31102
General practitioners and family physicians
- Express Entry skill level
- Yes
- Regulated in Québec
- Yes
- In demand in Manitoba
- No
Classification
Health
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Definition
General practitioners and family physicians diagnose and treat the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients. They provide primary contact and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Residents in training to be general practitioners or family physicians are included in this unit group.
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Examine patients and take their histories, order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures and consult with other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
- Prescribe and administer medications and treatments
- Perform and assist in routine surgery
- Provide emergency care
- Provide acute care management
- Vaccinate patients to prevent and treat diseases
- Deliver babies and provide pre-natal and post-natal care
- Advise patients and their families on health care including health promotion, disease, illness and accident prevention
- Provide counselling and support to patients and their families on a wide range of health and lifestyle issues
- Perform patient advocacy role
- Coordinate or manage primary patient care
- Provide continuous care to patients
- Supervise home care services
- Report births, deaths, and contagious and other diseases to governmental authorities.
Example job titles
- •family physician
- •general practice resident
- •general practitioner (GP)
- •medical doctor
Overview
General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102) play a critical role in the Canadian healthcare system, providing primary medical care, diagnosing illnesses, prescribing treatments, and referring patients to specialized services. Under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, this occupation is classified under TEER 1. Eligible professionals must hold a university degree in medicine and complete a family medicine residency program, alongside acquiring licensure by a provincial or territorial regulatory body.
Foreign-trained physicians aiming to immigrate to Canada have several pathways available through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). NOC 31102 is highly sought after and eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program under the Express Entry system, which regularly features category-based selection draws targeting healthcare occupations. Additionally, various Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) offer dedicated streams for medical practitioners to address regional healthcare labor shortages.
Before practicing in Canada, foreign-trained medical graduates must undergo credential assessment and secure licensure from the Medical Council of Canada and the specific provincial or territorial college of physicians and surgeons. Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. For official guidelines, consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or a licensed immigration professional.
Educational overview summarizing this occupation. Always confirm against the official NOC profile and IRCC before relying on it.
Occupation data: Statistics Canada / ESDC — National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.