09/02/2026
Five things UK GPs often get wrong about working as a GP in Canada:
1. I will need to re-sit medical exams.'Not on the current BC pathway. Your UK CCT is the foundation.
2. It takes years to get licensed.'Most doctors see 3-12 months from starting the process to being ready to work, depending largely on how quickly documents are gathered.
3. I will earn less because of the exchange rate.'GPs in BC are typically paid via government billings. Most full-time GPs in our clinics earn in the CAD $400,000–$600,000 range, though this is workload-dependent and not a guarantee.
4. My family will struggle with the move.'Many doctors relocate with partners and children. Schools, spouse work permits, and neighbourhood options are all things we walk through in detail.
5. If I go, I cannot come back to the NHS.'In most cases, you can pause UK practice rather than giving it up permanently.
We always recommend confirming directly with the GMC.Happy to answer questions on any of these.
What else have you heard that you are not sure about?
[Related queries: Doctors Moving to Canada, General Practitioner in Canada, General Practitioners in UK, UK GP, Life in Canada]