British Columbia is one of the largest and progressive provinces in Canada. However, in the past few years, the province has been suffering from a shortage of healthcare workers. The situation has worsened to the extent that around 350,000 citizens of British Columbia are without a family doctor.

To alleviate the situation, the BC government has been breaking down barriers in its recruitment process with its closest neighbor, the United States of America.

Since early 2025, the BC government has taken steps to attracting more doctors and nurses from the U.S. In the past months, many healthcare workers have expressed their interests in working in Canada.

This was most likely caused by multiple factors. The US federal government has been withdrawing from the WHO (World Health Organization). Public services have also been cut, and attacks on reproductive rights have left many healthcare workers disenchanted and looking for greener pastures.

To attract more doctors, the BC government has been breaking barriers and implementing rules for internationally trained doctors practicing in BC. These changes include the following:

  • The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC are proposing a change in their bylaws. The registration and licensure process for specific specialties will be streamlined.
  • For U.S-trained doctors that are US board certified, they can now practice in BC without additional requirements such as exams and training. With these changes, the whole registration process can be shortened by a few weeks.
  • The province has eliminated the need for the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada exam. The elimination of these requirements will allow applicants to save money on application fees and shorten the overall process by a few weeks.

BC is part of a growing group of provinces that sees the need to remove administrative roadblocks and ultimately alleviate the shortage of health care workers throughout Canada.

Due to these changes, around 140 health care workers have managed to find employment, and 1,400 job applications from doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and health professionals.

While the BC government has changed their healthcare recruitment process, it is still a tricky process. This is especially true for doctors who wish to find the perfect job and relocate to Canada as well. With these hurdles, doctors will need all the help they can get. This is where Physicians for You come in. The company has helped thousands of physicians through the years. They have an international team of friendly and knowledgeable recruiters who offer in-house services such as end-to-end physician recruitment to clinics, hospitals, and health organizations.

Overall, the hurdles for doctors to work in Canada have lessened, however, getting the right job in the right province in Canada is still a challenge. By working with Physicians For You, doctors will get the very best support possible.