Manitoba widens fast track to licensing for internationally trained physicians
Manitoba has announced plans to fast-track licensing for up to 90 more internationally trained physicians (ITPs).
The additional ITPs are expected to be licensed through to 2028-2029, according to the federal and provincial health ministers, Marjorie Michel and Uzoma Asagwara, who announced the plan on Oct. 14, 2026 in a press conference at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg.
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Manitoba Health plans to license more ITPs as family doctors through Practice Ready Assessment – Manitoba – Family Practice (PRA‑MB‑FP), which allows experienced ITPs to become licensed through a completing a three-month Family Practice Assessment, in place of completing years of residency.
Asagwara said the additional ITP licensing spots would focus on expanding access to care in rural and northern communities, including in emergency departments as well as clinics.
The additional ITPs are expected to be "ready to work in Manitoba by 2028-2029," according to a Health Canada press release published to accompany the announcement.
The expansion is supported by $6M in new funding pledged by the federal government, which the press release says remains "subject to the finalization of an agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Manitoba" to support "the proposed project."
To become licensed through PRA-MB, an ITP must be sponsored by a Health Service Delivery Organization and must sign a return-of-service agreement, in addition to passing the required examinations and meeting the criteria for work experience, education, and language proficiency.
On Oct. 7, 2026, Health Canada published a press release announcing the creation of up to 200 additional fast-track spots for licensing of ITPs as family doctors in Ontario, at a cost of $20M, as part of a package of $31M in federal funding for six projects related to supporting the integration of internationally educated health professionals into the Canadian workforce.
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