British Columbia Launches Recruitment Drive for U.S. Healthcare Workers

Healthcare professionals collaborating on recruitment efforts in British Columbia.

News Summary

In response to ongoing staffing shortages, British Columbia has begun a recruitment campaign aimed at U.S.-trained healthcare professionals. The initiative focuses on attracting doctors and nurses from nearby states like Washington and California. Since the campaign’s launch, 780 job applications have been received, with regulatory changes easing the licensing process for U.S. professionals. The move aims to fill pressing healthcare roles while addressing the impacts of staffing challenges exacerbated by an aging population and various political issues.

Victoria, British Columbia – British Columbia has initiated a recruitment campaign targeting healthcare professionals trained in the United States in response to ongoing staffing shortages. This strategic move primarily aims to attract U.S. doctors and nurses from nearby states such as Washington, Oregon, and California, offering them the opportunity to practice medicine in BC.

Since launching this campaign in March, British Columbia has already received a total of 780 job applications from U.S.-trained healthcare professionals. Among these, 188 are from doctors and 399 from nurses. Beyond the applicants, a total of 2,250 Americans have expressed interest in relocating to BC for work, attending informational webinars specifically designed to elaborate on available opportunities. This group includes 827 doctors, 851 nurses, 254 nurse practitioners, and 250 allied health professionals.

Effective July 7, 2025, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) has amended its bylaws to simplify the licensing process for U.S.-trained doctors. These changes will allow physicians to obtain full licensure without undergoing additional assessments or examinations, which is expected to considerably ease the entry of American healthcare professionals into the provincial system.

The BC government’s recruitment initiative aims not only to support healthcare staffing amidst deteriorating conditions in the U.S. caused in part by policies under former President Donald Trump but also to highlight BC’s esteemed healthcare system, which is known for its world-class professionals and inviting lifestyle.

The broader strategy to alleviate staffing shortages is essential as these shortages have been exacerbated by an aging population and escalating demands for services. The CPSBC has recently noted, in response to the introduction of the new licensing rules, that 29 U.S. physicians submitted their applications for registration in the first week alone. The new regulations will also facilitate unrestricted licensure from other Canadian jurisdictions within a week, significantly improving a process that could previously take a whole month.

In addition to the expedited licensing framework for physicians, BC’s Practice Ready Assessment program plans an escalation in available slots from 32 to 96 seats by 2024, aiming to receive more international candidates. U.S. nurses have an expedited path as well, being able to apply directly to the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). There have already been 320 applications from U.S. nurses and 46 applications from nurse practitioners under this new process.

However, challenges remain. There are concerns about U.S. physician specialists adapting effectively to Canada’s primary care referral model, which differs from practices in the U.S. Additionally, despite BC’s appealing lifestyle for many healthcare workers, compensation is notably lower than typical earnings in the U.S., potentially impacting the province’s ability to recruit the desired number of physicians. Recent changes to the pay structure for doctors—including the introduction of the Longitudinal Family Physician (LFP) payment model—aim to enhance compensation for primary care physicians as a way to counter these challenges.

Regulatory improvements made by the CPSBC do not apply to South African family doctors, who have faced effective bans on practicing in Canada since 2010 due to changes in training requirements. Various factors, including shifting generational expectations among new medical graduates and specific physician shortages in regions such as Northern Health, play a significant role in these ongoing recruitment efforts.

As part of a coordinated response to the healthcare staffing crisis, the provincial government is actively collaborating with various healthcare authorities and partners in what is being termed a “Team B.C.” approach, aimed at improving healthcare access and addressing urgent staffing needs throughout the province.