VICTORIA – Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, has released the following statement about new licensing bylaws approved by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia for internationally trained physicians:
“To meet the growing health-care needs of people across the province, we are continuing to take action to strengthen health care and connect more patients with the care they need. This means training more doctors here, recruiting experienced physicians from elsewhere and removing unnecessary barriers that can keep qualified professionals from getting to work.
“Starting Monday, July 6, 2026, bylaw changes by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC come into effect. The changes will allow more internationally trained physicians to apply directly for a full licence to practise in B.C., rather than first having to work under a provisional licence. This will reduce paperwork, make the process easier to navigate and help qualified physicians begin practising independently sooner.