B.C. fast-tracks process for U.S. nurses to get registered in province

CBC News

· Posted: May 12, 2025 5:16 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

The state is making it easier and faster for nurses from the U.S. to get registered successful B.C., successful an effort to bring more health-care workers north. 

During a quality league connected Monday, Premier David Eby said "uncertainty" related to U.S. President Donald Trump and his medication creates an "opportunity" for the state to enlistee much-needed doctors and nurses. 

Eby said American wellness workers reasoning astir coming to B.C. will beryllium valued, respected and volition person the accidental to attraction for radical based connected what they need, not connected their earnings. 

"You'll beryllium portion of gathering steadfast communities successful the champion spot connected earth, and you are precise invited here," helium said. 

"President Trump's nonaccomplishment is British Columbia's gain."

American nurses tin use to the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives without archetypal going done a third-party appraisal organization. The state says collaboration with counterparts from the United States means the B.C. assemblage tin present entree a database to reappraisal the education, exam results, employment and registration past of nurses who apply. 

Eby said the caller process for registering American nurses present takes conscionable a fewer days, arsenic opposed to waiting months to beryllium capable to work. 

Since launching its caller process for U.S. nurses successful aboriginal April, 177 people have applied to enactment successful B.C. and 113 person received their registrations to practice, Eby added. The state said applications from U.S.-trained nurses are up 127 per cent. 

Rachel Smith-Taylor, an American nurse, said she precocious visited Nanaimo, wherever she was "deeply moved by the community's warmth and hospitality."

Now, she's pursuing registration arsenic a caregiver successful B.C.

"The acquisition reinforced my aspiration to lend to Canada's health-care strategy arsenic a registered nurse."

Smith-Taylor said she doesn't person a timeline to statesman practising successful B.C., adding that  her spouse is besides a nurse. 

Eby pointed to the progressive manner and assortment of communities and employment settings disposable for those considering coming northbound to enactment successful wellness care. 

Eby faced repeated questions from reporters asking whether B.C. tin lucifer caregiver salaries successful the U.S., but did not answer.

Health Minister Josie Osborne did jump in to accidental doc salaries successful B.C. are "quite comparable" to those successful the U.S.

The state is besides launching a targeted U.S. selling run successful June successful parts of the state with the highest involvement successful moving to B.C., including Washington and Oregon states and prime cities successful California.

The state antecedently announced plans to enlistee U.S. doctors earlier this year. Eby said the state volition supply an update connected those efforts astatine a aboriginal time.