For the person on the street, the mention of Canada conjures images of maple trees, the Rocky Mountains, and ice hockey. For many international physicians, Canada may be an attractive place to practice medicine. The country offers clinicians strong salaries overall, and Canadian physicians often report that their workloads are manageable or that they have meaningful control over their hours. Many medical positions are available, and physicians are in high demand, especially in rural areas. More broadly, Canada has a reputation as a safe country that provides a high quality of life.

What does an international physician need to practice medicine in Canada? This page provides an overview (but not an exhaustive list) of what the country requires and lists resources that can offer information and assistance to physicians who want to begin a new career in the Great White North.

Moving to Canada

To obtain permanent residence, physicians can apply for Canada’s Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) program. Spouses and dependent children can be included in the application. The process generally takes between 6 and 12 months. A permanent resident card can cost CAD$50 and takes 37 days to process. Renewals take 30 days. 

After a period of residence in Canada (usually 3 years), a physician can apply for citizenship. The application costs about CAD$650. Applicants must take a citizenship test and undergo an interview. Processing time takes 10 months, at the end of which the applicant attends the citizenship ceremony.

Canada provides services to help people prepare to live and work in the country. These offerings include prearrival services, newcomer services, and a job bank. Language services (eg, learning English or French) are also available.

Getting Certified

A physician hoping to practice in Canada must demonstrate competence in English or French. Each province or territory has its own medical regulatory authority (MRA), which determines the accepted language test options (eg, International English Language Testing System, Occupational English Test, or Test d’évaluation de français). Check with the MRA in the province or territory where you would like to practice. 

A physician must verify his or her medical credentials to be eligible for exams, which are administered by the Medical Council of Canada. One must create a physiciansapply.ca account to verify their credentials by submitting a source verification request. 

Next, one must take the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I, which tests knowledge and clinical decision-making. The exam costs approximately CAD$1320. The MCCQE Part II, an Objective Structured Clinical Examination, was suspended indefinitely in June 2021. Those who pass the MCCQE receive a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC).

International medical students and medical graduates must take the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination to assess their readiness to enter a Canadian residency program. This exam costs about CAD$2945. The MCCQE Part I and the NAC are estimated to have pass rates of between 77% and 88%.

After passing the MCCQE Part I, which is necessary to obtain provincial licensure, a physician may need additional certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the Collège des médecins du Québec.

After obtaining an LMCC, a physician must apply to the MRA of the province or territory for licensure. Licensing classes include provisional, associate, clinical observer, assessment, and visiting physician. Some provinces offer Practice-Ready Assessment programs that enable supervised practice and establish a transition to independence. 

In the best case, it takes 2-3 years to obtain an LMCC, and 2-6 years of subsequent training may be necessary, depending on the physician’s specialty. The College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada often require additional certification. The MRAs may impose further requirements.

Physicians who have obtained an LMCC must apply to the appropriate provincial MRA for licensure. The licensing classes include provisional, associate, clinical observer, and assessment. 

Finding a Job

To find a job, a physician can consult job boards (eg, at HealthCareCAN), contact local health authorities, or reach out directly to hospitals and clinics. Recruiters such as Canada Medical Careers may help with licensing, the immigration process, and job placement. 

Finding a job may take several months to a year. Information about average physician salaries differs, depending on the source of information. The Government of Canada Job Bank reported that the median annual salary for a general practitioner was CAD$233,726 as of January 23, 2024.

The benefits that physicians enjoy vary by province. They include universal healthcare coverage, vacation time, allowances for continuing medical education, legal protection from the Canadian Medical Protective Association, pension, and other benefits. 

The following sources provide further information for physicians who are interested in practicing in Canada: 

• Medical Council of Canada
• Canada Medical Careers (recruiter)
• Dr.Bill (medical billing company)