Summary

• More than 1,200 internationally trained doctors received licences from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC in 2025
• More than 6,000 internationally trained doctors are licensed in B.C. as of July 2026
• B.C. has the most doctors per capita in Canada with 271 physicians per 100,000 residents
• More than 4,400 internationally educated nurses have received full or provisional licenses since 2023
• As of Sept. 1, 2026, there are 77,880 nurses who are licensed to practise in B.C. through the BC College of Nurses and Midwives

__________

People are getting care closer to home as thousands of internationally trained doctors and nurses have joined B.C.’s publicly funded health system, working in communities throughout the province.

“We are leading the country in attracting health-care professionals and it’s making a difference in the lives of British Columbians and our public health-care system,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Health. “This has helped us connect one million people to a primary care provider since 2018, and we are making progress by matching 4,000 people a week to a family doctor and nurse practitioner.”

Recruiting more doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses

British Columbia is making it quicker and easier for internationally educated health professionals to join the health-care workforce by streamlining credential recognition, modernizing licensing pathways and reducing administrative barriers across multiple professions.

As a result, thousands of internationally trained doctors and nurses have joined B.C.’s health system, working in communities throughout the province.

More than 1,200 internationally trained doctors received licences from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC in 2025, for a total of over 6,000 internationally trained doctors. More than 4,400 internationally educated nurses have received full or provisional licences since 2023.

While B.C.’s population increased by 15% between 2017 and 2025, the number of longitudinal family doctors has increased by 33%. The number of nurse practitioners has more than tripled. 

From 2018 until March 2026, the number of longitudinal family doctors has increased by more than 1,400, from 4,362 to 5,807. The number of nurse practitioners increased from 550 in 2018 to more than 1,750 to date.

As of Aug. 31, 2026, there are more than 17,000 doctors who are licensed to practise in in the province through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. This includes more than 8,500 specialists. B.C. also has the most doctors per capita in Canada, with 271 physicians per 100,000 residents.

As of Sept. 1, 2026, there were 77,880 nurses who are licensed to practise in B.C. through the BC College of Nurses and Midwives. As well, the college is currently processing more than 3,000 licensing applications, half of them from nurses who trained in B.C.

Training more health-care professionals

More training seats have been added in post-secondary institutions in B.C., so people can get the education they need closer to home. Since 2019, the Province has added more than 765 new training seats at public post-secondary institutions throughout the province for midwives, registered nurses, psychiatric nurses, practical nurses and nurse practitioners, as well as more than 360 new seats for allied health professionals.

Government also recently increased UBC’s medical school intake by 40 undergraduate seats distributed throughout B.C., and is adding more than 160 new residency training positions by 2028.

As well, the first cohort of 48 undergraduate students have started classes at B.C.’s new medical school, the SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine in Surrey. As enrolment grows in phases to 120 students annually, more people will have the opportunity to train closer to home for careers in medicine, while helping meet the province’s growing need for doctors. With its accelerated three-year curriculum, the first graduates are expected in 2029, after which they will continue training through residency, while contributing to patient care in communities throughout the province. 

SFU will also launch its first 12 family medicine residency positions in 2027, with further expansion phased in over time. Including UBC’s residency training growth, B.C.’s total family medicine intake will rise from 174 positions in 2022 to 224 positions in 2027, a 29% increase in family medicine positions.

Learn More:

To learn more about health-career opportunities in B.C., visit: https://bchealthcareers.ca/

To learn more about B.C.’s actions to strengthen health care, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/health-care/