Guidelines for Foreign Trained Doctors Seeking Practice in Canada: Part 2
Make sure to catch up on Part 1 before diving into Part 2!
Considering relocating to Canada as a physician? There’s much to gain, including competitive salaries for certain specializations, gorgeous landscapes, clean urban environments, and a rewarding work life. Here are important steps and considerations for U.S doctors planning to migrate to Canada:
- Apply for Residency: Before delving into the recognition of your medical qualifications, your initial step should be to apply for residency in Canada. U.S. doctors have several options to enter Canada, but a common choice is Express Entry through the Federal Skilled Worker program. Along with verifying your educational credentials and demonstrating language proficiency in English or French, you’ll be scored under the Comprehensive Ranking System. This system assigns points based on factors such as age and education. Those with high scores are offered permanent residency. Doctors benefit from this system, as a professional degree yields between 126-135 points. Coupled with other factors, like your spouse’s occupation, age, and language proficiency, achieving the required points is highly probable.
- Recognition of Your Credentials: Simultaneously with your residency application, you should start the process of having your U.S. medical qualifications recognized by the Canadian medical bodies. The Canadian medical schooling system shares similarities with that of the U.S., making some aspects of this process easier for American doctors. However, you’ll need to undergo an extensive procedure, which includes verification of your degree’s recognition, submitting it for approval, taking a medical knowledge test, and in some instances, applying for residency spots. Remember, this process involves substantial time and financial investment, so it’s best to plan ahead.
- Finish Your Residency Beforehand: Ideally, complete your residency in the U.S before relocating, due to the intense competition for residency spots in Canada. Moreover, U.S. doctors wishing to secure a residency slot in Canada must pass the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) examination, which is only offered in Canada and has stringent requirements.
- Choose Your Province: Each Canadian province offers a unique blend of culture, entertainment, housing costs, and landscapes. You’ll need to register with the medical board in your chosen province. Moving to a new province requires re-registration, which is why it’s more practical to stay within a single province if you anticipate relocating frequently.
- Adapt Your Practice Style: Upon arrival, you’ll undergo a period of supervision to familiarize yourself with the Canadian medical system. This may include transitioning from a defensive medicine approach, commonly practiced in the U.S., to a model more suited to Canada’s taxpayer-funded system. You might also notice shifts in patient dynamics and clinic operations.
In conclusion, U.S. doctors migrating to Canada can expect a high-quality lifestyle, stable income, serene work environment, and access to Canada’s remarkable natural beauty, providing ample reasons for many U.S. physicians to consider moving north.
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