General Practitioners and Family Physicians perform some or all of the following duties:

• Examine patients and review medical histories
• Order laboratory tests, X-rays, and other diagnostic procedures
• Diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and chronic conditions
• Prescribe medications and administer treatments
• Provide emergency and acute care services
• Deliver babies and provide prenatal and postnatal care
• Administer vaccinations and immunizations
• Provide health counselling and disease-prevention advice
• Coordinate long-term and continuous patient care
• Supervise home-care services when required
• Report births, deaths, and communicable diseases to public authorities

These are the typical employment requirements and benefits associated with this occupation in Canada:

• Completion of a bachelor's degree in a relevant pre-medical field is required.
• Graduation from an approved medical school is required.
• Completion of two to three years of residency training in family medicine is required.
• Successful completion of qualifying examinations through the Medical Council of Canada or the Collège des médecins du Québec is required, depending on the province.
• Provincial or territorial medical licensure is mandatory to practice independently in Canada.
• Without provincial licensing, physicians cannot practice independently in Canada.
• Many provinces offer physician recruitment incentives such as signing bonuses, relocation support, and rural practice grants.
• Strong demand exists in rural, remote, and underserved communities across Canada.