Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals

Physician assistants

• Must complete a university degree in an accredited physician assistant program
• Must be certified with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
• Must be certified either by the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC) or by the (U.S.) National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)

To write the PACCC certification examination, applicants must be a member of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA). Continuing education is required to maintain a physician assistant license.

Learn more about physician assistant programs in Canada and physician assistants in B.C.

Midwives

• Must complete an undergraduate university degree program in midwifery or its equivalent and a period of mentored practice
• Must successfully complete a national examination administered by the Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council before registration
• Must register with the British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM)
• Must be members of the Midwives Association of British Columbia, through which they receive their liability insurance
• If internationally educated, must complete an orientation to practice and a period of mentored practice

The University of British Columbia (UBC) offers the only midwifery education program in B.C.

Genetic Counsellors

• Must complete a master’s degree in genetic counselling (or equivalent)
• May need board certification through the Canadian Board of Genetic Counsellors (CBGC) or the ABGC (American Board of Genetic Counseling)
• If board certification is required, they must maintain their credentials through ongoing continuing education

Orthoptists

• Must earn a bachelor's degree followed by a two-year accredited education program
• Must successfully complete national examinations and become certified with the Canadian Orthoptic Council (COC)
• Must maintain COC certification through continuing education
• May seek membership with The Canadian Orthoptic Society (TCOS) to access continuing education opportunities

Dalhousie University offers the only orthoptics program in Canada.

Pathologists' assistants

• Usually need a master’s degree in a pathologists’ assistant program
• Usually require certification by the Canadian Certification Council of Pathologists’ Assistants (CCCPA), the American Society for Clinical Pathology – Board of Certification (ASCP BOC) or Pathologists’ Assistant Certification Examination
• May need membership in the Canadian Association of Pathologists (CAP-ACP) (some employers)

Midwives who are certified for an 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 a criminal record check.

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

Those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction must complete an approved midwifery bridging program, including additional training, examination and a period of supervised practice.

Contact the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

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

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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.

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Physician assistants
Demand for physician assistants is growing. Governments are investing in physician assistants, and they can practice in all provinces. Physician assistant education is also expanding, with new programs emerging across Canada.

Midwives
With B.C.’s ongoing shortage of maternity care providers, midwives are in high demand, particularly in rural and remote areas of B.C. They provide client-centred, culturally competent and sensitive care to the needs of diverse communities, including Indigenous families. Challenges include irregular and sometimes long work hours, including overnight, weekends and holidays. The work can be physically demanding (helping to move and turn patients, bending and kneeling during labour support and driving between work sites).

Genetic counsellors
About three-quarters of genetic counsellors in Canada work in direct patient care. They also work in research, education, laboratories and industry/biotechnology roles. Use of genetic testing in patient care continues to grow, and with it the potential for more demand for genetic counsellors. Clinical jobs in genetic counselling are competitive and usually filled quickly.

Orthoptists
Shortages of orthoptists are expected to increase as professionals continue to retire.

Pathologists’ assistants
Growth in the number and range of diagnostic tests has led to an increased demand for pathologists’ assistants.