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By Careviv Editorial Team, Careviv
A current guide to Canadian doctor licensing for UK GPs and IMGs, including PhysiciansApply, CFPC, BC full-family and provisional routes, PRA, and provincial registration.
For UK doctors and international medical graduates, Canada is no longer a distant or theoretical option. It is one of the most active physician recruitment markets in the English-speaking world, especially for family physicians. The reason is not difficult to understand: Canada needs more primary care capacity. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, an estimated 5.7 million adults and 765,000 children and youth in Canada still do not have access to a regular primary care provider. For clinics, health authorities, and patients, the need is urgent. For UK GPs and internationally trained family physicians, the opportunity is real—but the licensing pathway must be understood carefully.
This guide focuses on Canadian licensing for UK doctors and IMGs, including where fast track doctor licensing Canada provinces are piloting streamlined routes.
The most common mistake is to ask, "Can UK doctors work in Canada without exams?" The more accurate question is: which province, which specialty, which certificate, which registration class, and which route to certification? Closely related questions include "how to get CCFP Canada" and "how long to become licensed in Canada doctor" because timelines and certification steps vary by province.
Canada does not have one national medical licence. Physicians are licensed provincially or territorially. The Medical Council of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and provincial colleges such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia all play different roles. Confusing these organizations is one of the main reasons international doctors misunderstand the Canadian process. Understanding the Royal College vs CFPC Canada difference is essential to picking the right stream.
For Careviv, this topic is central to healthcare access. Our model connects physician supply, clinic demand, patient access, and cross-border healthcare navigation. Licensing is not just paperwork. It determines whether a UK GP can join a BC clinic, whether a patient can find a family doctor, and whether a community can expand primary care capacity. It also shapes the international medical graduate Canada GP journey from interest to practice. For the broader relocation roadmap, see our UK GP relocation guide.
Common search terms such as “UK GP Canada,” “BC physician licence,” “CPSBC family licence,” “PRA BC” and “can UK GP work in Canada” describe different questions, not one pathway. The full-family, provisional-family and PRA routes have different eligibility rules and potential conditions, while other provinces use their own registration structures. This guide separates those routes so physicians and clinics can verify each dependency with the correct regulator.
A doctor trying to practise in Canada will usually encounter several institutions.
MCC
Credential verification
The Medical Council of Canada operates PhysiciansApply.ca and manages source verification of credentials — the administrative backbone confirming a degree or training certificate is authentic. Also administers exams.
CFPC
Family medicine certification
The College of Family Physicians of Canada grants Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP). For some UK GPs, CCFP may be available through a jurisdictional route without the Canadian exam.
RCPSC
Specialist certification
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is the national specialty certification body for non-family-medicine specialties. Specialists usually follow this pathway instead.
Provincial college
Issues the licence
In BC, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC) gives the actual licence to practise. A doctor cannot practise independently in BC unless registered and licensed by CPSBC.
For most international doctors pursuing Canadian licensing outside Ontario, the first operational step is creating a PhysiciansApply.ca account and submitting documents for source verification through the MCC.
Source verification means the MCC sends a credential to the issuing institution and asks that institution to confirm that it is authentic, accurate, and valid. This process is completed in collaboration with ECFMG, now part of Intealth. The verified credentials are then stored in the physician's account and can be shared with participating medical regulatory authorities. These are the core Medical Council of Canada verification steps.
The documents required depend on the pathway, but they may include a medical degree, internship certificate, postgraduate training certificate, specialty or GP completion certificate, identity documents, and sometimes documents confirming registration history or good standing. For planning, review PhysiciansApply ca document requirements in advance.
The MCC states clearly that source verification timelines vary. The issuing institution may respond quickly, slowly, or require additional documentation. This is why doctors should not wait until a clinic offer is nearly ready before beginning credential preparation. For UK GPs, the practical advice is simple: gather the GMC registration evidence, completion of training documents, medical degree, postgraduate training evidence, identity documents, and certificates of professional standing early. If you are mapping a timeline PhysiciansApply Canada doctors can expect, build in buffer for institutional response times and the PhysiciansApply ca timeline.
PhysiciansApply is not glamorous, but it is foundational. In many Canadian pathways, the application cannot move efficiently until the credential file is clean.
In many cases, yes—but only if the physician meets the CFPC's jurisdictional route requirements.
The CFPC may grant CCFP without examination to physicians who completed accredited postgraduate family medicine or general practice training in a jurisdiction that the CFPC considers comparable and acceptable. The UK is one of the important jurisdictions in this discussion, alongside places such as Australia, Ireland, and the United States. If you are exploring MRCGP Canada eligibility, check the CFPC's current list and policies.
However, this is not a blanket automatic conversion. The physician must generally demonstrate accredited family medicine or general practice training, valid and unrestricted registration, active practice, ongoing certification, good standing, CFPC membership during the application process, and provincial or territorial registration to practise in Canada. The CFPC also excludes physicians whose family medicine certification was obtained through a practice-eligible route rather than the recognized training route. As you consider how to get CCFP Canada, review the Canadian family physician certification pathway criteria carefully and note potential CFPC membership benefits Canada doctors may access during and after certification.
This distinction is important. A UK GP with standard CCT in General Practice and appropriate MRCGP evidence may have a much stronger case than a physician with a non-standard or alternative certificate. The exact certificate matters. Questions around CCT Canada recognition should be answered with reference to CFPC policy pages and provincial regulator requirements.
For a UK GP, the phrase "CCFP without exam" should therefore be understood as "possible through a credentials-based route if the training, certification, registration history, and provincial licensing position meet CFPC requirements." It should not be understood as "any UK doctor can skip Canada's process." This is the heart of ccfp without exam eligibility uk gp considerations.
BC changed its licensing framework on July 6, 2026. Under the CPSBC eligibility bylaw update, internationally trained physicians from select jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, can be eligible for the full class of licensure when they meet the applicable training, certification and licensing requirements. For family medicine, this can include at least two years of accredited postgraduate training in a jurisdiction recognized by the CFPC for certification without examination.
This change does not create automatic licensing for every UK GP. CPSBC still assesses the medical degree, postgraduate training, certification, English-language proficiency, legal ability to work in BC, professional standing and any other requirements that apply to the file. The full-family licence permits practice within the physician's education, qualifications and experience, and the physician remains responsible and accountable for their practice.
A second July 2026 change is the BC Physician Integration Program. An internationally trained physician with less than 12 months of full-time, or equivalent, independent practice in Canada who receives a full or provisional BC licence must complete BC-PIP within one year of licensure, or as directed by the registrar. BC-PIP is an integration program; it should not be described as blanket clinical supervision.
The following stages apply to the provisional route described by CPSBC and should not be treated as the timetable for every full-family applicant. A doctor may enter through Health Match BC, a third-party recruiter, direct regulator contact or another established route. CPSBC may direct the applicant to complete an Application for Medical Registration through PhysiciansApply and will specify the correct process for the file.
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Preliminary assessment of eligibility | 4–5 weeks |
| Final review after secondary application complete | Up to 1 week |
| Licence issued after terms reviewed and fees paid | Within 3 business days |
Once CPSBC has both the online application and preliminary assessment documentation, it conducts a preliminary assessment of eligibility. CPSBC states that this preliminary assessment typically takes four to five weeks. If the applicant is considered eligible, CPSBC issues a preliminary assessment of eligibility letter outlining pre-licensure requirements.
For a provisional application, pre-licensure requirements may include a sponsor or supervisor when CPSBC requires one. After the secondary application is complete, CPSBC's published provisional pathway describes a final review of up to one week and licence issuance within three business days after the physician reviews the terms and pays the required fees. Full-family applicants should follow the timelines and instructions on the full-family application page instead of borrowing the provisional timetable.
These are not total relocation timelines. They are CPSBC processing stages once the correct materials are in place. The real end-to-end timeline can be longer because credential verification, employment matching, work authorization, immigration planning, references, professional standing documents, and clinic onboarding can all add time. If you are mapping a medical licensing Canada timeline or asking "how long to become licensed in Canada doctor," factor in MCC source verification and employer onboarding — plus work permits and family relocation.
A well-prepared UK GP may move more efficiently when the credential file is complete and the correct route is identified early, but Careviv does not promise a licensing timeline. Source verification, regulator review, certification, work authorization, professional-conduct documents and clinic onboarding can each change the total duration.
Practice Ready Assessment BC, or PRA-BC, is a route for eligible internationally trained family physicians who have completed family medicine residency outside Canada and have independent practice experience. The BC government describes PRA-BC as a pathway to licensure through a clinical skills assessment. Successful participants complete a three-year return of service in a BC community that needs medical services. This is the core pra program Canada family physician BC route.
PRA is especially relevant for international medical graduates who are trained family physicians but do not qualify for the more direct CFPC-recognized jurisdictional pathway. The Medical Council of Canada describes practice-ready assessment programs as accelerated pathways for internationally trained physicians who have completed postgraduate medical training and have independent clinical practice experience outside Canada. You may see this referred to as bc practice ready assessment eligibility UK GP when comparing options.
For UK GPs with standard recognized training and certification, PRA may not always be the necessary route. The PRA-BC website itself has previously signalled that doctors trained and certified in the UK, Ireland, Australia, or the United States may not need to apply to PRA-BC and should register with Health Match BC to explore options. That does not mean PRA is irrelevant. It means the right pathway depends on the physician's exact credentials. For IMGs, compare img pathways Canada family medicine to determine whether PRA or a jurisdictional route fits best. This is also relevant to practice ready assessment BC doctors UK who are weighing return-of-service commitments.
For clinics, this matters because PRA candidates often come with return-of-service obligations. For communities with physician shortages, that can be valuable. For individual physicians, the trade-off is clear: PRA may open the door to licensure, but it may also attach location and service commitments.
British Columbia is not the only province changing its approach. Ontario has also simplified licensing pathways for internationally trained physicians. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has highlighted clearer pathways, multiple entry points, and streamlined registration for internationally trained physicians. As of late 2025, CPSO reported thousands of internationally trained physicians licensed in Ontario since April 2023. If you are researching Ontario pathways international doctors family medicine, review CPSO policy updates and health authority recruitment pages.
Ontario also has specific policies for family doctors without CFPC examination and for physicians who obtain CFPC certification without examination. This is relevant for UK GPs who may be comparing BC, Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and other provinces. See our overview of doctor jobs in Canada by province.
The key lesson is that licensing is provincial. A UK GP should not rely on advice that says "Canada recognizes MRCGP" or "Canada requires all exams." Both statements are too broad. Some physicians may access a streamlined route; others may need exams, assessment, supervision, or residency. The province, specialty, certificate, and practice history decide the path. When comparing international medical graduates Canada BC pathway options with those in Ontario or Alberta, confirm requirements directly with each regulator.
The MCCQE, or Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination, is often misunderstood. Passing MCCQE Part I may be required for certain pathways, examinations, or regulatory routes, but it is not the only way every UK GP enters Canada. Similarly, the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, or LMCC, is an important credential, but not identical to provincial licensure.
CCFP is family medicine certification. It may support registration and professional recognition, but it is not itself a licence. CPSBC or another provincial regulator grants the licence.
For a family physician, the most relevant certification body is usually CFPC. For a specialist, the most relevant body is usually RCPSC. The MCC handles credential verification and examinations. The provincial college decides whether the doctor can practise in that province.
A practical example helps. A UK GP may need PhysiciansApply for document verification, CFPC for CCFP without exam, CPSBC for BC registration, CMPA for medico-legal protection, and a health authority or clinic sponsor for practice setup. These are related, but each is a separate step. If you are asking how to register GP Canada, map these checkpoints and their dependencies in advance.
UK doctors are familiar with GMC revalidation. Canada does not operate in exactly the same way. Instead, physicians maintain provincial registration, professional standing, and continuing professional development obligations. This is often summarized as revalidation Canada vs UK doctors, but the systems are structurally different.
For family physicians, CFPC's Mainpro+ system is central. The CFPC requires Mainpro+ participants to earn and report 250 credits in each five-year cycle. At least 125 credits must be certified or certified assessment credits, and at least 10 must be certified assessment credits. There is also a minimum annual reporting requirement of 25 credits. These are common CME requirements family physician Canada, and they form part of continuing medical education Canada doctors maintain throughout practice.
This is important for UK GPs because licensing does not end once they arrive. Continuing professional development is part of long-term professional status. A doctor who moves to Canada should treat CPD planning as part of the relocation strategy, not as an afterthought.
For patients, the process is simpler. In British Columbia, the CPSBC provides an online directory of registered and licensed physicians, including family doctors, specialists, surgeons, and podiatrists. Patients can use this directory to verify whether a doctor is licensed in BC. Search the CPSBC doctor lookup BC Canada tool to verify doctor license BC Canada CPSBC and view status details.
This is important in a healthcare market where virtual care, private clinics, cross-border services, and international recruitment are all expanding. Patients should not rely only on a website biography, advertisement, or clinic claim. Provincial registration is the key public signal.
For Careviv, this principle is central. Any platform that helps patients navigate care must respect regulatory boundaries. Care navigation is not the same as medical practice. Matching a patient to services, explaining options, or supporting appointment access must be built around licensed clinicians and transparent regulatory status.
A practical UK GP pathway might look like this:
This is not a one-click process. But for the right UK GP, it is increasingly navigable. Framed differently, these are Canada family physician licensing steps from verification to first day in clinic. Once practising, understanding how doctors get paid in Canada and family physician salary expectations becomes the next priority.
Canadian clinics recruiting UK and international family physicians need to understand the licensing pathway just as much as the candidate does. A clinic that simply says "we are hiring doctors" may lose strong candidates if it cannot explain the intended licence route, sponsorship if applicable, billing, contract structure, onboarding and any supervision or conditions actually required by the regulator.
The strongest clinics provide a clear, regulator-aligned pathway: a documentation checklist, realistic dependencies, licensing support, EMR training, billing education, a clinical integration or supervision plan only where required, a patient-panel strategy and a transparent compensation model. This is where Careviv's clinic-facing role is useful. Careviv supports recruitment readiness and navigation; CPSBC and other regulators make licensing decisions.
There are several red flags.
Canada is actively trying to bring qualified international doctors into practice faster while protecting patient safety. That is the balance: access and standards. The country needs more physicians, but it also needs confidence that doctors entering the system are properly trained, verified, supervised where necessary, and integrated into Canadian practice. Much of this starts with Canada medical council verification and continues through provincial registration.
For UK GPs, Canada may now be one of the most attractive relocation markets in the world. The language, clinical training comparability, GP shortage, provincial reforms, and patient demand all point in the same direction. But success depends on precision. The difference between CCFP, CPSBC, PRA, MCC, LMCC, PhysiciansApply, and RCPSC is not bureaucratic trivia. It is the pathway.
For patients, these reforms could mean more family doctors. For clinics, they could mean a stronger recruitment pipeline. For physicians, they could mean a new career in a system that urgently needs them.
And for Careviv, this is exactly why healthcare navigation must include both sides of the market: patients seeking care and physicians seeking a viable way to practise. Licensing is not separate from access. It is the bridge. If you need a concise recap, think: medical council of canada verification steps, canadian family physician certification pathway via CFPC, and provincial registration (CPSBC/CPSO)—the core building blocks of how to register GP Canada and move from interest to practice.
For the latest BC-specific change, review the BC GP full-licence guide, including who may practise without supervision and which registration routes still carry conditions.
International family doctors comparing provincial routes can review the Nova Scotia Practice Ready Assessment guide for current PACE eligibility, application and return-of-service checks.
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