Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Almost Canadian,

Only speaking for Ontario, but once he has sat the exam he will have a full license, not connected to the work pemit at all. They said (HFO) we could go down either route to get in Ontario, either PR or job offer. All of our information and advice has come through the goverment agency for Ontario and recruitment of doctors (HFO) and the CPSO. Maybe there's another undisclosed reason that you don't know about it with this doc in Alberta or perhaps it is different there...

Vic

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

That could be the case and, if so, that is great news.

I haven't heard this simply from one doctor in Alberta, but from many. As you indicate, it may be that Alberta operates a different system. I honestly don't know.

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Hello TiryTory
We may be on par with relocation plans i.e. December/January arrival-bbbrrrrrr
Me and DH are medics (GP and psychiatrist) working with HFO to move to Guelph Ontario
No kids and no house to sell
Our CPSO meetings are September and October respectively
We are going for an 'upfront medical' to submit with our work permit applications this week
We are also wary about timing giving notice to current jobs...
Can I keep in touch?

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Everywhere is short of GPs, including the UK last I checked. All the MDs want to "specialize" which is short-hand for "don't want to do the hours general practice requires" and "want to make more money".

So all the GPs are retiring and there is a shortage, there is a move on to try and train up more GPs but from what I saw they'll never reach the required numbers given the growing population, hence the need for immigrants.

It's easy for doctors to move to the US under NAFTA, so they can't be too rigourous in their demands as to what they do, because there is an even greater shortage of GPs in the US, for example Phoenix and many parts of California.

So why practice in Canada if you can bugger off to California?

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

I know a doctor in Colorado who looks wistfully at the medical climate in Ontario. A single payer! No need to employ two full time people to try and collect from insurance companies. He's less keen on the actual climate, of course. There is, he says "no way" he'd ever work in California again as there's even more bureaucracy there than in CO and astronomical malpractice insurance premiums.

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Mmm, but this assumes you're running the practice. To get into the US someone has to sponsor you but it's simple under NAFTA, but you still need an employer or at least to consult with someone (e.g. hospital). So if practice A in Riverdale is short of an MD and they can simply hire one from Canada, I think that is very tempting for a lot of Canadian GPs. Especially ones that are on the old side and sick of winter.

I know the model of general practice leans a lot towards self-employment but it doesn't have to be.

Anyway it's equally easy for an RN to go to the US as well.

I'll be interested to see what happens with Obamacare seeing as it changes Medicare a great deal.

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Segs- that would be great. Will message you.

Steve_ America under the current medical system was a flat out refusal from the husband. I quite fancied New England, but he couldn't face the way the system operates. It is quite wrong.

Vic

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Thanks Tirytory- look forward to hearing from you

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Wouldn't have been an option anyway would it, because of the immigration laws. You've got to be Canadian to move there under NAFTA.

Assuming Obamacare works and gets more people healthcare, there aren't enough facilities for all the people who will get it, so I'm not entirely sure what the US plans on doing although they have been trying a little bit harder lately to increase the number of doctors.

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Hi Tirytory and hello to everyone else on BE,

This is my first post after obsessively reading the discussions daily for the past month or so and I've gained so much from all the chat and wiki info already- a big thank you!
I've been reading this thread with interest as I am a GP and husband is an obstetrician & gynaecologist. We have 2 children ages 5 and 3 and another due in 6 weeks. We are planning on moving to Canada for lifestyle reasons /disillusioned with NHS. I realise that there is a shortage of GPs in Canada but initially, we would be coming over on the basis that my husband is (hopefully!)offered a job as I want to be able to help settle the family / make friends / enjoy my last maternity leave before starting back to work at some point.
Tirytory-I was under the impression (maybe wrongly!) that our UK medical degrees were not recognised in the US? I just mention that because you say you were interested in New England?
Anyway, best of luck with your move and keep us updated with your progress!

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

I would say wait till spring.... it can get bitterly cold in the winter here (did I say BITTERLY?) I myself came in the spring 4 years ago.... and I still dread the winters here.

If you are not used to it it can be pretty overwhelming... my advice come in spring:thumbsup:

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Hi Minniemouse,

We never really looked into the US. It was more the start of it all, same as you really, increasingly disillusioned with the NHS and looking to create a new life somewhere else, we were throwing ideas in the air. I've always wanted to come to Canada though, so just needed to persuade my husband, who has frankly now overtaken me on the desire to move here.

Good luck with the pregnancy, and get started, it takes heck of a long time, even on the job offer, twp route in!!!

Vicki.

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Thanks Vicki,

My husband sent off his CV to a recruitment agency at the weekend and they have asked for quite a lot of things back-proof of training, evidence of every job etc. There seems a lot to do!
Just wondered if your husband had sat his exam yet? If so, how did he find it?
Also, how long did it take from sending in CVs to actually hearing from potential employers? Do you think it would be possible to be moving over by next summer from your experience?
Have you decided to move in the winter yet or wait til spring/ summer?!!!
Thanks!
Laura

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Hi Minniemouse,

S did not need to sit the entrance exam, it was waived because of the reciprocal agreement with RCOGP and CPSO. I don't know how far you've gone with choosing provinces and all the application processes, but I'll just tell you what we've done.

He needed to get his medical credentials source verified and choose which provinces we wanted to be able to access them. This took several months and we were warned that it would do. Every province has a different process, so I can only speak for Ontario and as he is a GP, he needed to approach the College of Family Physicians to recognise his qualifications without examination and apply to College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario for a license to practice. Once this was underway, we we were able to look for jobs, as you are only granted the license once he had a job with a supervisor, he can only get a full license once he has passed the MCCQE part 1 & 2.

You then need a labour market opinion which you can base the work permit on. The license is only granted once you have a work permit so this needs to be done quickly too, and you also need medicals as part of the work permit. Phew, we started this process back in January 2012. We went out to Bracebridge, Ontario 2013 and hope to be out there for January 2014, on a three year temporary work permit. To be fair, we haven't been on top of things as we could have done, and I've had a fair amount of cold feet episodes which have led to a couple of months procrastination, so this could have been done a little quicker!! I think the effort it has taken to get to this point has been too much and I have wondered whether it is worth moving if it takes so much hassle to do so.

Feel free to ask anything more!

Vicki.

Re: Is winter a crazy time to move and resettle?
 

Hi Vicki,

Thanks for your detailed response! I have to say it sounds really complicated and such a hassle to get all those documents/ verification of all your training and qualifications.
We were thinking of BC or Ontario. BC because we have some family in Seattle and Ontario because it's closer to home for flights etc.
Husband has emailed Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons to check what he needs to do and see whether he is exempt from having to sit some of the exams again. Having to do general medicine MCQ's is quite daunting because he's been a consultant in O&G for 11 years and so hasn't dealt with general medicine for years! Can I ask whether your husband has sat them yet and if so how did he find them? Also, I take it, as per most exams there will be a fee to sit them too.
I hadn't realised you had started this process a couple of years ago so am a bit demoralised at the prospect of waiting so long...
Thanks, Laura