News Summary
British Columbia has launched a recruitment campaign to attract U.S.-trained healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, amid ongoing staffing shortages. The initiative has drawn 780 job applications from healthcare workers across various U.S. states, with significant interest noted particularly from California, Oregon, and Washington. Key regulatory changes are set to streamline licensure processes for U.S. physicians. Despite this, concerns about compensation and healthcare delivery models persist, which may influence decision-making for potential recruits. BC’s collaborative efforts seek to establish a robust healthcare workforce for the future.
Victoria, British Columbia – British Columbia (BC) has initiated a targeted recruitment campaign aimed at attracting U.S.-trained healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, to help address critical staffing shortages within the province. The recruitment effort is primarily focused on health workers from Washington, Oregon, and California.
Since launching the campaign in March, BC has received 780 job applications from U.S.-trained healthcare professionals, encompassing 188 doctors and 399 nurses. Additionally, a total of 2,250 Americans have shown interest in relocating to BC, attending various webinars to learn about job opportunities. This interest includes 827 doctors, 851 nurses, 254 nurse practitioners, and 250 allied health professionals.
A significant aspect of the recruitment strategy is the amendment of bylaws by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC). As of July 7, 2025, U.S.-trained doctors will be able to obtain full licensure in BC without undergoing additional assessments, exams, or training. This regulatory adjustment aims to streamline the process for U.S. physicians, particularly those disillusioned by healthcare challenges in their home country.
Health Minister Josie Osborne has underscored BC’s appeal, highlighting its world-class healthcare professionals and vibrant lifestyle as key attractions for potential recruits. The campaign is part of a wider effort to mitigate healthcare staffing issues intensified by an aging population and a growing demand for health services.
Dr. Patrick Rowe, CPSBC registrar and CEO, emphasizes that the organization is committed to continually enhancing its bylaw procedures, aiming to improve healthcare access for British Columbians. Following the approval of the new licensing regulations, 29 U.S. physicians submitted registration applications within the first week.
In addition to supporting U.S. physicians, the CPSBC’s new regulations allow for expedited licensure from other Canadian regions, reducing the processing time from a month to just one week. BC’s Practice Ready Assessment program is also set to expand its capacity, increasing available assessment seats from 32 to 96 by 2024 to better accommodate international applicants.
The BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) is also facilitating the hiring of U.S. nurses, who can now apply directly to the college, thus speeding up their licensing process. Presently, there have been 320 applications from U.S. nurses and 46 from nurse practitioners to the BCCNM.
Despite the recruitment initiatives, concerns have been voiced regarding U.S. physician specialists who may be used to a model where they provide primary care, which contrasts with the Canadian referral system requiring general practitioners to direct patients to specialists. Furthermore, the compensation for doctors in BC has been a point of concern, as it remains lower than what U.S. doctors typically earn, which could hinder recruitment efforts.
To enhance primary care physician compensation, BC has implemented the Longitudinal Family Physician payment model as of 2023. Nevertheless, these financial adjustments still fall short when compared to U.S. compensation packages, potentially deterring some healthcare professionals from making the move north.
The recruitment effort also highlights regulatory limitations, as the new changes do not extend to South African family doctors, who have faced restrictions since 2010. The province’s ongoing physician shortage has been partly attributed to shifts in workplace expectations among new medical graduates, necessitating innovative approaches to staff recruitment.
The BC government is actively collaborating with healthcare authorities and various partners in a unified “Team B.C.” initiative, focused on bolstering healthcare staffing and enhancing access to health services across the province. This multifaceted approach seeks not only to fill current vacancies but also to ensure a sustainable healthcare workforce capable of meeting the future demands of British Columbia’s residents.
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HERE Resources
British Columbia Attracts U.S. Health Professionals Amid Staffing Crisis
British Columbia Attracts U.S. Healthcare Workers Amid Staffing Crisis
Additional Resources
- Prince George Citizen
- Google Search: American Doctors in BC
- Radio NL
- Google Scholar: BC US Doctor Recruitment
- Victoria Buzz
- Encyclopedia Britannica: healthcare in British Columbia
- My Bulkley Lakes Now
- Google News: BC Healthcare Recruitment
- HCAMag
- Google Search: fast track US doctors nurses BC
- Maple Ridge News
- Wikipedia: Healthcare in Canada
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