A positive start to a program providing a route for internationally trained physicians to get access to family medicine.

Dr. Nicole Leblanc of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick says more than 200 applications were received last month for their Practice Ready Assessment program.

The application process lasted from October 1st through 31st.

“These candidates are going to be filtered in regards to eligibility criteria. Then they are going to go through a rigorous process of exams, interviews, and then a 12-week clinical field assessment. It’s only for family physicians, and the first cohort is going to be ten candidates, ” Dr. Leblanc says.

Eight other provinces currently offer Practice Ready assessment programs, but New Brunswick is the first bilingual program.

“These are all internationally trained physicians that have passed their residency, so they’ve finished their medical degree and have also been practicing independently for a certain number of years,” Dr. Leblanc says.

She says once this cohort has completed assessments, they will reassess and see what the interest is and what the needs are going forward with regard to Family Physicians.