Job requirements Family Physician in Canada

Find out what you typically need to work as a family physician in Canada. These requirements are applicable to all General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102).

Employment requirements

This is what you typically need for the job.

  • A bachelor's degree or in Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required.
  • Graduation from an approved medical school and two to three years of family medicine residency training are required.
  • Completion of the qualifying examinations of the Medical Council of Canada or the Collège des médecins du Québec and licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.

Source National Occupational Classification

Professional certification and licensing

You might need to get a certification from a regulatory authority before you start working. Find out if this occupation is regulated in your province or territory.

Table listing provincial regulation requirements
Location Job title Regulation Regulatory body
Alberta Physicians (General And Family) Regulated College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)
Manitoba Physician Regulated College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba
New Brunswick Physician (general, Family) Regulated College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick (CPSNB)
Newfoundland and Labrador Physician (general, Family) Regulated College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland & Labrador
Northwest Territories Physician (general, Family) Regulated Registrar, Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services
Nova Scotia Physician Regulated College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia
Ontario Physician (general, Family) Regulated College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Prince Edward Island Physician Regulated College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island
Québec Physician Regulated Collège des médecins du Québec
Saskatchewan Physician (general, Family) Regulated College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan
Yukon Physician (specialist) Regulated Yukon Medical Council, Government of Yukon

Source Foreign Credential Recognition Program - ESDC

Do you want to work in another province or territory?

If you are already certified to work in a regulated occupation in your province or territory, it will be easier for you to have your certification recognized in another province or territory. See the Workers Mobility's website to learn more.

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