3111-NOC

General practitioners and family physicians

(NOC 3112)
High opportunity occupation High opportunity occupation
Annual Earnings
$164,939
Typical Education Background
Degree
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
3,460

Career Overview

General practitioners and family physicians diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. Many people consider these two terms to be interchangeable. Family Medicine became its own specialty in Canada when a mandatory residency program was introduced. Physicians who have completed this specialized training often prefer the term family physician. Those who did their training prior to the family medicine residency program being introduced, or who were trained in another country, may call themselves general practitioners (GPs).

The term ‘general practitioner’ or ‘GP’ is now rarely used in the context of family medicine in BC. While family physicians are qualified to practise primary care, they have additional unique training in the specialty of family medicine. This training is not available to other medical specialists.

As the first point of contact for most patients, family physicians are a vital role in the health care system. They provide comprehensive primary care, which means that they act as a patient’s main health care contact, and they work with the patient to manage their health over the long term.

The continuity of care provided by family physicians is associated with improved identification and management of chronic illness, improved patient satisfaction, and fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits. 

In this job, family physicians and general practitioners may:

  • Work in a private practice, at a community health centre, clinic, nursing home, hospital, or for government and other types of health organizations
  • Travel to hospitals to give specific types of patient care
  • Provide in-home care to patients
  • Help patients from the community at large or focus on a specific type of patient care, such as maternity, palliative, mental health and addiction, and others

Family physicians need to have good social skills and emotional intelligence, as they must be able to talk to patients about problems with their health, while considering the context of their patients' lives. To provide the best possible care, they must keep updating their technical skills and knowledge throughout their careers. They must also have good analytical skills.

Duties

In general, family physicians and general practitioners:

  • Co-ordinate and manage primary patient care
  • Screen for health risks and talk to patients about preventing health problems
  • Advise patients and their families on health care, including staying healthy, accident prevention and treating disease and illness
  • Examine patients and review/add to their medical histories
  • Assess and treat illnesses ranging from minor to life-threatening
  • Order laboratory and other tests and X-rays to help find illnesses or injuries
  • Provide in-office or hospital-based emergency care
  • Refer patients to community-based resources, such as peer and group support and home care services
  • Consult with and refer to other health care workers, including specialists, to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
  • Prescribe medicine and give treatments
  • Perform minor surgeries and assist with other surgical procedures
  • Manage acute care in office and, in some cases, in hospital
  • Give vaccinations
  • Act as a patient advocate
  • Provide ongoing care to patients, including end-of-life care, pre- and post-natal maternity care, newborn and children’s care, and pain management
  • Report births, deaths and diseases to government agencies

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$164,939

Provincial Hourly Rate

HighN/A
MedianN/A
LowN/A
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

7,700

% Employed Full Time

33%
Source: 2016 Census

Family physicians and general practitioners mostly work in community-based, independent medical offices and can set their own hours and workload. Depending on the setting, some may work nights and weekends, and may also be on call to respond to emergencies. 

Family physicians and general practitioners often work in teams with other health care providers, such as pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners to provide patient-centred care.

Family physicians and general practitioners often use resources such as video, telephone and email communication to support patients, including electronic medical records, prescriptions and results. Computer-based education and information resources are also used regularly.

In this career, family physicians and general practitioners see patients who need different types of help, support or treatment each day. While this provides a breadth and depth to practising family medicine, there can be increased exposure to illnesses. Health and safety protocols must be diligently followed, such as the use of safety equipment and clothing and rigorous cleaning between patients. 

General practitioners and family physicians must be ready to deal with patients who may be upset and worried about their health. Long hours, treating a large number of patients, and strict safety precautions can make family medicine a challenging job.

Practice management and clinical training programs, targeted incentives and improved remuneration, have increased professional satisfaction. Family medicine is also considered to be one of the most rewarding specialties due to the relationship-based care across all stages of life.

Career Pathways

It is common for new family physicians to begin their careers by taking over for doctors who are on leave or on vacation. By doing this, they build experience and get a chance to try out different settings.

Currently, many family physicians choose to join an existing medical office when they graduate. Some continue through their career of providing primary care to patients, and many add a special interest area to their practice, such as hospitalist, palliative care, or occupational medicine. Many new graduates also add skills at the end of their training and work in areas such as emergency or maternity.

Family physicians may also work as hospital administrators, they may teach and/or conduct research at educational institutions, or work for government, health authorities and other health-related organizations.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Investigative
Investigative

Job Titles

Family physician
GP (general practitioner)
Locum doctor
MD (doctor of medicine)
Medical - civil aviation
Medical - industrial
Missionary, medical
MOH (medical officer of health)
Physician, intern
Physician, resident

Education, Training and Skills

A Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) is required. Those who want to become a doctor usually complete four years of undergraduate training before taking four years of medical school. Medical schools have high academic admission requirements. University medical programs interview those who apply to make sure that along with good academic records, they also have the needed social skills and attitude to work as a physician.

Graduates of medical programs go through two years of formal Family Practice residency training. The residency program is competitive, and graduates may need to travel to other provinces to do this. To become a fully licensed physician in B.C., graduates must pass two licensing exams given by the Medical Council of Canada, a national exam provided by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and become licensed through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. Doctors must maintain professional insurance.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) offers B.C.’s only medical program, which is delivered throughout the province in partnership with other post-secondary institutions, health authorities and community physician practices. There are four regionally distinct sites:

  • Island Medical Program (IMP) at the University of Victoria
  • Northern Medical Program (NMP) in Prince George at the University of Northern British Columbia
  • Southern Medical Program (SMP) in Kelowna at UBC Okanagan
  • Vancouver Fraser Medical Program

Ongoing medical education and professional development are required throughout their careers to make sure that physicians keep up with changes and improvements in their field, and to ensure that they provide patients with modern treatments and up-to-date advice. All family physicians and general practitioners must complete at least 50 hours per year of continuing professional education throughout their career.

Family physicians and general practitioners who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Health/Medical - General
  • Physicians and Surgeons
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

81%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

79%
Judgment and Decision-Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

78%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

77%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

77%
Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

75%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

74%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

73%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

72%
Active Learning

Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.

71%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

7,700
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 360 3.3%
Kootenay 270 2.7%
Mainland/Southwest 5,940 63.3%
North Coast and Nechako 130 1.6%
Northeast 70 0.7%
Thompson-Okanagan 870 8.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 1,380 19.4%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

3,460
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 80 0.0%
Kootenay 80 0.0%
Mainland/Southwest 2,290 1.6%
North Coast and Nechako 10 1.4%
Northeast 0 -1.5%
Thompson-Okanagan 270 0.7%
Vancouver Island/Coast 710 2.0%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Health Care and Social Assistance149,700
Educational Services64,500
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

A growing and aging population will require more health services. This means that there will be more job openings for family physicians who want to run a family practice anywhere in B.C.

Across the province, it can be hard for patients to find a family physician. Industry sources report that there is, and will continue to be, a strong demand for family physicians and general practitioners throughout B.C.

Physicians may receive incentives, such as signing bonuses, fee-for-service, flat-rate premiums or travel subsidies, if they move to certain rural communities to practise.

Even though opportunities for medical education in B.C. have gone up, there are still not enough graduates to meet the needs of our population. As a result, B.C. has filled gaps by recruiting physicians from other parts of Canada and around the world.

Resources