Resources for Physicians New to BC
Thinking of moving to Canada and practicing in British Columbia? Our community is excited to welcome you! We have compiled resources to make this transition seamless.
Pre-Arrival
Before arriving in B.C, the Division partners with incoming physicians and NPs to support you every step of the way, helping make your transition to living and practising in the Sea to Sky as smooth and welcoming as possible.
Our Membership Coordinator can support prospective FPs and NPs in any of the following ways:
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Share current clinical opportunities in family practice clinics, long-term care, maternity care, and other practice settings
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Connect you with physicians already practising locally so you can ask questions and learn what day-to-day life is really like here
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Share information about visiting physician or locum opportunities if you’d like to experience the community before committing to a move
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Point you toward immigration and licensing resources to help you navigate requirements
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Help your family settle by sharing information about schools and childcare options
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Connect you with trusted local realtors or assist with rental housing so you can find the right place to call home
Contact to learn more: membership@seatoskydivision.ca
Welcome to BC
You've arrived! Welcome to Canada and to BC. This section provides helpful resources to help you transition smoothly into medical practice and settle into our community.
Transition Into Practice Guide
Entering professional practice is an exciting time. For family medicine residents and those who teach, June is a time of transition. BC Family Doctors have developed a guide for residents and new-to-practice physicians that provides practical information about making this transition, including an overview of financial, legal, and administrative matters.
Contract Options: Alternatives to Fee-For-Service Model
The BC Ministry of Health has introduced a number of new contract options for BC’s physicians. They provide more choices for established and new-to-practice family physicians who want to move away from Fee-for-Service (FFS) and practice in a different way.
More information from the B.C. government regarding contract options can be found here.
Rural Retention Program
Squamish and Whistler are designated Rural C communities. This guide to Rural Physician Programs explains the supports and incentives available through the Rural Practice Subsidiary Agreement (RSA) for physicians practising in eligible rural communities. It outlines programs such as the Rural Retention/fee premiums, Recruitment Incentive Fund, locum and travel assistance, RCME/REAP education supports, and other funding and locum options and directs physicians to the official policies and contacts for eligibility and application details.
Practice Support Program
FPSC’s Practice Support Program (PSP) offers services for family physicians to optimize your practice, enhance your use of health technology, and better manage your patient panel. Their team provides customized, schedule-friendly support to improve efficiency, free up time for proactive patient care, and help practices adopt Patient Medical Home attributes.
Doctors Technology Office
The Doctors Technology Office (DTO) provides guidance and hands-on support to help physicians choose, implement, and securely use health technology in their practices. They offer advice on EMRs, virtual care, clinic security, and AI tools, and can also troubleshoot technical issues when vendor support is not resolving them.
New Member Manual
Our comprehensive Physician Onboarding Guide has been designed to help new physicians connect with the Sea to Sky primary care community and access the tools, resources, and local knowledge needed to establish their practice with confidence. The guide includes essential information on patient attachment, clinical and administrative resources, medical databases, and local services to support a smooth transition into practice.
Please note that this guide is intended as a practical starting point rather than a comprehensive reference. While it includes links to external websites and resources for your convenience, their inclusion does not constitute endorsement or approval by the Sea to Sky Division of Family Practice. Physicians should refer to the original sources for the most current and complete information.
Community Connections
Physicians new to the community can request clinic connections to get to know local colleagues and learn more about local healthcare services by contacting membership@seatoskydivision.ca
Community Resources
Access essential organizations and support networks that provide licensing, professional development, practice support, and healthcare system guidance for Physicians in BC
Have a Question? Reach out!
To learn more about practicing in our community, email our team at seatosky@seatoskydivision.ca or complete the contact form below:
