Are you a practicing Nigerian doctor who desires to relocate to Canada to practice your profession? You might also be a medical student in a tertiary institution in Nigeria who is planning to relocate to Canada after graduation. Whatever your case is, you would want to know whether Nigerian doctors can work in Canada. In this article, we’ll be answering your question and providing useful information that you’d find useful. Read on.
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Can Nigerian Doctors Work in Canada?
Yes, Nigerian doctors can work in Canada. However, it’s a bit complex for immigrant doctors from other countries such as Nigeria to relocate to Canada and practice as medical doctors. Though it might be quite hard for Nigerian doctors to work in Canada, few programs make that possible. The British Columbia Provincial Nominee (BC PNP) and the Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP) are examples of such programs designed for Canadian immigration for doctors.
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What to Expect from a Nigerian Doctor Relocating to Canada to Practice Medicine
Canada makes it quite hard for immigrant doctors to practice their profession when they relocate to Canada. The reality is some trained Nigerian doctors who relocate to Canada end up working as aid givers in nursing homes or other similar roles. Some Nigerian doctors who relocated to Canada get to practice medicine five years (or more) after they arrived.
You shouldn’t get all hopeless, however, as there are some programs that you can take advantage of to fulfill your dream of practicing medicine in Canada as a Nigerian-trained doctor. There are currently two programs that are designed for Nigerian doctors (and other nationalities) to make use of to work in Canada. These include:
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
These two programs have their respective laid-down requirements to be met to qualify. A brief search on Google would reveal the conditions Nigerian doctors (and other immigrant doctors) must meet for both programs. We advise you to do the research yourself so you know what the current requirements are.
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How to Relocate to Canada As a Nigerian-Trained Doctor
If you meet the laid-down requirement of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program and/or the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program, keep on reading as we reveal how you can relocate to Canada and work as a Nigerian-trained doctor. The following bullet points discuss the steps to successfully relocate to Canada as a medical doctor from Nigeria.
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Determine Whether Your Medical Credential are Recognized in Canada
The first step towards relocating to Canada as a Nigerian medical doctor is to determine whether your medical qualification is recognized in Canada. You can check this by:
- Going to the website of World Directory Medical School Website
- Entering your details, choose Nigeria, and input the type of qualification you obtained and the name of your university.
- The next step of the process is to get the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Nigeria. To obtain that qualification, do the following:
- Pass the Part 1 and the Part 2 of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examinations
- Complete at least 1 year of postgraduate training
Passing the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) will make you eligible to proceed to obtain approval from the Medical Regulatory Authority of the province you’ll be applying for. Below is a table containing the respective Medical Authorities of different provinces of Canada and the means to contact them:
| Province/Territory | Medical Regulatory Authority | Contact Information |
| Yukon | Yukon Medical Council | (867) 667-3774; ymc@gov.yk.ca |
| Saskatchewan | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan | (306) 244-7355; cpss.reg@cps.sk.ca |
| Quebec | Collège des Médecins du Québec | info@cmq.org |
| Prince Edward Island | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island | (902) 566-3861 |
| Ontario | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario | +1800-268-70960; feedback@cpso.on.ca |
| Nunavut | Nunavut Department of Health and Social Services Medical Registration | 1-877-212-6438; info@gov.nu.ca |
| Northwest Territories | Government of the Northwest Territories | (67) 767-9000 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland & Labrador | (709)726-8546; cpsnl@cpsnl.ca |
| New Brunswick | College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick | (506) 849-5050; 1-800-667-4641 |
| Manitoba | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba | (887)774-4344; cpsm@cpsm.mb.ca |
| British Columbia | College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia | 1-800-461-3008 |
| Alberta | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta | 780-423-4764 |
- Payment of Fees for Confirmation of Medical Degree by the Medical Council of Canada
The table below is a rough estimate of the various fees associated with confirming your medical qualification with the Medical Council of Canada:
| Fees | Amount |
| Translation fee | CAD$181 per page |
| ECA report | CAD$137 |
| Degree verification | CAD$215 |
| Application fee for MCCEE | CAD$2,365 |
| Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I | CAD$1,598 |
| Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part II | CAD$3,340 |
- Submit and Properly Store Your Document
You can use physiciansapply.ca to submit and store your register. All you need to do is register physiciansapply.ca then go ahead to submit and store your docs
- Take Language Proficiency Test
Register for and take the proficiency test. The following areas are where proficiency tests focus on speaking, listening, writing, and reading.
- Proof of Work Experience
Show what your job duties are while working as a medical doctor in Nigeria.
- Hours worked;
- Work responsibilities;
- NOC (National Occupational Classification) title;
- Current salary;
- Contact details of employer; and
- The letterhead of your company
From the useful information we’ve provided in this article, we believe you know what it takes to work as a Nigerian-trained doctor in Canada.