PRACTISE MEDICINE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA (BC), CANADA
DISCOVER THE PERFECT PLACE TO CALL HOME You will find that British Columbia (BC), Canada is the perfect place to advance your medical career AND live the life you’ve always wanted. Choose from a variety of positions in both rural communities and urban areas where you can make a real impact on patient care. Rewarding career opportunities await physicians throughout the province and no matter where you choose to live you’ll be in awe of the power and beauty of nature. The pursuit of a balanced lifestyle is taken seriously in BC: the spectacular scenery, unlimited recreational activities, rewarding career opportunities and safe, caring communities create an inspiring backdrop for everything you do. You owe it to yourself to consider BC.
Smithers, BC
PRACTISE MEDICINE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA Interested in matching your lifestyle with exciting career opportunities? We are here to help! Health Match BC is a free recruitment service for health professionals funded by the Government of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Our experienced recruitment services team will guide you through the recruitment process and support you in making a seamless transition to your new job.
Register online so our physician recruitment team can: y Guide you through the professional licensing process. y Match your skills and interests to job vacancies in regions of your choice. y Provide you with information about communities of interest. y Connect you with prospective employers and/or regional health employers.
Choose Your Opportunity... BC’s patient-centred health care system is structured to achieve the highest possible levels of efficiency, service coordination, and accountability. Physicians are rewarded with a competitive fee-for-service or alternate payment compensation and enjoy the freedom of setting the hours and pace of work that suits their practice and lifestyle goals. Choose from a broad range of positions within the province’s eight health employers: five regional health employers, one provincial health services employer, one faith-based employer, and the First Nations Health Authority.
y Provide information and guidance on the immigration process. y Provide personal and professional support from the initial stages of expressing interest to receiving an offer of employment, and beyond.
Learn more at healthmatchbc.org
Mount Robson, BC
FAMILY PRACTITIONERS Provisional Licensure / Registration
Source Verification of Academic Credentials
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who meet the requirements of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (the College) may be eligible for a provisional licence to practise medicine in British Columbia.
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) maintains a website, physiciansapply.ca, as a centralized electronic repository of a physician’s core medical credentials and offers a national standardized approach to source verification of credentials. It is designed to gather, verify, and permanently store credentials in its centralized repository called the MCC Physician Credentials Repository.
Applicants must: • have a medical degree, and • have successfully completed a minimum of two years of accredited postgraduate training in a foreign jurisdiction recognized by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) for the award of certification without examination, and • have successfully completed Part 1 of the MCC Qualifying Examination.
The College requires physicians who have completed medical education outside of Canada, and are seeking registration and licensure in BC, to submit copies of certain credentials to physiciansapply.ca for source verification. The College also utilizes physicianapply.ca for the Application for Medical Registration in Canada (AMRC).
English Language Proficiency (ELP) Requirement
Please Note: Applicants applying for Provisional licensure must first register with Health Match BC for an initial assessment and should NOT submit an AMRC application until instructed to proceed.
The College requires that physicians demonstrate proficiency in English. Physicians are considered to have met the English proficiency requirements if:
Physicians who qualify for Full licensure may submit an AMRC application directly to the College via physiciansapply.ca.
1. The primary language of medical education was English, and 2. The primary language of patient care was English. Physicians will be required to complete a questionnaire in order for the College to assess whether or not an applicant has demonstrated English language proficiency. 1. IELTS Academic examination Minimum score of 7 in each component. 2. OET Medicine examination Minimum grade of B in each component. 3. CELPIP General examination Minimum score of 9 in each component. The test results are valid for a period of two years from the date taken.
Examinations The Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) is the qualification given after the successful completion of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam – Part 1 (MCCQE-1) and Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam – Part 2 (MCCQE-2). MCCQE – Part 1 MCCQE – Part 1 must be completed prior to registration. MCCQE – PART 2 On June 10, 2021, the Medical Council of Canada announced that it is stepping away from the delivery of the MCCQE Part 2 going forward. Please contact Health Match BC for updates.
The College recognizes the following USA licensing examinations in lieu of the LMCC: 1.
United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLEs) - Steps 1, 2, and 3
2.
Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX)
3.
National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
4.
Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX)
Please Note: Successful completion of the MCC examinations does not mean a physician will meet the licensing requirements of the College.
Recognized Training and Certification Outside Canada The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) recognizes training from the following approved jurisdictions: • United Kingdom – MRCGP • Ireland – MICGP
Governing Bodies College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC or the College) Registration (Licensing) – The College is the licensing body and regulator for family/general practitioners in BC.
Medical Council of Canada (MCC)
The national organization responsible for establishing and promoting the Canadian licensing qualification known as the LMCC.
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) The national organization of physicians that provides CCFP certification in Family Medicine.
• Australia – FRACGP / FACRRM • United States – ABFM The Certificate of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) may be granted without examination for physicians trained in CFPC recognized jurisdictions. Please Note: Physicians who obtained one of the accepted designations through a practice eligible route are not eligible to apply for CCFP without examination.
This information is current as of July 2021 and is subject to change. The latest info can be found at healthmatchbc.org.
Terrace, BC
SPECIALISTS Provisional Licensure / Registration
Source Verification of Academic Credentials
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who meet the requirements of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (the College) may be eligible for a provisional licence to practise medicine in BC. For most specialties, five years of postgraduate training in an accredited university school of medicine is recognized by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) maintains a website, physiciansapply.ca, as a centralized electronic repository of a physician’s core medical credentials and offers a national standardized approach to source verification of credentials. It is designed to gather, verify, and permanently store credentials in its centralized repository called the MCC Physician Credentials Repository.
Applicants must: • have a medical degree, and • have completed postgraduate training and obtained certification in the specialty where such training meets the criteria of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), and • have successfully completed Part 1 of the MCC Qualifying Examination.
English Language Proficiency (ELP) Requirement The College requires that physicians demonstrate proficiency in English. Physicians are considered to have met the English proficiency requirements if: 1. The primary language of medical education was English, and 2. The primary language of patient care was English. Physicians will be required to complete a questionnaire in order for the College to assess whether or not an applicant has demonstrated English language proficiency. 1. IELTS Academic examination Minimum score of 7 in each component. 2. OET Medicine examination Minimum grade of B in each component. 3. CELPIP General examination Minimum score of 9 in each component. The test results are valid for a period of two years from the date taken.
The College requires physicians who have completed medical education outside of Canada, and are seeking registration and licensure in BC, to submit copies of certain credentials to physiciansapply.ca for source verification. The College also utilizes physicianapply. ca for the Application for Medical Registration in Canada (AMRC). Please Note: Applicants applying for Provisional licensure must first register with Health Match BC for an initial assessment and should NOT submit an AMRC application until instructed to proceed. Physicians who qualify for Full licensure may submit an AMRC application directly to the College via physiciansapply.ca.
Examinations The Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) is the qualification given after the successful completion of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam – Part 1 (MCCQE-1) and Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam – Part 2 (MCCQE-2). MCCQE – Part 1 Part 1 must be completed prior to registration. MCCQE – Part 2 On June 10, 2021, the Medical Council of Canada announced that it is stepping away from the delivery of the MCCQE Part 2 going forward. Please contact Health Match BC for updates.
Governing Bodies The College recognizes the following USA licensing examinations in lieu of the LMCC: 1.
United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLEs) - Steps 1, 2, and 3
2.
Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX)
3.
National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
4.
Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX)
Please Note: Successful completion of the MCC examinations does not mean a physician will meet the licensing requirements of the College.
RCPSC Certification Applicants must apply to the RCPSC for a ruling of eligibility to access the RCPSC examinations in their primary specialty to be considered by the College for licensure. On a positive ruling, applicants must obtain RCPSC certification in their primary specialty within five years of commencing practice in British Columbia.
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC or the College) Registration (Licensing) – The College is the licensing body and regulator for specialists in BC.
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
The national organization responsible for setting standards and certification for specialties in Canada - designation as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) or Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC).
Medical Council of Canada (MCC)
The national organization responsible for establishing and promoting the Canadian licensing qualification known as the LMCC.
Vancouver, BC
GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS The North
Fraser Valley
Served by Northern Health, Provincial Health Services Authority, and First Nations Health Authority.
Served by Fraser Health, Provincial Health Services Authority, and First Nations Health Authority.
Much of Northern BC is preserved and protected by a world-class system of provincial parks and nature reserves. Known for its freshwater and saltwater fishing, paddling, hiking, skiing and snowmobiling, northern BC is pure unspoiled nature.
The Fraser Valley is a short drive from Vancouver, and is a popular area for many professionals and families who want to live outside of the big city, yet remain close to its cultural options and entertainment venues.
y Home to the Kitlope Heritage Conservancy Protected Area, the world’s largest intact coastal temperate rainforest. y Approximately 40% of the population lives in rural communities. y Northern BC’s vast wilderness is larger than California or Japan, and twice the size of the United Kingdom. y The North has proportionally more residents under the age of 15 than any other region in BC.
Revelstoke, BC
y Home to Surrey, the second largest city in BC, and one of the fastest growing cities in Canada. y One in four people who live in the Fraser Valley work in Metro Vancouver. y Over half the province’s agricultural activity is centred in the Fraser Valley, including nearly 30 vineyards and 15 wineries. y 60% of British Columbians live in the Fraser Valley or Vancouver and the Coast, yet the regions cover less than 5% of BC’s total land mass.
Vancouver and the Coast Served by Vancouver Coastal Health, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority, and First Nations Health Authority.
The climate is usually mild and temperate, but the region’s mountains are renowned for their epic snowfalls. y Home to a wide range of sophisticated amenities including fine dining, high end shopping, museums, art galleries, as well as skiing, hiking and boating. y The Sunshine Coast (northwest of Vancouver) has one of the largest per-capita populations of artists in the country. y Whistler, a world-class resort consistently ranked among the best in the world, is a 1.5 hour drive from the city. y Approximately 40% of Metro Vancouver’s population was born outside of Canada. y Vancouver was recently ranked as the third most “liveable place in the world” for its high standard of living and quality of life. It is also ranked as one of the cleanest cities in the world.
THE NORTH FRASER VALLEY VANCOUVER AND THE COAST THE INTERIOR VANCOUVER ISLAND
The Interior
Vancouver Island
Served by Interior Health, Provincial Health Services Authority, and First Nations Health Authority.
Serviced by Island Health, Provincial Health Services Authority, and First Nations Health Authority.
This is a diverse region featuring open ranges and rolling hills in the Cariboo, abundant orchards and vineyards in the Okanagan, and the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains in the Kootenays.
The region has one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems ranging from rugged rainforest coastlines to bucolic rural landscapes, and is world renowned for whale watching, birding, salmon and trout fishing.
y Home to four of the seven national parks in BC as well as Osoyoos Lake, the warmest freshwater lake in Canada. y With an abundance of mountain ranges in the Kootenays, including the Rocky Mountains, the area is a popular destination for skiers and nature lovers. y The Okanagan area is the third most populated region in the province, and is home to 12% of the population of BC. During the summer, the Okanagan area has some of the hottest temperatures in all of Canada.
y Home to Victoria, the capital of BC, the beauty and tranquility of this region has long been a draw for artists and artisans. y Some 7,000 known species inhabit the coastal waters including more than 200 species of migratory birds and 33 species of land mammals. y Vancouver Island is the largest island on the west coast of North America.
Rural British Columbia BC’s rural towns and smaller cities offer natural beauty, access to backcountry adventures, community connections, peace of mind, and a quieter way of life. Experience the satisfaction that comes from knowing your neighbours and being involved in your community. Working and living in a rural or remote area provides the opportunity to make a vital and valued contribution to your community both in and out of the workplace.
Career
Lifestyle
• Variety - opportunities often exist to practice a broader spectrum of your professional scope of practice.
• Slower pace of life and easy access to the great outdoors.
• Access to specialist services through visiting physicians or via telemedicine case conferencing.
• Lower cost of living compared to urban centres. • Diverse communities and cultures.
RESOURCES British Columbia Health Employers
International Medical Graduate (IMG) Office
Postgraduate Medical Education, University of British Columbia. imgbc.med.ubc.ca
BC health employers that serve distinct geographical regions: fraserhealth.ca interiorhealth.ca islandhealth.ca northernhealth.ca vch.ca
Fraser Health Interior Health Island Health Northern Health Vancouver Coastal Health
BC health employers that service the entire province: First Nations Health Authority Provincial Health Services Authority
fnha.ca phsa.ca
Faith-based BC health employer: Providence Health Care
providencehealthcare.or
Useful Physician Websites Canadian Medical Protective Association A membership-based, not-for-profit organization that provides legal defense, liability protection, and risk management education for physicians in Canada. cmpa-acpm.ca
Canadian Resident Matching Service (CARMS)
Locums for Rural BC
Locums for Rural BC administers the Rural GP Locum Program (RGPLP), the Rural GP Anesthesia Locum Program (RGPALP), and the Rural Specialist Locum Program (RSLP). locumsruralbc.ca
Medical Council of Canada (MCC) National organization responsible for establishing and promoting qualification in medicine. mcc.ca Physiciansapply.ca A comprehensive website and account based portal run by the Medical Council of Canada. A hub for document source verification, exam application, document translation and applications for medical registration. physiciansapply.ca Application for Medical Registration in Canada (AMRC) AMRC is a centralized portal through physiciansapply.ca for submitting an application for registration. physiciansapply.ca/services/ applicationformedical-registration MCC Physician Credentials Repository A supplementary services resource to support functions of the Physiciansapply.ca portal. mcc.ca/services/repository
A national, not-for-profit, fee-for-service organization established in 1969 at the request of medical students seeking an independent entity to provide a fair and transparent application and matching service for entry into postgraduate medical training throughout Canada. carms.ca
Medical Services Plan of BC (MSP)
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
Practice Ready Assessment – British Columbia (PRA-BC)
National organization providing certification in family medicine. cfpc.ca
College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) Provincial regulatory body that licenses physicians in British Columbia and reviews candidate qualifications cpsbc.ca
Divisions of Family Practice
Community-based groups of family physicians working together to achieve common health care goals divisionsbc.ca
Doctors of BC
Voluntary association of physicians, medical residents, and medical students in BC. doctorsofbc.ca
Insures medically-required services provided by physicians. health.gov.bc.ca/msp
A program for internationally-educated physicians who have completed residencies in Family Medicine outside of Canada. prabc.ca
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada National organization providing certification in all specialties. royalcollege.ca
Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia
Rural health education, network facilitation, interprofessional training and practice. rccbc.ca
Rural Practice Programs in BC List of programs that support rural medicine in British Columbia. health.gov.bc.ca/pcb/rural.html
A WORK-LIFE BALANCE UNLIKE ANYWHERE ELSE
Creston, BC
healthmatchbc.org CANADA/USA TOLL-FREE 1.877.867.3061 PHONE 1.604.736.5920 EMAIL physicians@healthmatchbc.org