Locum tenens and physician jobs in Canada
Short-term coverage and long-term opportunities for family physicians and specialists, and help for communities that need them. Free for physicians. Always.
- Free for candidates. Always.
- Licences verified with the regulator
- Every province and territory except Quebec
What a locum tenens is
A locum tenens physician covers for another physician for a set time: leave, vacation, vacancy or surge. Locum physicians generally practise as independent contractors.
Family medicine locums
Clinics, community practices and emergency departments in smaller hospitals.
Specialist locums
Coverage in hospital specialties where available.
Permanent recruitment
Longer-term roles, often tied to community recruitment programs.
Where coverage is needed
Rural and remote communities
Communities that need physician coverage.
Hospitals and emergency departments
Coverage for leaves, vacancies and surges.
Hospital staffingPrimary care clinics
Community and clinic-based practice.
Ambulatory clinic staffingLong-term care and community programs
Physician coverage for residents and community programs.
Long-term care staffingSeveral provinces run their own locum programs for rural and underserviced areas. Examples include the Alberta Medical Association's Physician Locum Services, the Saskatchewan Medical Association's Rural Relief (Locum) Program, the Manitoba Locum Tenens Program and Ontario's Rural Family Medicine Locum Program through Health Force Ontario. We complement these programs. We do not replace them.
How it works
Two short paths, one for physicians and one for facilities.
For physicians
- Submit your profileShare your licence, specialty and availability.
- We confirmLicence status and credentialing needs.
- We introduce youTo clinics or health authorities with matching needs.
- You decide on termsUsually directly with the host.
For facilities
- Tell us the needSetting, call, specialty and dates.
- We search and verifyWe check licensure with the regulator.
- You review profilesChoose who to meet.
- You complete credentialingPrivileges per your own requirements.
Physician agreements are between the physician and the host. We do not give legal or tax advice, so physicians and hosts should take their own advice on the arrangement. Learn more about contract and relief staffing, direct hire and executive search.
Physicians are licensed by provincial and territorial regulators
Each province's College of Physicians and Surgeons licenses physicians. In Yukon the regulator is the Yukon Medical Council, and in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut registration runs through the territorial health departments. Licensure usually requires an MD or equivalent and, in many provinces, the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE). Some regulators may require the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) as well. Specialty or family medicine certification comes from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada where applicable. Hospital privileges and billing numbers are set separately.
| Province or territory | Who licenses physicians |
|---|---|
| British Columbia | College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia |
| Alberta | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta |
| Saskatchewan | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan |
| Manitoba | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba |
| Ontario | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario |
| New Brunswick | College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick |
| Nova Scotia | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia |
| Prince Edward Island | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Yukon | Yukon Medical Council |
| Northwest Territories | Office of the Registrar, NWT Department of Health and Social Services |
| Nunavut | Nunavut Department of Health |
We verify licence status with the regulator before submitting a candidate. We do not guarantee outcomes.
Physicians versus other roles
Nurse practitioners
NPs are nurses, not physicians, and are covered on a separate page.
Registered nurses
A separate regulated profession.
Registered nurse jobsAmbulatory clinics
For clinic staffing, see the facility page.
Ambulatory clinic staffingWhy work with us
Licence checked
We verify licence status before we submit anyone.
Honest about timing
Credentialing takes time, and we say so up front.
Direct communication
Free for physicians. Always. You are never charged to submit a profile.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a provincial licence to work as a locum in Canada?
Yes. Each province's regulator sets its own process, and some offer locum or temporary registration. Apply to the regulator in the province where you will work, and allow time for credentialing, since it can take longer than the locum itself.
What is the LMCC?
The Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada. Passing the MCCQE is one of its requirements, and some provincial regulators may ask for it when you apply for a licence. Your regulator confirms exactly what applies to you.
Do you place residents?
We can discuss opportunities once training is complete. If you are finishing residency, submit your profile with your expected licence date, specialty and preferred regions, and we will talk through what may fit when your licence is in place.
Are locum physicians employees?
Usually independent contractors. Terms are agreed between the physician and the host, and we do not give legal or tax advice. Review any agreement with your own advisers, and ask the host to be clear about the arrangement before you accept.
Can internationally trained physicians work in Canada?
Through provincial regulator pathways, and for some, the Medical Council of Canada's Practice-Ready Assessment programs. We cannot license you, and we do not guarantee outcomes, but we can point you to the right starting point.
Does it cost anything for a physician to submit a profile?
No. It is free for physicians. Always. You will not be charged to submit your profile, to be introduced to clinics or health authorities, or to accept a locum. Nothing is shared with a host without your consent.
The right physician, for the right time
Not sure which fits? Contact us. We do not currently place in Quebec.
I am a physician
Share your licence, specialty and availability and we will be in touch.
Submit your profile