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

Requirements and how the program works

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.

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.

Additional program requirements

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