Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine

For a career as a specialist physician, 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 applicants to make sure that along with good academic records, they also have the needed social skills and attitude to work as a doctor.

Residents in training to become specialist physicians are included in this group.

Graduates of medical programs go through two years of formal residency training. The residency program is competitive, and graduates may need to travel to other provinces to do their residency. 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 Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and become licensed through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. Doctors must maintain professional insurance.

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

Specialists in clinical medicine must have up to five years of specialty residency training and for some, up to two years of subspecialty training may also be required.

Specialists in laboratory medicine need between four to five years of specialty residency training.

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, including doctors who are specialists in certain areas of medicine.

Overall, in the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of doctors treating patients. Still, in parts of the province, it is hard for some patients to find a specialist physician.

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

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