Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, has released the following statement about new licensing bylaws approved by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia for internationally trained physicians:

“To meet the growing health-care needs of people across the province, we are continuing to take action to strengthen health care and connect more patients with the care they need. This means training more doctors here, recruiting experienced physicians from elsewhere and removing unnecessary barriers that can keep qualified professionals from getting to work.

“Starting Monday, July 6, 2026, bylaw changes by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC come into effect. The changes will allow more internationally trained physicians to apply directly for a full licence to practise in B.C., rather than first having to work under a provisional licence. This will reduce paperwork, make the process easier to navigate and help qualified physicians begin practising independently sooner.

“The changes apply to eligible physicians trained in Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Physicians in recognized specialties, who have completed eligible accredited postgraduate training, will be able to apply directly for a full licence in B.C.”

“At the same time, the college is expanding the BC Physician Integration Program requirement to include internationally trained physicians who are new to independent practice in Canada, including those entering through the new full-licence pathway.

“Physicians can complete this program at no cost during their first year in B.C. through the University of British Columbia’s continuing professional development department. The program helps them adapt more quickly to our health-care system and understand how care is delivered here, supporting a smoother transition for physicians and more consistent, culturally safe care for patients. Because the program is completed after licensure, it provides this support without delaying when a physician can begin practising.

“Together, these changes maintain B.C.’s high standards for patient care, while reducing unnecessary administrative burden and giving physicians the support they need to succeed.

“This is another concrete action to cut red tape and make B.C. more competitive in recruiting doctors, which helps strengthen our health-care workforce and get more people the care they need, closer to home. It is part of a broader effort that has already resulted in more than 580 health professionals from the United States accepting job offers in B.C. as of March 2026, and more than 600,000 people newly connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner since 2023.

“We will keep building on that progress with practical steps that bring more providers into the system and make care easier to access.”