British Columbia aims to attract more doctors, nurses from US

Issue: BCMJ, vol. 67, 2025, News

The Government of BC is fast-tracking credential recognition and launching a coordinated, targeted recruitment campaign to attract more doctors and nurses from the US.

The province is working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC on a direct process to enable US-trained doctors who hold certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties to become fully licensed in BC without further assessment, examination, or training. This will remove barriers US doctors face on their path to becoming licensed and beginning to practise medicine in the province, following similar changes recently adopted by Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. The province expects the changes to be implemented in the next few months, following consultations underway on proposed bylaw changes.

The province is also working with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives to make it faster and easier for US-registered nurses to work in BC. US nurses could apply directly to the college for licensure, helping expedite timelines. The college would then review their education, registration, exam completion, and regulatory history through the US’s national nurse-licensure and disciplinary database.

Increased targeted recruitment efforts are to be followed by a coordinated marketing campaign in Washington, Oregon, and California in spring 2025 in collaboration with health authorities, regulatory colleges, and other partners. Job opportunities will be highlighted in the areas they are most needed, such as cancer care and emergency departments, while promoting rural communities facing physician and nurse shortages. This initiative builds on marketing campaigns undertaken in the UK and Ireland last year to attract health professionals to BC and complements the work that BC is doing to fast-track credential recognition for health professionals from other countries and provinces.

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