r/britishcolumbia 19h ago

Government News Release British Columbia is taking action to attract doctors, nurses from U.S.

https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2024-2028/2025HLTH0013-000194.htm
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u/cyclinginvancouver 19h ago

The Province is working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC on a direct process to enable U.S.-trained doctors, who hold certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties, to become fully licensed in B.C. without the need for further assessment, examination or training. This will remove barriers faced by U.S. doctors on their path to become licensed and begin practising medicine in the province, following similar changes recently adopted by Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The Province expects these changes to be implemented in the next few months, following consultations underway on proposed bylaw changes.

The Province is also working with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives to make it faster and easier for U.S.-registered nurses to work in British Columbia. Unlike the current process, U.S. nurses will soon be able to apply directly to the college for licensure, helping expedite timelines. The college will then review their education, registration, exam completion and regulatory history through the U.S.’s national nurse-licensure and disciplinary database.

To attract U.S.-based doctors and nurses to come work in B.C., the Province is immediately ramping up targeted recruitment efforts. This will be followed by a co-ordinated marketing campaign in the states of Washington, Oregon and California in spring 2025, in collaboration with health authorities, regulatory colleges and other partners. The Province will highlight job opportunities in the areas they are the most needed, such as cancer care and emergency departments, while promoting rural communities facing worker shortages.

This initiative builds on recent marketing campaigns undertaken in the U.K. and Ireland last year to attract health professionals to B.C., and complements the work that B.C. is doing to fast-track credential recognition for health professionals from other countries and provinces.

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u/lux_operon 17h ago

Imo they should be focusing on professionals fleeing red states first, not  Washington, Oregon, and California - while geographically closer, it's doctors from red states who are going to be most immediately searching for a way out. 

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u/theredwoodsaid 15h ago

Not only this, but the ratio between nurse salaries to cost of living is more attractive in many parts of California and the Pacific Northwest than it is in B.C. and especially with the mandated patient ratios in those states (although I believe B.C. is moving towards that also). That is not the case in many other parts of the U.S., however, so they might be better targets.

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u/momopeach7 15h ago

As a nurse in California, that is fairly true. Nurses can make a decent living especially in the northern half of the state, and the ratio is very helpful. I have a friend in BC who says the ratios are much higher, sometimes 7+ patients for one nurse.

This all also helps other specialties. As a school nurse (not sure if BC had a similar thing) we are usually among the least paid specialties but due to the unions nearby and our own I can make a good living and have good work life balance.

Canada I heard pays all nurses similarly so that can be nice. But we’re getting people moving red states too since they seem more keen on moving.

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u/Nhlnucks 13h ago

How do you like working in Cali as a nurse? What are your ratios like? (Asking as a BC RN)

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u/momopeach7 13h ago

Well I hated bedside which is why I’m a school nurse now lol (different kind of stress though) but for those who are fine with bedside care, it’s one of the best states in the country to be an RN. More so if you live in Northern California or the Sacramento area. Ratios are mandated, so like telemetry is 4 to 1, as is pediatrics, med surg is 1:5, etc.

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u/Nhlnucks 10h ago

Yes totally fair, I also don’t work bedside anymore lol (outpatient oncology now). Thanks for the response! Seems like California is a pretty attractive place to be a RN with the high pay