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Ready to Practise Family Medicine in Ontario?

Physician Pathway Ontario, operated by Hollingsgate, coordinates a structured, regulated pathway for internationally trained family physicians to practise in Ontario from your first inquiry through to your first patient.



Why Ontario

Ontario is one of the best places in the world to practise family medicine. The province has a genuine, sustained shortage of family physicians - which means your skills are needed, your practice will be full, and your contributin will matter from day one.


As a family doctor in Ontario, you can expect:


  • Income that is typically 8-15x higher than comparable roles in Brazil, South Africa, or the Phillipines
  • A stable patient panel - you build lng term relationships with your community, not emergency only care
  • Clearly defined scope of practice with CPSO oversight and professional support
  • Integration into multidisciplinary teams - nurses, social workers, allied health professionals
  • A safe, stable country with excellent public schools, a high quality of life, and a strong immigrant community
  • A permanent immigraiton pathway for you and your family, through programs that prioritize healthcare workers






How The Pathway Works

Preparation & Eligibility

Credential Verification, national qualifying exam, and english language assessement. We guide you through exactly what is needed, in what order, and what to prioritize first.

Readiness Assessment

We assess your file and assign a readiness status. Green means you are ready for clinic matching. Amber means we build a preparation plan with you. Red means we flag barriers early so you don't waste time or money pursing a path that is not yet viable.

Clinic Matching & Interview

We match you to a clinic that suits your background, location preference and clinical interests. You interview with the clinic directly, and if there is alignment on good fit, you may receive a conditional offer of employment.

CPSO Application, Work Permit & Supervised Practice

The CPSO provisional pathway application and your Canadian work permit are processed in parallel. Once both are approved, you receive a provisional certificate of registration, and may begin practice. We coordinate every step, and stay in connected throughout the process.

Regulatory Clarification

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) does not issue pre-approvals for supervised practice. Physician files are reviewed progressively as credentials, exams, language proficiency, and regulatory requirements are met. Clinics may interview physicians once these requirements are complete. Any offer of employment is conditional. CPSO approves supervised practice only after a specific clinic, supervising physician, and supervision plan are submitted and approved.

Eligibility Status

GREEN — Ready to Proceed
  • Credentials verified
  • MCCQE Part I passed
  • English exam passed and valid
  • Appropriate generalist / family medicine background

Next: Clinic interviews (conditional).

AMBER — Possible, With Preparation
  • Credential verification in progress
  • Timing or recency-of-practice considerations
  • Additional documentation or clarification required

Next: Structured preparation plan.

RED — Not Recommended at This Time
  • Ineligible training pathway
  • Inability to meet CPSO or MCC requirements
  • Major language, documentation, or regulatory barriers

Early assessment helps avoid unnecessary cost and delay.

Ontario's Primary Care Challenge

Ontario faces a sustained shortage of family physicians, driven by population growth, physician retirements, reduced clinical hours, and limited domestic training capacity. Approximately 2.5 million Ontarians currently lack access to longitudinal primary care — a number projected to reach 4.4 million by end of 2026. Addressing this gap requires scalable, compliant, long-term physician capacity solutions — not short-term stopgaps.


Based on public reporting from Ontario Health, HealthForceOntario, ICES, and the Ontario College of Family Physicians. Internationally trained physicians are a permanent and necessary part of Ontario's primary care strategy — not a temporary measure.

KEY SYSTEM REALITIES

• 2.5M Ontarians unattached to a family doctor today — 4.4M projected by end of 2026
• An aging physician workforce: accelerating retirements, shrinking domestic supply
• Increasing supervisory and administrative burden on active clinicians

• CPSO Provisional Class in effect January 2026 — clear regulatory framework for supervised practice
• IRCC Express Entry physician category active February 2026 — a new immigration pathway