Dbd33... To be fair to my husband he doesn't want to pack it in. It's my position which neatly related to Bats new thread which is making us go home. I just can't cope with not being able to work here.

Edited to add.... And yes Gowest my husband is a GP, it took us two yrs to get here on a twp to Ontario. Might have been quicker to go down FSW wrote which you could probably do. Snoopdawg might be better placed to advice you on BC though. Both wife and husband are GP's.

Understood, but maybe Gowest also has a spouse to consider. Things don't work out for lots of potential immigrants for reasons other than work.

Incidentally, my daughter, an Ontario educated nurse, had to jump through hoops before she was able to work after she emigrated to the UK. There's a lot of nonsense in either direction.

Gowest, 25 yrs ago when we emigrated we were told it could take up to 2 yrs for us to go through the process.. We were on the job 'wanted list' at the time, we took a scouting trip to Canada, had numerous job offers we included these with our application, our formal interview 3 months later and were told on the spot we'd been accepted. All in all start to finish and landing in Canada the process for us took 6 months!!

Fancy moving to Nelson, B.C ? We're moving back over the pond and have a steal of a deal a beautiful 4,800 sq ft home with triple garage and lake views.. We'll be leaving all our electrical appliances and much of our furniture behind including Pool table, gym equipment in our gym room as well as TV's etc....

All well and good for you 25 years ago, but how is that experience relevant to the current administrative requirements and application process?

Golden eye...are you a doctor. Because the process of registration is a lengthy one!

I was just pointing out that 25 years ago we were told it could take up to 2 years and it only took us 6 months from start to finish.... A case of how long is a piece of string.. Not a one size fits all... We had job offers in B.C. Alberta and Ontario and included them in our 'final application' I think this helped in our application in my opinion being 'fast tracked'
Getting our qualifications recognized was another process which we did once we were in Canada ~ a long story!!

No not doctor, but as with all medical professionals the process is a lengthy one.. We were able to work as a 'Temporary Registrants' which basically meant that we were not allowed to work unsupervised until we had taken the board regulatory exams..

Still a shortage of GPs in our area, I can't see them taking it off the list. SW Ontario, in case you want to line up some patients

I'd agree with the advice to start the ball rolling earlier though, just in case. I also agree with putting your son on the application, again just in case.

Good luck!

This has all been very interesting
ON is not really an option as you have to sit 3 exams (2 in canada) before you work and then work supervised and as when we get to canada I will be the breadwinner that's not an option
BC I have all the criteria met though proving it is a logistic challenge. AB there's an exam but you can sit it in the UK any time. I think I will do it anyway as revising for it will be useful as it will get me more up to speed on the differences work wise between UK and Canada
I'm interested in the idea of applying from here as a skilled worker as the GPs I know who have emigrated have mostly gone down the route of getting a job then LMO then getting PR after landing. I will ask them why they chose that route before I make any decisions but sounds like the skilled worker approach would be better
My other half works as a personal trainer. He also does life guarding and is happy to do anything in that field and expects it could take time to find work. His qualifications are supposedly recognised in canada. Is the problem for spouses working usually that they haven't the recognised qualifications or is it a visa issue?
What about schools for my girls?

The TWP route is much much quicker than PR, and it's also an option for people who don't meet the requirements for PR straight off in some cases.

I'm not aware of an issue with spouses finding work, so it's likely to be an issue with work availability/demand for skills thing. Being a spouse didn't affect me, my qualifications did.

I'm not sure of the differences between provinces regarding schooling, but I hear the same gripes from most people, along with similar positive experiences so that suggests there isn't much between them. It's more likely down to specific schools in which area you choose.

How difficult is it for you to move within Canada once you are registered in one province? Is the demand as great in areas where it's easier to get in? Do you really get paid nothing while under supervision?

I believe that it's very difficult in some Provinces to move. NB...as ever has extra special hoops to jump through...I am losing our Canadian family doctor, as he has had enough of the hoops and is packing his job in in order to work in the emergency room of the local hospital.

Not at all easy to move between provinces I'm told although as the current shortage is only predicted to get worse who knows what the future will hold. I would plan to stay in initial location until our older daughter finishes school though as it's hard to move once as a teenager but twice would be horrid unless circumstances force us.
Re spouse finding work. Long term he wants to set up a holiday retreat and me work part time to fund this but is willing to do anything leisure related initially.
Anyone know anything about leisure type jobs in AB or BC? Obviously would be seasonal but he's ok with that to start anyway.

Gowest, if your husband wants to set up a retreat and work in fitness you can come to our area! Muskoka is the perfect place for a retreat- summer play area to the rich and Toronotonians!

Ontario is completely an option for you. Firstly with a reciprocal agreement in place with the Royal College you are exempt from the entrance exam, there are two exams to do however until you can work unrestricted. However my husband is the "breadwinner" and is supervised in the loosest sense of the word. He can work at the same capacity as any other family physician ie earning potential is the same. His supervisor just writes a report on him that's all, with patient feedback etc etc. It really isn't a problem.

My problem with this area is that as a nurse I can't work as yet, and will never be able to work as fully as I could back home. I find this a great problem for me but others won't I'm sure.

You can pm me if you want any further information.

Thanks a lot tirytory. I've contacted health force Ontario to see but think it's probably BC for us. It's interesting that a few years ago it was rare for UK GPs to go to canada and now it's getting more common with more and more provinces advertising jobs globally and having systems to make the transition easier. It's certainly easier than US. I'm still a bit intimidated by the thought of exams because I was never a great exam passer at med school but I need to get over that.
Interesting times
Meeting folk from AB and BC in October and if that goes well I will start the TWP process then

Good luck! Incidentally is there any one thing driving the move?