Canada Expands Fast-Track Licensing for Internationally Trained Physicians in Ontario

Canada is expanding a faster licensing pathway for internationally trained physicians who want to practise family medicine in Ontario.

On October 7, 2026, Health Canada announced $20 million in funding to expand Practice Ready Ontario, also known as PRO.

The program allows eligible internationally trained physicians to complete a 12-week clinical field assessment instead of going through the traditional two-year residency route.

The expansion is expected to help 200 internationally trained physicians move more quickly toward medical licensing in Ontario.

What Is Practice Ready Ontario?

Practice Ready Ontario is a licensing pathway for experienced internationally trained physicians.

Through the program, eligible physicians can complete a 12-week clinical assessment in a supervised setting.

This can allow qualified doctors to become licensed to practise family medicine much faster than through the traditional licensing process.

For some experienced physicians, the full process can take less than one year.

By comparison, other routes to family medicine licensing can often take three to five years.

Who Can Qualify for Practice Ready Ontario?

To qualify for Practice Ready Ontario, an internationally trained physician must generally be:

• A Canadian permanent resident or citizen
• Able to meet the program’s education requirements
• Able to meet the required work experience criteria
• Able to satisfy language proficiency requirements
• Eligible under the licensing requirements set by the program and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
  
  

The program is administered by the Touchstone Institute in partnership with the Ontario government and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

New Funding Will Support 200 Physicians

The federal government has committed $20 million to support the expansion of Practice Ready Ontario.

The funding is expected to create 50 additional positions per year over four years.

The goal is to help 200 internationally trained physicians move through the licensing process and begin practising in Ontario.

Health Canada has indicated that the participants are expected to be able to practise in Ontario by 2028–2029.

Dedicated Stream for French-Speaking Physicians

The expansion will also include a dedicated stream for French-speaking internationally trained physicians.

This is intended to improve access to health care in Francophone communities across Ontario.

The federal government has also said the program will help address shortages in northern and rural areas, where access to family doctors can be limited.

Three-Year Return of Service Requirement

Physicians who become licensed through Practice Ready Ontario must agree to remain and practise in Ontario.

They are required to sign a three-year Return of Service agreement.

During this period, they practise under supervised licensing conditions.

After completing the Return of Service period and meeting the required examination conditions, they may become eligible for independent practice.

When Can Physicians Become Fully Licensed?

An internationally trained physician can move toward full independent licensing after:

• Completing the three-year Return of Service agreement
• Meeting the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario requirements
• Passing the required Certification Examination in Family Medicine
  
  

Once these requirements are met, the physician may become fully licensed for independent practice.

More Funding for Internationally Educated Health Professionals

The federal government also announced an additional $11 million for five other projects across Canada.

These projects are intended to support licensing for internationally educated professionals, including:

• Physicians
• Nurses
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational therapists
  
  

The goal is to reduce licensing barriers and help more internationally trained health professionals enter the Canadian workforce.

Canada Is Trying to Address Health Care Labour Shortages

The October 7 announcement is part of a broader effort by federal and provincial governments to reduce labour shortages in regulated professions.

Health care remains one of the main areas of focus.

Canada has been introducing measures to make it easier for internationally trained doctors and other health professionals to work in the country.

These efforts include immigration pathways, faster licensing options and reduced barriers between provinces.

New Permanent Residence Pathway for Physicians

Canada has also introduced a dedicated permanent residence pathway for physicians with Canadian work experience.

As of the time of writing, 891 physicians had been invited to apply for permanent residence through the new pathway introduced in 2026.

This is part of Canada’s wider strategy to recruit and retain medical professionals.

Ontario Has Also Reduced Interprovincial Licensing Barriers

Ontario introduced new legislation on January 1, 2026 to make it easier for health professionals licensed in other Canadian provinces to work in Ontario.

Under the new rules, physicians, surgeons and nurses licensed elsewhere in Canada may be able to receive authorization to practise in Ontario in as little as two business days after their credentials are verified.

Workers in 20 other regulated health professions may be able to obtain authorization within approximately 10 days.

Other Immigration Measures for Physicians

In December 2025, the federal government announced several immigration measures for doctors.

These included:

• A dedicated permanent residence pathway for physicians with Canadian work experience
• An additional 5,000 spaces for physicians under provincial and territorial immigration pathways
• 14-day work permit processing for physicians nominated by a province or territory
  
  

These measures are intended to make Canada more attractive to qualified medical professionals and help reduce shortages in the health care system.

Why Licensing Is Important for Internationally Trained Physicians

Most regulated professions in Canada are controlled at the provincial or territorial level.

This includes professions such as:

• Medicine
• Nursing
• Law
• Engineering
• Many skilled trades
  
  

Even if someone has years of experience abroad, they usually cannot work independently in a regulated profession until they meet the licensing requirements of the province where they want to practise.

Programs such as Practice Ready Ontario are designed to shorten that process for experienced physicians who already meet key professional standards.