The health care system in Canada relies heavily on physicians and surgeons. As a result of the country’s shortage of trained doctors in numerous medical specialties, there has never been a greater demand for doctors trained abroad.
Immigrating to Canada can open a wide range of doors for you, no matter how long you’ve been a doctor or how recently you graduated from medical school abroad. The provincial licensing process, in-demand jobs for physicians and surgeons in Canada, and immigration programs you can use to move to Canada as a doctor are the topics we discuss in this article.
In this piece:
Reasons why a doctor should move to Canada
Does Canada accept doctors with training abroad?
Programs for international medical graduates that allow for immigration to Canada
How to get a doctor’s license in Canada
Canadian jobs in medicine are in demand
In Canada, how much do doctors earn?
How to get a job in Canada as a medical graduate from another country
As a doctor with an international education, should you move to Canada?
Reasons why a doctor should move to Canada.
There are many reasons why settling in Canada as a doctor with international training can be appealing, including:
Shortage of skilled surgeons and physicians.
There is a severe shortage of qualified doctors in various specialties in Canada. Even with newly graduated physicians and surgeons entering the workforce and experienced doctors immigrating to Canada from abroad, estimates indicate that between 2022 and 2031, up to 40% of new job openings in medicine may not be filled.
Doctors are in high demand in almost every province.
The 10-year employment outlook for physicians in all Canadian provinces is expected to be good or very good, indicating that foreign-trained physicians will have ample employment options. Many provinces have lists of in-demand occupations in the medical field, including surgeons and specialist physicians. The federal and provincial governments are attempting to encourage foreign-born doctors to settle in Canada and work there.
Potential to establish a successful practice or earn high salaries.
In Canada, hospitals and healthcare facilities pay their doctors well. In Canada, a lot of doctors run their private practices and work for themselves, earning money through a pay-for-service system. The doctor is paid by the provincial healthcare system, not the patient, for providing health services under the pay-for-service model. In Canada, family physicians earn a median annual salary of $216,833, while specialist doctors and surgeons earn a median annual salary of $273,510.
Does Canada accept doctors with training abroad?
For the smooth operation of Canada’s healthcare system, foreign-born doctors are essential. Physicians who have completed their medical education outside of Canada may be able to take advantage of several immigration programs and launch successful careers in this country.
However, you must register with your provincial college of physicians and surgeons and obtain a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), which typically requires passing a knowledge test, before you can begin practicing medicine in Canada.
Plans are being made at the federal and provincial levels to make it easier for international medical graduates to settle permanently in Canada due to the country’s physician shortage. The MCCQE II exam was eliminated by the Medical Council of Canada in the middle of 2021, making it easier for foreign-trained doctors to obtain their LMCC.
Programs for international medical graduates that allow for immigration to Canada
Residents from other countries who possess the abilities and credentials necessary to fill critical skill gaps, including in the medical field, may be eligible to apply for permanent residence (PR) in Canada. If you want to move to Canada as a doctor with foreign training, you can choose from several different immigration programs.
Program of the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
With the Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, skilled professionals with international qualifications can become permanent residents of Canada. In the FSW program, applicants are encouraged to apply for PR based on the Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) of their profile rather than on their occupation.
Your age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other factors all play a role in determining your CRS score. If you have a Canadian job offer from a clinic, hospital, or other health facility, a provincial nomination (see the PNP section below), Canadian work experience, or educational credentials, you also get more points. You need to finish the licensing process before you can get a job offer.
Programs for Provincial Nominees (PNP)
Except for Quebec and Nunavut, all Canadian provinces and territories have Provincial Nominee Programs that enable them to nominate candidates for permanent residence who possess skills and qualifications that are in high demand.
Other PNP streams allow provinces to nominate skilled workers in particular professions or National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes to fill skill gaps in their labor market. There is an Express Entry stream in several PNP programs where candidates are selected based on CRS scores. You might have a better chance of getting a provincial nomination from a province that wants to hire doctors or surgeons who are qualified. The appropriate NOC codes for your field can be found in the following section on medical jobs in high demand.
Work experience in your primary NOC in Canada is required for some PNP programs. You may be eligible for an employer-specific work permit and receive a job offer from a Canadian healthcare center or hospital, depending on your area of expertise. To demonstrate that no other specialized doctors are available to fill the position, your prospective employer will need to obtain a favorable Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). However, you must first obtain your LMCC, or Licentiate, from the Medical Council of Canada.
How to get a doctor’s license in Canada
Before you can work as a physician or surgeon in Canada, you must be licensed by your provincial or territorial regulator, as medical occupations are regulated there. Before you get to Canada, you can start the process of getting a license online.
The registration procedure for Canadian doctors with foreign training is as follows:
Obtaining a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) The Medical Council of Canada issues a medical degree known as a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) to graduates of medical school who meet the requirements for eligibility. You will be added to the Canadian Medical Register once you receive an LMCC.
It is essential to keep in mind that the LMCC is not a medical license for use in Canada. However, to be eligible for provincial registration, you must complete this step.
You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada:
Medical training: You have to have graduated from a medical school that is recognized by the World Directory of Medical Schools as being acceptable. To demonstrate that your medical credentials, including any credentials for postgraduate training, are valid and equivalent to a Canadian medical credential, you will need to have them successfully source-verified by the MCC.
Qualification test: The MCCQE Part I exam must be passed by applicants. This one-day test measures your clinical decision-making skills and medical knowledge. You might be able to pass the test before you get to Canada because it is given online in more than 80 countries.
Work experience that qualifies: You must have completed a postgraduate medical education of at least 12 months in your home country.
Pay the application fees to LMCC
Visit physiciansapply.ca and sign up for an account to apply for an LMCC. Click Apply for LMCC and Other Service Requests. To create your application and submit your documentation, follow the provided instructions.
MCC typically takes three to four weeks to review your information and determine whether or not you are eligible for LMCC. After that, your LMCC documentation and Certificate of Registration may be mailed to you for an additional six to eight weeks.
Obtaining a medical license from the local medical association
The next step is to apply for a practice license with your provincial regulator. The procedure for physicians and surgeons to obtain licenses varies from province to territory. In addition, different provinces offer a variety of licenses, from those for independent practice to those for clinical observership.
You might be able to finish all or part of the licensing process in your home country before moving to Canada, depending on the province you’re interested in. For a comprehensive overview of the application process, we recommend that you review the registration information provided by your College of Physicians and Surgeons or contact your regional College of Physicians (listed below).
Canadian jobs in medicine are in demand
To meet the needs of the local labor market, many provinces and territories in Canada require physicians and surgeons. Even taking into account new medical graduates and foreign physicians immigrating to Canada, it is anticipated that there will be a shortage of trained medical professionals until at least 2031.
It is anticipated that there will be approximately 48,900 open positions for family physicians and general practitioners between 2022 and 2031, but there will only be 29,400 new applicants for those positions. Surgeons and specialists alike should anticipate similar shifts.
In Canada, how much do doctors earn?
The province, specialty, and number of years of experience have a significant impact on medical professionals’ average earnings. It also depends on whether you run an independent practice or work for a healthcare facility.
The median annual salary for general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) in Canada is $216,833, but senior physicians in some parts of Canada can earn upwards of $450,000, as stated by Canada’s Job Bank.
Surgeons (NOC 31101) and specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100) have annual incomes that can reach as much as $550,000, with a median of $273,510.
How to get a job in Canada as a medical graduate from another country.
You will have the option of starting a private practice or working at a hospital, clinic, or community health center once you have been granted permission to practice medicine in your province or territory.
Finding and leasing a location, registering for an independent practice license, applying for the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), setting up your billing, and other steps are typically required to start a solo practice. For advice on starting a successful practice, read Dr. Bill’s New Physicians Guide.
The majority of Canadian-trained doctors begin their careers in hospitals or health centers. Jobs for doctors and surgeons can be found on popular job boards like LinkedIn, Monster, Indeed, and Glassdoor, but there are also special job boards just for medical professionals. These are some:
MD Tasks
MD Lookup
Careers for Dr.
Public Job Board at CASPR
Locums
Even if you’re in a high-demand field like medicine, the job search process can be confusing and overwhelming for newcomers. To help you get a job as a doctor or surgeon in Canada that’s right for you, here are some pointers:
Hone skills that are in high demand in the job market in Canada.
Your home country’s healthcare organizations may look for physicians and surgeons with different skills in Canada. Surgeons, on the other hand, may need to acquire expertise in particular surgical technologies, while family physicians may be in high demand for soft skills.
Examining job postings in your professional field is the quickest and easiest way to discover job openings that match your skills and interests. To work in a specific area of expertise, for instance, applicants may be required to have specific certifications or training according to some job descriptions. To get ready for the job market, these can be a good place to start.
Make a resume in the style of Canada.
It’s possible that resume formats from your home country won’t work well in the Canadian job market. The amount of practical medical or surgical experience you have will determine which format is best for your resume. An applicant tracking system (ATS) is used by many Canadian employers to shortlist resumes, so tailor your resume to each position and include keywords from the job description. Download our free resume templates in the Canadian style to get started.
Your post-graduate credentials and certifications should be listed on your physician resume. You should also talk about your memberships in associations, your professional accomplishments, and any research papers you’ve written.
Make use of your professional connections.
A great way to learn more about the medical field and connect with suitable jobs in Canada is through networking. Through your provincial college of physicians, you can get in touch with doctors you already know who might have moved to Canada or with medical professionals in your province.
Another great way to meet local healthcare professionals is to volunteer. You can get information about the licensing process, the job market, and starting a private practice by networking, which also gives you access to job opportunities that may not be made public.
In advance, prepare for job interviews.
Before making a hiring decision, most healthcare organizations will conduct multiple rounds of interviews. Be sure to practice your responses to frequently asked questions before any interviews you have, even if you are skilled in your field. Additionally, you should prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position and gain a deeper understanding of the employer.
As a doctor with an international education, should you move to Canada?
In all of Canada’s provinces, qualified doctors are in high demand, and there isn’t enough local supply to meet demand from the job market. The immigration programs in Canada provide you, as an international medical graduate, with an exciting and lucrative opportunity to relocate to Canada and establish yourself there permanently. However, before you can become a licensed physician or surgeon in Canada, you will likely need to pass qualifying examinations and complete some supervised work experience. The licensing process can take a long time.
