September 22,2025
RED FM News Desk
An increasing number of U.S. health-care professionals are turning to British Columbia, as the province continues to remove barriers that make it easier for them to practise here.
Since May 2025, job applications from American health-care workers have doubled to over 1,400. More than 140 qualified doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and allied health professionals from the U.S. have already accepted job offers, with more expected to follow.
“Health-care workers want to be part of a system where their expertise is valued, science is respected, and their focus is on patients—not profit-driven insurance companies,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “That’s why we’re seeing this remarkable momentum. Hundreds of American professionals are on their way, with some already in B.C. For people here, it means shorter wait times, stronger team-based care, and better services in communities across the province.”
Rising uncertainty in the U.S. is prompting more health-care professionals to choose B.C., which offers universal health care, protects reproductive rights, and is grounded in science.
To attract workers, the province launched a targeted recruitment campaign in Washington, Oregon, and select California cities in June and July 2025, followed by ads in U.S. medical publications through September. Since the campaign began in March, more than 2,950 American health-care professionals have expressed interest in relocating to B.C. via the BC Health Careers website.
The streamlined process is already drawing success stories. Dr. Olga Decker, a U.S. physician who moved to Kamloops in July 2025, said: “The process was smooth and supportive. Health Match BC and the College of Physicians and Surgeons helped me start practising quickly. I feel at home here and look forward to serving patients at Royal Inland Hospital.”
To support this influx, B.C. has introduced several measures:
- An expedited credential recognition process for U.S.-trained nurses, with 535 nurses and 104 nurse practitioners already registered.
- Regulatory changes allowing U.S.-trained doctors to practise in B.C. without additional exams or training—29 physicians have registered under this pathway.
- The removal of a licensing exam for internationally trained doctors outside Canada and the U.S.
- Proposed bylaw changes to further simplify registration for specialists trained in recognized jurisdictions.
Similar experiences are being reported across the province. Nickol Dameron, a nurse moving from Alaska to Nakusp in November 2025, shared: “HealthMatch BC made the process smooth and welcoming. I’m excited to join my new colleagues and begin caring for the community at Arrow Lakes Hospital.”
This recruitment drive is part of the province’s “Team BC” approach, which brings together health authorities, regulatory colleges, local governments, and communities to strengthen public health care. By welcoming more American professionals, B.C. is enhancing its health-care workforce, improving services, and building healthier communities.
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