeks, may be accommodated upon request.
- Criminal Record Checks may be required by SHA.
Extern's Function
PREP provides students with a clinical experience. The supervising physician may permit students, under direct supervision, to perform only those procedures the physician believes the student can safely and capably perform. Students may also shadow physicians performing more advanced procedures.
- The 2026 salary is $500 per week, subject to applicable deductions such as Employment Insurance (EI) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
- A $250 per week cost-of-living allowance, which is non-taxable, is provided by the Saskatchewan Medical Association.
- Externs are responsible for arranging and paying for their own housing and accommodations.
Students are required to complete a survey following completion of their PREP placement.
The supervising physician will also complete a brief evaluation. With the consent of both parties, evaluations may be shared for future learning experiences.
Annual immunization for COVID-19 is strongly recommended due to MD program learning activities resulting in a potentially elevated risk of COVID-19 transmission. For certain clinical learning activities and clerkship electives, students who do not have COVID-19 vaccination may not be able to participate.
Applications
Applications for 2026 are now closed.
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