PRA-BC: Practice Ready Assessment in British Columbia for internationally trained family physicians

PRA-BC is an assessment program for internationally trained family physicians who have completed family medicine residencies outside of Canada.

PRA-BC is a competitive program, comprised of two parts:

1-week Centralized Orientation in Vancouver, BC

12-week Clinical Field Assessment (CFA) within the sponsoring health authority region

PRA-BC conducts two intakes per year. Eligible applicants are referred to our participating health authorities for possible interview, selection, sponsorship, and participation in a PRA-BC intake. Candidates who successfully complete program components go on to fulfill a 3-year Return of Service in a BC community of need.

For each intake, BC health authorities identify the underserved communities where successful candidates complete their return of service, and the list differs with each intake (Know your ROS community).

Sponsored candidates are supported by PRA-BC during the assessment with:

• Reimbursement for travel from Vancouver to their CFA site

• Single-occupancy accommodation for the duration of the Orientation and CFA

• Stipend payment during the Orientation and CFA

Immigration status in Canada is NOT required to apply for PRA-BC

Applicants may apply from any country. Upon selection into a PRA-BC intake, overseas applicants are provided with guidance on applying for Canadian permanent residency through our sister program, Health Match BC.

Applicants must first meet pre-screening criteria based on eligibility requirements as set out by PRA-BC and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC), which include:

• Medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools

• Two years of postgraduate training leading to registration or recognition as a general or family physician

• Completion of seven core rotations:

  • A minimum of four weeks of postgraduate training in internal/general medicine, general surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and emergency medicine;

  • A minimum of eight weeks of postgraduate training in family medicine.

• Completion of a minimum of two years of discipline-specific time in independent practice as a general or family practitioner in an international jurisdiction

• Academic credentials verification on physiciansapply.ca

• Currency in practice – a minimum of 960 hours of clinical practice as family physician in the preceding three years

• A current curriculum vitae (CV) that fully explains all activities, professional or otherwise

PRA-BC accepts applications year-round. There are no application deadlines.

Because of the volume of applications, PRA-BC reviews complete expressions of interest submitted before January 31, 2026 first. Complete expressions of interest submitted after that date are placed on a waitlist and reviewed at a future date to be determined (PRA-BC).

Upcoming intakes (PRA-BC program dates, subject to change): Fall 2026, orientation September 20 to 25 and clinical field assessment September 28 to December 18, 2026; Spring 2027, orientation April 4 to 9 and assessment April 12 to July 2, 2027; Fall 2027, orientation September 19 to 24 and assessment September 27 to December 17, 2027.

Additional program requirements

Applicants must achieve a pass standing on the Therapeutics Decision-Making (TDM) Examination prior to participating in a CFA.