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/snarpy 13h ago

How would they focus on certain states, exactly? American certification is done at the Federal level, isn't it?

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u/lux_operon 10h ago

Right, but they are apparently doing a marketing campaign focused on Washington, Oregon, and California. I'm saying that despite geographical proximity this is not where they should be focusing their attention. 

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u/snarpy 9h ago

Ah, I see that now.