Relocation assistance

For select regular-status positions, new employees may be eligible for financial relocation assistance of up to $5,000 for eligible expenses. New employees filling regular full-time, difficult-to-fill positions are eligible for relocation assistance.

1. Relocating less than 150km within B.C. – not eligible for financial assistance unless ferry travel is involved
2. Relocating more than 150km within B.C. – eligible for up to a maximum of $3,000 CAD for travel directly to the VCH location of employment
3. Relocating from outside of B.C. – eligible for up to a maximum of $5,000 CAD for travel directly to the VCH location of employment

Our smaller, rural communities provide a wonderful array of social, cultural and recreational activities and an opportunity to enhance health care in the less populated areas of the region. 

Provincial Student Loan Forgiveness Program

If you qualify for the B.C. Loan Forgiveness Program, the Province of British Columbia will forgive the outstanding B.C. portion of your Canada-B.C. integrated student loan debt at a rate of up to a maximum of 20% per year for up to five years. If you complete five years of employment, all or a percentage of your B.C. student loan debt will be forgiven. While you are in the loan forgiveness program, the Province will also pay any outstanding interest that accumulates during each year you are registered in the program.

Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program

The Government of Canada offers Canada Student Loan Forgiveness to eligible family doctors, residents in family medicine, nurse practitioners, and nurses who work in under-served rural or remote communities that lack the primary health care they need. This change will help more Canadians get the health care they deserve.

Loan forgiveness can only be applied to outstanding Canada Student Loan balances. Canada Student Loans that have been converted to a line of credit, private loan, or an Ontario Medical Resident Loan are not eligible for loan forgiveness.

Canada Student Loan forgiveness applies only to the federal portion of a student loan. It does not apply to the provincial or territorial portion of a student loan.

Rural Locum recruitment support for physicians and specialists

Full support and assistance is available to physicians and specialists practicing in rural communities so they can take reasonable periods of leave from their practices for continuing medical education (CME), vacation, and health needs. VCH can help you in your search with the option of online recruitment and placing an advertisement with Health Match BC and our Careers website. 

Rural Continuing Medical Education (RCME) funding for physicians

​​​The RCME program provides physicians with funding opportunities for medical education to update and enhance medical skills and credentials required for rural practice. These benefits are in addition to the CME entitlement provided for in the Benefits Subsidiary Agreement between the BC Government and Doctors of BC. Funding may be available for physicians to pay for items like course fees, new technology or equipment necessary for participation in Continuing Medical Education.