BC's new doctor licensing rules help some internationally trained physicians, but many still face barriers
BC changed its physician licensing rules in July 2026 to let some internationally trained doctors apply directly for full licences, but the reforms do not cover physicians trained in most countries.
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BC changed its physician licensing rules in July 2026, allowing some internationally trained doctors to apply directly for a full medical licence. Four months later, physicians trained in most countries say the change has not helped them.
The BC College of Physicians and Surgeons amended its bylaws on July 6, 2026. Under the new rules, internationally trained physicians with recognized postgraduate qualifications from Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States can apply directly for a full licence instead of going through a provisional licence first. The stated goal was to reduce paperwork and let eligible doctors start independent practice sooner, CHEK News reported on November 14.
Who is left out
Physicians trained in Syria, Iraq and most other countries are not covered by the direct pathway. They must still go through further assessment, additional training or supervised employment.
Dr. Hassan Moustafa, a general surgeon who practiced independently in Iraq for seven years before moving to Vancouver in 2017, told CHEK News he has been unable to secure a paying supervised position in Canada that matches his experience. "I am not asking to enter independent surgical practice without assessment or supervision," he said. Without a pathway into practice, he travels between Canada and Iraq to keep his surgical licence active in the Kurdistan region.
Mervat Bazary, a Syrian ear, nose and throat specialist with 10 years of experience, is now studying for a hearing instrument practitioner diploma at Douglas College, CHEK News reported.
Rosemary Pawliuk, president of SOCASMA, an organization representing internationally trained physicians in BC, told CHEK News that licensing should depend on individual competence, not on the country where a physician trained.
Numbers behind the shortage
Health Match BC put the number of associate physicians working in BC at 106 in 2024-25, according to CHEK News. Moustafa said that in several cases when there was clinical interest in adding associate physician positions, "funding for additional associate physician positions was limited, paused or unavailable."
The number of people going through UBC's Clinical Assessment Program, one pathway for internationally trained doctors, has not grown: 360 in 2023, 358 in 2024 and 352 in 2025. UBC's dedicated residency spots for international medical graduates grew from 18 to 58 since 2010, with all spots filled each year.
In September 2026, BC ran a US recruitment campaign that brought in 171 physicians, 445 nurses, 78 nurse practitioners and 44 allied health professionals, CHEK News reported.
What comes next
The BC College of Physicians and Surgeons sets licensing rules for the province. The new Conservative government has not announced any changes to the college's bylaws.
A physician trained outside the four approved countries can contact the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons at cpsbc.ca to review the pathways that apply to their training background.
Questions this story answers
What did BC change about physician licensing in July 2026?
The BC College of Physicians and Surgeons amended its bylaws on July 6, 2026. Internationally trained physicians with recognized postgraduate qualifications from approved countries can now apply directly for a full medical licence instead of a provisional licence first. The change aims to reduce paperwork and let eligible doctors begin independent practice sooner.
Which countries are covered by the new BC physician licensing rules?
The direct licensing pathway is open to physicians who trained in Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States. Physicians trained in other countries, including Syria and Iraq, are not covered and must still go through further assessment, additional training or supervised employment before they can practice independently in BC.
Who is Dr. Hassan Moustafa and what is his situation?
Dr. Hassan Moustafa is a Syrian general surgeon based in Vancouver who relocated to Canada in 2017 after seven years of independent surgical practice in Iraq. He has been unable to secure a paying supervised position in Canada that matches his experience. He told CHEK News: 'I am not asking to enter independent surgical practice without assessment or supervision.' He currently travels between Canada and Iraq to maintain his surgical licence in the Kurdistan region.
How many associate physicians work in BC?
According to Health Match BC figures cited by CHEK News, 106 associate physicians were working in BC in 2024-25. Moustafa told CHEK News that in several cases 'funding for additional associate physician positions was limited, paused or unavailable' when clinical interest existed.
Has the number of physicians going through BC's training pathways grown?
The number of participants in UBC's Clinical Assessment Program, which helps internationally trained doctors enter the BC system, has stayed flat: 360 in 2023, 358 in 2024 and 352 in 2025, according to figures cited by CHEK News. UBC's dedicated residency spots for international medical graduates grew from 18 to 58 since 2010, with all spots filled each year.
What did BC do in September 2026 to recruit doctors?
BC ran a US recruitment campaign in September 2026 and brought in 171 physicians, 445 nurses, 78 nurse practitioners and 44 allied health professionals, according to figures cited in the CHEK News report.
What does SOCASMA say about the licensing rules?
Rosemary Pawliuk, president of SOCASMA, told CHEK News that licensing should depend on individual competence rather than the country where a physician trained. SOCASMA is an organization representing internationally trained physicians in BC.
What can a physician trained outside the approved countries do in BC?
A physician trained outside Australia, Ireland, the UK or the US can apply through UBC's Clinical Assessment Program or pursue an associate physician position while completing additional requirements. The BC College of Physicians and Surgeons website lists the specific pathways for different training backgrounds. The college's contact information is at bccfp.bc.ca.
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