Tuesday March 17, 2026 | VANCOUVER, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Premier David Eby and Josie Osborne, Minister of Health today delivered an update about the recruitment of more health-care workers from the United States to work in BC.
As pointed out by Osborne today — this is not just relocating to a new community but to a new country. It’s a significant life choice for the workers as well as their families.
That sheds light on the use of political motivation to attract the much-needed health-care workers.
The doctors in particular — but also the nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health-care workers — will be freed up from considerations of ability to pay (a major consideration of health-care delivery in the United States), given the universal health care system that we have in Canada.
This comes one year after BC launched an energetic promotional campaign in northwest US states with the appeal that principled health professionals could practice medicine and health care without the constraints of insurance payment considerations.
BC also highlighted in their recruitment campaign the open refreshing lifestyle of living in BC.
Recruiting trumps training:
By welcoming more U.S. doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals, B.C. is building on the expertise of its health-care workforce to strengthen public health care, strengthen services for people and build healthy communities.
Bringing in trained professionals eliminates the need for years of training costs. There is also an assumption that there are relatively few cultural differences that US immigrants would need to adapt to.
By the numbers:
From March 2025 until January 2026, B.C. received more than 2,750 job applications from U.S. health-care professionals.
- As of January 2026, more than 400 U.S.-trained health professionals have accepted job offers throughout the province, including in rural and remote regions. That’s nearly triple the last update in September 2025.
- B.C. has received more than 2,750 job applications as of March 2026 from U.S. doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals as a result of targeted recruitment efforts
- More than 1,300 U.S. trained doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners have registered to practise in B.C., indicating growing interest to work in the province since pathways were streamlined for U.S. credential recognition in 2025
Immediate regional needs:
Today’s Health Ministry news release mentions health professionals being placed in Vancouver, Terrace and Port Alberni. There has also been media coverage in recent months about US-recruited nurses finding a new home in Nanaimo.
These doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals are joining hospitals and clinics in the following regions in B.C.:
- Fraser Health – 105 health-care professionals
- Interior Health – 83
- Island Health – 97
- Northern Health – 31
- Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health – 72
- First Nations Health Authority – 4
- Provincial Health Services Authority – 22
Great place to live:
“British Columbia is not only a great place to live, it’s also a great place to work and grow your career,” said Premier David Eby.
“Our public health-care system values science, respects reproductive rights and provides great care. We can’t wait to welcome more U.S.-trained doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health providers to our amazing province,” said Eby today.
Strengthening B.C.’s health workforce:
Globally, health-care workers are in high demand, including in British Columbia.
Government launched recruitment efforts to attract more health-care professionals from the U.S. in March 2025. The marketing campaign started in June 2025, targeting the states of Washington and Oregon, as well as select cities in California. As of January 2026, more than 400 U.S. doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals have accepted job offers within B.C.’s public health-care system. They include 89 doctors, 260 nurses, 42 nurse practitioners and 23 allied health professionals.
“In less than a year, we’ve successfully recruited hundreds of U.S. health-care professionals who are already helping strengthen B.C.’s public health-care system,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “They include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health providers who are joining teams in hospitals and communities across the province. This is just the beginning – U.S. health professionals are enthusiastic about the opportunity to work in B.C., and we will continue welcoming them and connecting them with opportunities throughout the province.”
The progress update is part of the Province’s Team B.C. approach in which health authorities, regulatory colleges, local government and communities work together to recruit more health-care professionals from the U.S.
The BC benefits:
BC makes this pitch to prospective health-care recruits: In addition to an evidence-based approach to public health, support for reproductive rights and strong public health-care system, B.C. has a high standard of living, with free public health care and K-12 education, subsidized licensed child care, top-ranking universities and diverse, safe communities.
More U.S.-trained medical professionals on the way:
The Province is seeing strong, continued interest from American health-care professionals wanting to move to B.C., with more than 1,300 nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors showing their interest by getting registered to practise in B.C. Before applying for jobs in B.C., many U.S. health professionals choose to start by registering with the regulatory colleges to get licensed and ensure their credentials will be recognized.
- 1,038 U.S.-trained nurses and nurse practitioners have registered to work in B.C. since the BC College of Nurses and Midwives streamlined the credential-recognition process for U.S.-trained nurses in April 2025, up more than eight times from the year before. In all of 2024, 127 U.S. nurses had registered and 112 were registered in 2023.
- From March 1, 2025 to Jan. 31, 2026 more than 210 U.S.-trained and certified physicians have registered in B.C. This is 145% more than the same period the previous year. This is supported by a new pathway that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC implemented in July 2025 to make it easier for U.S.-trained doctors to register in B.C.
Removing barriers for internationally trained health professionals to practise in B.C.:
The Province, in collaboration with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, has made it easier for internationally trained health professionals to practise in B.C. Actions taken include:
- introducing a new, expedited credential recognition process for U.S.-trained and certified nurses
- making it easier for U.S.-trained and certified doctors to practise in B.C. without the need for further assessment, examination or training
- removing the requirement to hold the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada or Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part 1 for doctors trained outside of Canada and the U.S., and who are applying for registration and licensure in B.C.
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