American Doctor Canada: What You Need to Know About Medical Practice Across Borders

When an American doctor, a physician trained and licensed in the United States considers moving to Canada, a country with a publicly funded, province-managed healthcare system, it’s not just a change of address—it’s a complete shift in how medicine is done. The Canadian healthcare system, a universal system funded by taxes and administered by each province doesn’t operate like U.S. insurance-driven care. Patients don’t get bills from specialists, hospitals don’t charge for ER visits, and doctors are paid differently—often through capitation or fee-for-service models set by provincial governments.

So, can an American doctor just show up and start practicing? No. Every province in Canada has its own medical regulatory body, like the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. These colleges require foreign-trained doctors, including those from the U.S., to go through a rigorous process: verifying medical education, passing the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE), completing the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Parts I and II, and often doing a period of supervised practice. Even though U.S. medical training is respected, Canadian authorities want to make sure you understand their system—how prescriptions are written, how referrals work, and how to navigate public hospital workflows. Many American doctors find the paperwork and waiting times frustrating, but those who push through often say the work-life balance and lack of billing stress make it worth it.

It’s also important to know that while American doctors can work in Canada, the reverse isn’t always true. Canadian-trained physicians can practice in the U.S. too, but they face their own hurdles: USMLE exams, residency retraining in many cases, and visa requirements. This isn’t a simple swap—it’s a two-way gate with strict checkpoints. The truth is, most American doctors who move to Canada aren’t fleeing the U.S. system—they’re drawn by stability, lower administrative burden, and the chance to focus on patients instead of insurance forms. But they still need to earn the right to practice, one exam, one application, one province at a time.

Below, you’ll find real, practical guides on medical licensing, cross-border healthcare differences, and what to expect when working as a doctor—or seeing a doctor—from one side of the border to the other. Whether you’re a physician considering the move, a patient curious about why your American doctor now works in Toronto, or just trying to understand how healthcare works north of the 49th parallel, these articles cut through the noise and give you what matters.