Can a US medical doctor work in Canada?
Andrew Ramirez
Published Apr 07, 2026
Depending on the regulations of the provincial colleges of physicians and surgeons, US doctors must either undergo a period of supervision (usually several months to a year) or complete the Medical Council of Canada exams, or both, to obtain a full license to practise in Canada.
Do Canadian doctors make less than US doctors?
Although doctors typically do earn more in the US, to make a blanket statement would be misleading – an NPR investigation found that Canadian family doctors actually earn a similar salary to American general practitioners.
How hard is it for US trained physicians to find work in Canada?
Finding a job in Canada with US credentials as a physician should not be too difficult. You may need to convert some of your qualifications to Canada equivalents but it should just be a matter of paperwork and you will probably have to register to be able to practice medical work in the province you choose to work in.
Does the US have better doctors than Canada?
In Canada, less than half of doctors are specialists whereas more than 70% of doctors are specialists in the U.S. Canada has fewer doctors per capita than the United States. In the U.S, there were 2.4 doctors per 1,000 people in 2005; in Canada, there were 2.2.
Are US doctors moving to Canada?
According to a physician recruiter in Windsor, Ont., over the past decade more than 100 U.S. doctors have relocated to her city alone. More generally, the Canadian Institute for Health Information reports that Canada has been gaining more physicians from international migration than it’s been losing.
What is the salary of a doctor in Canada?
As of 2018, the average annual salary for a doctor in Canada was $281,000 for family doctors, $360,000 for a medical specialist, and $481,000 for a surgical specialist. Doctor salary in Canada ranges from $278,000 for psychiatrists and over $769,000 for ophthalmologists.
How much do doctors make in Canada vs America?
Article content. The average income after expenses, in U.S. dollars, for an orthopedic surgeon in the U.S. was $442,450, compared to $208,000 in Canada, $324,000 in the U.K. and $154,000 in France.
Why do Canadian doctors move to the US?
Canadian educated physicians may go the US for specialty training and then remain there to practice. Others may emigrate seeking more career opportunities and higher remuneration. American citizens may study medicine in Canada, then return to the US for further training and to establish practice.
Why US healthcare is better than Canada?
Compared to the US system, the Canadian system has lower costs, more services, universal access to health care without financial barriers, and superior health status. Canadians and Germans have longer life expectancies and lower infant mortality rates than do US residents.
Respondents expressed greater professional satisfaction with their current country of practice, but overall, dual-experience physicians in the United States favored that system only slightly more than the Canadian system, whereas those in Canada rated the Canadian system significantly better than the US system.
Are there any American doctors practicing in Canada?
I have known doctors from elsewhere in the world who had to upgrade in order to meet Canadian standards, but I should think that an American doctor from a reputable school would probably not have to do any/much upgrading. There is a shortage of doctors in Canada, especially in remote/rural areas. I recently dated a doctor.
How to apply for Canadian immigration for doctors?
There are certain programs designed specifically for trained medical doctors like the: If you want to start the application process, apply with us today. Click here to learn more about Canadian immigration for doctors today.
How to get a US physician to move to Canada?
However, you would have to show that you really want to move to Canada – since she’s only ever lived in the US, she has no ties to Canada. It’s not too hard to prove intent to move. If you are serious about moving, you would in any case be making trips to Canada to check out cities to live in, schools, jobs and so on.
How much money does a doctor make in Canada?
Doctors in Canada are highly regarded and can enjoy a good work-life balance, generally working 35 to 40 hours a week, depending on their location and specialism. Full time GPs can expect to earn around $C300 000 (£173 000; €205 000; $228 000) to $C400 000, paediatricians $C400 000 to $C500 000, and anaesthetists around $C500 000.