'We're now making it easier than ever for internationally trained doctors to bring their skills to our province'
British Columbia is making it even easier for doctors from outside the country to come and work in the province.
“With the support of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. (CPSBC), we’re now making it easier than ever for internationally trained doctors to bring their skills to our province,” said Josie Osborne, minister of health.
The province implemented the following bylaw changes on July 7, 2025:
- U.S.-trained doctors can now become fully licensed in B.C. without the need for further assessment, examination or training if they hold certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties, American Board of Family Medicine, or the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. This means that U.S.-trained and certified doctors can often be registered in a matter of weeks.
- Doctors trained outside of Canada and the U.S. who are applying for registration and licensure in B.C. are no longer required to hold the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada. This change saves applicants approximately $1,500—the cost of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part 1—and shortens the licensing process by several weeks.
Previously, Wendy Cocchia, B.C.’s lieutenant-governor, committed to making it easier for internationally trained healthcare workers to get their credentials recognized, as part of a broader initiative to fill critical staffing gaps.
CPSBC is also conducting public consultations on a proposed bylaw change to further streamline the registration and licensure process for certain specialties from jurisdictions where training is recognised and approved by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, according to the B.C. government.
Internationally trained physicians wishing to practise in B.C. would have a direct pathway to full licensure if they completed a minimum of two years of accredited postgraduate training in family medicine in the U.S., Australia, United Kingdom, or Ireland.
They can also qualify if they have completed postgraduate training and received a certificate of completion of training and certification in certain specialties from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or Ireland, noted the provincial government.
Hundreds have applied, over 2,000 expressed interest
In just two months, B.C. has received almost 780 job applications from qualified health professionals across the United States, the B.C. government noted.
These include:
- 181 for Interior Health
- 154 for Fraser Health
- 121 for Vancouver Coastal Health
- 112 for Island Health
- 70 for Providence Health Care
- 66 for Provincial Health Services Authority
- 63 for Northern Health (some applicants may have applied to more than one health authority).
“When we began recruiting in the U.S. in March, we were confident it would yield strong results, and this success confirms that British Columbia’s universal health-care system and vibrant communities continue to stand out,” said Osborne.
Earlier this year, B.C. started intensifying its efforts to recruit U.S. healthcare professionals as it faces a growing shortage of doctors and nurses. The province also launched a targeted U.S. marketing campaign on June 2, 2025, in Washington, Oregon and select cities in California.
Since the campaign began, more than 2,250 doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, and allied health professionals have signed up for webinars and expressed interest in working in B.C. This includes:
- 827 physicians
- 851 nurses
- 254 nurse practitioners
- 256 allied health professionals
Other provinces have also upped their efforts in recruiting healthcare workers from the U.S., but Quebec has chosen not to do the same.
