<aside>
NEXT ▶︎ Step 2: Get a Job
</aside>
BC HealthCareers is a good starting point learn more about BC’s efforts to recruit healthcare professionals. You can start by creating an account at HealthMatchBC — this is a free service funded by the provincial health ministry, whose whole job is to help healthcare workers like you come to BC! BC has implemented fast-track credentialing for US-trained physicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners. HealthMatchBC will get you on your way!
Someone will get back to you, and be your guide through the whole process: Credentials, jobs, immigration, steps to permanent residency, and more. Some positions may be eligible for relocation incentives.
🥼 Doctors: Also contact the Central Okanagan Divisions of Family Practice ([email protected]). They can work alongside HealthMatchBC to walk you through the process, book clinic site visits, and support relocation.
The province of British Columbia is Canada’s third largest province and is an enormous land mass of 364,000+ square miles (944,700+ square kilometers). Various comparisons may help - BC is twice the size of California or another comparison, BC is larger than France and Germany combined…you get the idea!
You are likely looking quite broadly, so a brief orientation to BC with a healthcare focus.
The province is divided into 5 geographic health regions. This region is served by the Interior Health Authority. Other regional health authorities are: Northern Health, Island Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, and Fraser Health. In addition to the geographic health regions, there are two other health authorities that serve the entire province: BC Provincial Health Authority (PHSA) and First Nations Health Authority.
In more local lingo…Vancouver and Fraser Valley areas are referred to as “The Lower Mainland” and Vancouver together with the Coastal areas north of Vancouver are also called “The Coast.” Vancouver Island is often referred to as “The Island.” The Central Okanagan and surrounding areas (Thompson-Cariboo, South Okanagan, and the Kootenays) are referred to as “The Interior.”
If you are a healthcare professional who works directly with patients, and are considering moving to British Columbia the there is a regional Discord group you can join for a more dynamic, engaging site to ask questions and connect with local helpers, with other health care professionals who have made the move, and those considering a move.
An international move can be daunting, we’re here to help!
<aside> đź’ˇ
The Discord Group brings together vast region of BC served by Interior Health and will give you “one stop” for information about communities in the Central Okanagan (Vernon, Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland) together with neighbouring cities to the north of Kelowna —Kamloops, Salmon Arm, the South Okanagan — Penticton, Oliver-Osoyoos, and the Kootenays.
We have centralized the Discord conversation to streamline things for you as you explore opportunities through Interior Health and other employers in the region. We look forward to connecting with you on Discord!
The Nanaimo Group Archive of “Ask Your Questions” Sessions
Tod and his group in Island Health occasionally interview local healthcare providers and subject experts to help you get answers to common questions you may have. For example, what is it like to work as an RN in Canada?