Canada is providing new funding to help internationally trained physicians obtain licences and begin practising family medicine in Ontario sooner. The federal government has committed $20 million to expand the Practice Ready Ontario (PRO) program, supporting more doctors who want to work in the province.
The announcement was made on October 7, 2026. The funding will help the program support 200 internationally trained physicians and introduce a dedicated stream for French-speaking doctors.
A Faster Route To Medical Licensing
Practice Ready Ontario allows eligible internationally trained physicians to qualify for family medicine through a 12-week clinical field assessment instead of completing the traditional two-year residency.
Moreover, experienced doctors may complete the process and obtain a licence in less than a year. Other routes to becoming licensed in family medicine can take three to five years.
The expanded program aims to improve access to primary healthcare in northern and rural communities, as well as French-speaking communities across Ontario.
The federal government intends to fund 50 additional positions each year over four years. Its goal is to have all participating doctors ready to practise in Ontario by 2028 – 2029.
Who Can Apply For Practice Ready Ontario?
Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. They must also meet the program’s education, professional experience, and language requirements.
The Touchstone Institute administers the program in partnership with the Ontario government and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), which regulates physicians in the province.
Doctors who receive licences through the program must agree to practise in Ontario for three years under a return of service agreement.
During this period, they work under supervised practice. After completing the service commitment and passing the Certification Examination in Family Medicine, administered through the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), they can qualify for a full licence to practise independently.
Additional Funding For Healthcare Professionals
Alongside the funding for Practice Ready Ontario, Health Canada announced another $11 million for five projects across Canada. These projects aim to help internationally trained physicians and internationally educated nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists obtain professional licences.
The funding forms part of wider federal and provincial efforts to address labour shortages by removing barriers that prevent qualified professionals from working in regulated occupations.
Other Measures To Support Foreign-Trained Doctors
Canada has also introduced immigration and licensing measures to help internationally trained healthcare professionals work in the country.
As of the time of writing, the federal government had invited 891 physicians to apply for permanent residence through a dedicated pathway introduced in 2026 for doctors with Canadian work experience.
Ontario also introduced legislation that took effect on January 1, 2026. It allows physicians, surgeons, and nurses licensed in other provinces to obtain authorization to practise in Ontario in as little as two business days after their credentials are verified. Workers in 20 other regulated healthcare professions may receive authorization in as little as 10 days.
In December 2025, Canada’s immigration department announced several measures:
- Creating the dedicated federal permanent residence pathway for physicians with Canadian work experience;
- Allocating an additional 5,000 spaces for physicians under provincial and territorial permanent residence pathways; and
- Providing 14-day work permit processing for physicians nominated by a province or territory.
How Professional Licensing Works In Canada?
Most regulated occupations, including healthcare, law, engineering, and many skilled trades, fall under provincial or territorial regulation. This means professionals generally need to meet the licensing requirements of the province or territory where they intend to work.
Only a smaller number of private-sector occupations have licensing rules managed nationally by the federal government. These include pilots, aircraft mechanics, and air traffic controllers.
The expansion of Practice Ready Ontario is intended to help qualified international doctors enter the healthcare workforce sooner and improve access to medical care in communities facing shortages.
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