General practitioners and family physicians

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.