Physician recruitment across the Canada–US border

Who this is for

• US hospitals and health systems that want to reach Canadian-trained physicians, particularly family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine and the specialties with long US vacancies, and that want a recruiter who already knows the Canadian training system and its colleges.

• Canadian hospitals and communities that want to reach Canadian physicians practicing in the US who are ready to come home, US-trained physicians, and physicians from the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

• Physicians in either country weighing a move across the border, and international physicians choosing between the two.

Recruiting Canadian physicians into the United States

Canadian medical schools are accredited jointly with US schools, so Canadian graduates are treated like US graduates for most purposes and do not need ECFMG certification. What they do need is state licensure, which usually means USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3 (or acceptance of the MCCQE and LMCC by the state board, which varies by state), board certification recognition, and immigration status, most often a TN visa under the USMCA for physicians in teaching or research roles or an H-1B for clinical practice. Some states have added expedited licensure routes for internationally trained physicians in recent years; we check the current rules for the state you’re hiring in before we start and tell you which candidates are realistic on your timeline.

Recruiting US and international physicians into Canada

Licensing in Canada is provincial. Each college (in Ontario, the CPSO) sets its own routes, and the Medical Council of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada handle the national examinations and certifications. For US-trained and US-certified physicians, several provinces recognize American board certification through approved-jurisdiction and reciprocity routes, which can shorten the path considerably; for physicians from the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, recognized postgraduate training and certification can qualify for similar routes, and practice-ready assessment programs such as Practice Ready Ontario are another path for family physicians. Immigration runs through work permits, provincial nominee programs and Express Entry. We map the route for each candidate before the community visit, so nobody is surprised six months in.

How a cross-border search runs

1. 1

   Discovery. The role, the practice model, call, compensation structure and the community, plus the one thing that is different in a cross-border search: which licensing route the role can realistically support and how long it will take.

2. 2

   Sourcing. Direct outreach across Canada and the US and through relationships built over 22 years of healthcare recruiting, plus our international pipeline from the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

3. 3

   Assessment and presentation. A structured process, with a short list that includes each candidate’s licensing and immigration path and expected timing.

4. 4

   Offer, licensing and relocation. We help close the offer, coordinate with the college or state board and the immigration lawyer, and work with global relocation specialists on the family’s move.

5. 5

   After the start. We stay in touch. Every physician placement carries a 12-month replacement guarantee.

Physician executive roles across the border

We also recruit physician executives across the border: Chief Medical Officers, Chiefs of Staff and VPs of Medical Affairs. Executive placements include six months of external executive coaching, starting at selection.

Fees

Fees depend on the role and the type of search. We’ll send a written proposal once we understand the vacancy.

Frequently asked questions