How good is 2024 for Doctors applying for a Canada PR?

In Canada, the demand for doctors has tripled. It is the only sector of the Canadian labor market where new employment are being created on a daily basis, particularly since the COVID-19 outbreak. More doctors, nurses, and other health care workers are needed in Canada now, possibly more than ever. So, if you’re a doctor looking to relocate to Canada, you couldn’t have chosen a better moment. 

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work as a doctor in Canada, this is your chance tofind out! 

There are over 80 immigration schemes in Canada to choose from. However, if immigrant want to work as physician in Canada, they must apply through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). 

One of the federal skilled economic immigration programs is the FSWP. The Federal SkilledTrades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) are the other two. The Express Entry program handles all FSWP, FSTP, and CEC requests. 

Healthcare Professionals in Canada 

One in every four healthcare professionals in Canada is an immigrant. We find that 23%of registered nurses and 36% of physicians in Canada are immigrants. 

• Other healthcare occupations in Canada also make up a substantial percentage of immigrants: 
• 54% of dental technologists and related occupations 
• 39% of dentists 
• 37% of pharmacists 
• 35% of nurse aides and related occupations 

The primary requirements for any foreign-trained healthcare professional to work in Canadais to obtain a license as the following occupations are regulated: 

• Specialist physicians 
• General practitioners and family physicians 
• Dentists 
• Veterinarians 
• Optometrists 
• Chiropractors 
• Allied primary health practitioners 
• Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
• Audiologists and speech-language pathologists 
• Physiotherapists 
• Occupational therapists 
• Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment 
• Provinces in Canada use Practice Ready Assessment (PRA) programs to help international trained physicians who have previously finished their training and practised overseas get licensure. 
  The PRA programs that are now offered are as follows: 
• Alberta Clinical and Surgical Assistant Program
• Alberta International Medical Graduate Program
• Collège des médecins du Québec – Practice-ready assessment 
• Clinical Skills Assessment and Training Program (Newfoundland and Labrador)
• HealthForceOntario Access CentreIMG-BC Program 
• Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates (Manitoba)
• Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) 
• Touchstone Institute (formerly Centre for the Evaluation of Health Professionals Educated Abroad) (Ontario) 

Canada accepts self-employed physicians for permanent residency via Express Entry. 

Physicians who are already temporary residents in Canada will be able to apply for permanent status through Express Entry programs. 

Until today, physicians practicing in Canada were ineligible for Express Entry programs dueto the nature of their employment differing from the usual employee-employer relationship. As a result, many physicians or doctors who are currently working as temporary residents inCanada are considered self-employed. 

Being self-employed with at least one year of work experience overseas, on the other hand, does not preclude individuals from applying for permanent residency through the Express Entry program. 

Canadian Provincial Nomination Programs for Foreign Doctors 

Canadian provinces have dedicated programs through which they nominate specific categories of healthcare professionals for immigration. Like, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan have such streams. 

Usually, a job offer from a Canadian employer or work experience as a healthcare professional is a pre-condition for provincial nomination. Foreign-trained doctors willing topractice in Canada may receive provincial nominations if they have already completed the accreditation process, as discussed below. 

Each Canadian province and territory has its Medical Regulatory Authority and requirements. Canadian Medical Regulatory Authorities in the provinces are: 

• Collège des médecins du Québec 
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta 
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia 
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba 
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick 
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland & Labrador
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia 
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario 
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan 
• Government of Northwest Territories 
• Government of Nunavut 
• Yukon Medical Council 

Steps to Immigrate and Practice as a Doctor in Canada 2024 

Step 1: Check whether Canada recognizes your medical degree: Use the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDMS) to begin your search. 

Step 2: Open a physiciansapply.ca account: medical credentials verification, registration for assessment exams, and other steps will be managed via that account. Creating a physiciansapply.ca account is mandatory.

Step 3: Submit your medical diploma for source verification to the Medical Council of Canada : You can create an Express Entry profile at this stage to begin working on your immigration plan. 

Step 4: Take the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I Step 5: Take the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination Step 6: Take the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part II 

Step 7: Get Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada: While LMCC does not authorize topractice medicine in Canada, it will help in the registration with Canadian Medical RegulatoryAuthority, unique to each province. 

Step 8: Take a practice-ready assessment (PRA) program: Foreign doctors who had postgraduate clinical medical training abroad and are looking to get a provisional license tobegin independent practice. Details of PRA are already shared. 

Step 9: Submit an application to the Registrar of the Canadian Medical Regulatory Authority (MRA): Any foreign-trained doctor can start their practice in Canada only upon licensing fromthe MRA. 

In which provinces is the medical profession in higher demand? Some provinces in Canada have a special component in their immigration appointment programs only for health professionals. These provincial nomination programs are: 

1. British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program (BC PNP)

2. Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)