Nearly 100 United States-trained health-care professionals are now working within Island Health, which is part of a broader provincial effort that has brought more than 400 American workers into BC’s public health system.
The update comes one year after the Province launched a targeted recruitment campaign aimed at attracting doctors, nurses and other health professionals from the United States.
According to the BC government, 97 US-trained health-care workers have accepted positions within Island Health as of January.
Across the province, more than 400 professionals have taken on roles in hospitals and communities, nearly triple the number reported in September 2025.
The new hires span multiple positions, including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals. Provincewide totals include 89 doctors, 260 nurses, 42 nurse practitioners and 23 allied health workers.
Island Health represents one of the largest regional totals, behind Fraser Health, which has recruited 105 workers.
Other regions include Interior Health (83), Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health (72), Northern Health (31), the Provincial Health Services Authority (22) and the First Nations Health Authority (4).
The recruitment initiative was launched in March 2025, with a targeted marketing campaign beginning in June. Efforts focused primarily on Washington, Oregon and select areas of California.
The Province says it has received more than 2,750 job applications from US-trained health professionals as of March 2026, indicating continued interest in working in BC.
In addition to those already hired, more than 1,300 US-trained doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners have registered to practise in the province. Registration is typically a first step before applying for positions within the health system.
Regulatory changes introduced in 2025 aimed to streamline credential recognition for US-trained professionals. These included an expedited process for nurses and nurse practitioners, as well as a new pathway allowing US-trained physicians to become licensed in BC without additional examinations or training in some cases.
The Province says these changes were made in collaboration with regulatory colleges, including the BC College of Nurses and Midwives and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.
Health Minister Josie Osborne said the recruits are already contributing to care delivery across the province, while Premier David Eby described BC as an attractive place for healthcare professionals to live and work.
Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions said additional recruitment is helping improve access to care in rural areas, where staffing shortages have been ongoing.
The Province says it will continue its recruitment efforts as demand for healthcare workers remains high across BC.
