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3w ago

B.C. Sees Surge in U.S. Healthcare Applications After Licensing Reforms

By allowing American board-certified physicians to skip new exams, B.C. has accelerated the credentialing process alongside exploration of broader pathways for international recruits.

Healthcare workers are pictured during the COVID-19 pandemic in this file photo.
A doctor wears a lab coat and stethoscope in an exam room on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Overview

  • Between May and June, 780 U.S. healthcare professionals formally applied for roles in British Columbia as part of its targeted recruitment drive.
  • Since the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. amended bylaws on July 7, 29 U.S.-trained doctors have sought full licensure without needing new examinations.
  • CPSBC also removed the Medical Council of Canada Licentiate requirement for doctors trained outside Canada and the U.S., saving applicants about $1,500 and cutting weeks off the process.
  • Since March, more than 2,250 doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals have signed up for webinars or expressed interest, bolstered by multimedia ads and a branded snack truck tour in Washington, Oregon and California.
  • Health Minister Josie Osborne says government and CPSBC officials are considering further credentialing reforms to fast-track internationally trained physicians with recognized postgraduate training.