BC Health Minister Josie Osborne approves new licensing bylaws for internationally trained doctors

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia announced bylaw changes that take effect on July 6, 2026, allowing internationally trained physicians from Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to apply directly for a full licence to practise in the province, bypassing the provisional licence route.

At the same time, the BC Physician Integration Program is being expanded to include doctors entering through the new full‑licence pathway; the program is offered at no cost during the first year and is delivered by the University of British Columbia’s continuing professional development department.

Health Minister Josie Osborne said the measures are intended to reduce administrative burden, accelerate the onboarding of qualified doctors, and strengthen the province’s health‑care workforce. The changes are part of a broader effort that has already attracted more than 580 health professionals from the United States and linked over 600,000 residents to a family doctor or nurse practitioner since 2023.