British Columbia Sees Surge in Health Care Job Applications

News Summary

British Columbia’s health-care system has welcomed nearly 780 job applications from U.S.-based professionals in two months as part of an initiative to address chronic staffing shortages. The Interior Health authority received 181 applications, emphasizing the urgent need for skilled personnel. This recruitment drive aims to fill existing vacancies and develop a sustainable workforce amidst a crisis affecting over 300,000 residents lacking a family doctor. Recent changes to the licensing process for foreign-trained health workers have further accelerated this recruitment campaign, reflecting a significant policy shift in Canadian provinces.

Victoria, British Columbia – British Columbia’s health-care system has seen a significant influx of nearly 780 job applications from U.S.-based health care professionals in just two months, as part of a drive to alleviate ongoing staffing shortages. The Interior Health authority alone received 181 applications, underscoring the pressing need for qualified personnel in the province.

The recruitment campaign, which specifically targets skilled health care providers from Washington, Oregon, and select California cities, was launched in June 2025. This initiative is a crucial element of the province’s strategy to address the chronic shortage of health professionals, which has left approximately 300,000 residents in B.C. without a family doctor and led to increasing hospital closures due to a lack of medical staff.

Since March 2025, over 2,250 health professionals have expressed interest in making the move to B.C. This diverse group includes 827 physicians, 851 nurses, 254 nurse practitioners, and 256 allied health workers, highlighting the extensive need across various roles within the health care system.

Health Minister Josie Osborne has indicated that the early response to the recruitment drive has far exceeded expectations. The campaign is aligned with a broader “Team B.C.” approach, which collaborates with health authorities and professional colleges to ensure swift integration of new health workers into the system.

To facilitate this influx, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. (CPSBC) approved bylaw changes on July 7, 2025. These amendments aim to accelerate the licensure process for foreign-trained doctors significantly. U.S.-trained doctors who are certified by recognized boards can now obtain full licensure in B.C. without undergoing additional assessments, exams, or training, sometimes within a matter of weeks. This swift process is a boon to both incoming doctors and the health care system desperately in need of their services.

Moreover, the CPSBC has made further changes to streamline the licensing process for doctors trained outside of Canada and the U.S., eliminating the previous requirement to hold the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada. This change not only simplifies the path to licensure but also saves aspiring physicians approximately $1,500. Following the recent amendments, 29 new registration applications were submitted by U.S. doctors within the first week.

Applications have been received from health professionals across all regions in B.C., highlighting the widespread staffing crisis. The breakdown is as follows: Interior Health (181 applications), Fraser Health (154 applications), Vancouver Coastal Health (121 applications), Island Health (112 applications), Providence Health Care (70 applications), Provincial Health Services Authority (66 applications), and Northern Health (63 applications).

The ongoing recruitment efforts also reflect a shift in policy in several other Canadian provinces, including Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, which have adopted more flexible approaches towards recognizing international credentials and facilitating the recruitment of health-care workers from abroad.

In response to the urgent need for health professionals, the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives has also simplified the qualification transfer process for nurses. Since the changes were instituted, 320 nurses have successfully received their registration in the province, adding to the state’s effort to bolster its health system.

The government’s recruitment drive aims not only to fill existing vacancies but also to create a sustainable workforce capable of meeting the health care demands of a growing population. As physicians such as Dr. Avi Kopstick and Dr. Kyle McIver plan their relocation to B.C. under the new regulations, the provincial health care system might soon see a relief in the long-standing shortages plaguing its services.

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HERE Resources

British Columbia’s Campaign to Recruit U.S. Healthcare Workers

Additional Resources

• Victoria Buzz
• Abbotsford News
• HR Consultant Magazine
• The Globe and Mail
• Wikipedia: Healthcare in Canada