Choose your own adventure
Shape and build your ideal Family Medicine practice here in Nova Scotia.
A fulfilling practice and life in Nova Scotia, Canada
Physicians in Nova Scotia provide fulfilling patient care which embraces family life, professional development and community involvement. That’s what makes practicing medicine in Nova Scotia unique. Physicians are increasingly attracted to practices that offer team-based care to their patients and allow them to consult with their peers. The size and scale of Nova Scotia allow for better connections across the health care system. Your practice of medicine and your life is richer here. Nova Scotia is more than medicine.
Your Family Medicine Practice in Nova Scotia
Family medicine in Nova Scotia offers the opportunity to work with dynamic, interdisciplinary teams that deliver world-class care to patients across the province.
Academic and Research Opportunities
Nova Scotia’s 10 universities and many colleges have created a well-educated population, a youthful entrepreneurial spirit, and a depth of opportunity for professionals of every stripe. Balanced with growing tech and creative sectors, Nova Scotia is a hub for medicine, boasting both the largest medical school and the largest hospital in Atlantic Canada. Here, rewarding opportunity is as close as the sea.
Locum Support
Come explore Canada’s ocean playground and learn about what it is like to practice here. Nova Scotia Health offers a number of locum opportunities throughout the province that include attractive per diem rates, accommodations, airfare and more. Must be eligible to work in Canada.
Current Opportunities
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Physician incentives
Nova Scotia Health offers a variety of incentives designed to relieve some of the pressure, cost, and difficulty that comes with relocation.
Negotiated Benefits
Physicians in Nova Scotia are provided with health and dental benefits, EMR grants, funded locum coverage, CME funding, and parental leave.
Site Visit Program
Experience life in Nova Scotia and explore practice opportunities. This program reimburses you (and a plus one) for a one-time visit to beautiful Nova Scotia. You must be eligible for a license in Nova Scotia, and work with a recruiter to obtain approval from Nova Scotia Health prior to your visit.
Relocation Reimbursement Allowance
Qualified candidates may be eligible for a relocation allowance of up to $20,000 upon accepting an offer in Nova Scotia.
Government Incentive Programs
Family physicians and specialists working in community in the Central Zone may be eligible for up to $75,000 in incentives. Those establishing practices outside the Central Zone may be eligible for up to $125,000 over five years.
TIP-TOP Program
The Transitioning into Practice, Transitioning out of Practice (TIP-TOP) Program is designed to help doctors who find themselves taking over existing family practice. The program allows the new physician and the retiring physician to overlap their practice for up to two years. For more information about the program, please visit Doctors Nova Scotia.
Recruitment process for residents in Nova Scotia
- Make contact with our Physician Recruitment Team
Ensure your resume is up-to-date and make contact at an event or via email. If you haven’t made contact with us yet, today is the perfect time — we’d love to meet you! Connect with Andrew Steele Moore, Physician Recruitment Consultant for Medical Learners at andrew.steelemoore@nshealth.ca to learn more about starting your practice in Nova Scotia.
- Virtual or in person meeting
Once you’ve made contact, we’ll be in touch to set up a meeting to discuss practice opportunities here in Nova Scotia. We’re excited to learn about your areas of interest, family needs and where you’d like to live and practice.
- Meeting with Department Head(s)
Hear from the experts who work in the department you are interested in. This is a chance to chat about what your practice could look like and explore the art of the possible.
- Site visit to potential practice site(s)
Nova Scotia Health will reimburse you and one guest for a one-time visit to potential practice sites so you can ensure the opportunity is the right fit. Approved site visit application required. Visits can span across zones.
- Offer letter for chosen location or clinic
Once you have chosen your ideal practice opportunity, you will receive an offer letter. At this phase, you will also meet with Doctors Nova Scotia and apply for Government incentives and relocation reimbursement if eligible.
- Registration and licensing
Work with the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS) to transfer your resident license to a full license.
- Onboarding and transition to practice
You will be connected with an onboarding support team for the practice you are joining. This team will ensure you are set up for success. This includes credentialing and privileging, EMR, rostering patients, and much more.
Residency Training as an International Medical Graduate in Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, Residency Training as an International Medical Graduate (IMG) is governed nationally by the Canadian Resident Matching Service. There are processes and prerequisites for entering the match, please connect with Andrew Steele-Moore, Physician Recruitment Consultant for Medical Learners for more information on eligibility and requirements.
Postgraduate training as an International Medical Graduate in Nova Scotia
There are currently two pathways to complete residency training in Family Medicine as an IMG in Nova Scotia:
- Dalhousie University has allocated 10 spots for International Medical Graduates to complete their residency training at the Family Medicine training sites across the Maritimes. These spots allow residents to apply, interview for, and rank their preferred locations. These spots come with a Return of Service agreement.
- Dalhousie University has also allocated 10 spots for International Medical Graduates with ties to Nova Scotia. These spots allow residents to describe the applicant's ties to the province, apply, interview for, and rank their preferred locations. These spots are distributed across the Nova Scotian Family Medicine training sites. These spots also come with a Return of Service agreement.
If there are unfilled spots after the first iteration, the remaining seats are opened for IMGs to apply for. Please connect with Andrew Steele-Moore, Physician Recruitment Consultant for Medical Learners
Register your interest
Connect with a Recruiter
Connect with Andrew Steele Moore, Physician Recruitment Consultant for Medical Learners at andrew.steelemoore@nshealth.ca to learn more about starting your practice in Nova Scotia.
Andrew Steele Moore
(he/him)
Lives in Halifax, NS
Physician Recruitment Consultant - Medical Learners