Family Physicians and General Practitioners
(NOC 3112)
in All HealthGeneral Practitioners (GPs) and family physicians diagnose and treat the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients. They provide primary contact and continuing and comprehensive care to patients of all ages. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Residents in training to be general practitioners and family physicians are included in this group.
Job Outlook
Good
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Compared to: All Health
The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “good”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is better than average when compared to other occupations in Nova Scotia. This is a fairly large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities occur fairly regularly. The number employed in this occupation is expected to grow moderately over the next few years, which will likely provide some additional opportunities for employment. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Family Physicians and General Practitioners most commonly work full-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs are typically permanent positions. With employment conditions being somewhat seasonal, periods of downtime or layoff throughout the year affect some workers.
The median employment income for 46% of Family Physicians and General Practitioners who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $86,161. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
Hourly Pay
$16.48
Minimum$31.91
Median$38.46
MaximumAnnual Pay
$6,197
Minimum$80,726
Median$199,894
MaximumCompared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
$16.38
Minimum$25.50
Median$41.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$10,740
Minimum$43,853
Median$88,944
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
General Practitioners (GPs) and family physicians diagnose and treat the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients. They provide primary contact and continuing and comprehensive care to patients of all ages. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Residents in training to be general practitioners and family physicians are included in this group.
Job duties
General practitioners and family physicians perform 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.
Sample job titles
- doctor of medicine (MD)
- family doctor
- family physician
- general practitioner (GP)
- intern
- medical doctor
- medical officer of health (MOH)
- primary care physician
- public health physician
- resident physician
Skills
Compassion, sensitivity, and a desire to help people are important. Physicians must take final responsibility for their decisions and the effects they have on patients' lives. Therefore, emotional stability, ethics, maturity, and good judgement are essential. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are important. You should be able to inspire confidence and put people at ease. You must be willing to continually update your knowledge and skills. Good health and stamina may be needed, as physicians often work long hours.
Job requirements
- A bachelor's degree.
- Graduation from an approved medical school and two to three years of family medicine residency training are required.
- Completion of the qualifying examinations of the Medical Council of Canada and licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.
Other considerations
Most physicians are self-employed and administer their services through private practices. Most physicians are paid by fee-for-service where earnings depend upon the fees paid by the government for various services and the number of patients served. Some physicians are paid through alternative funding plans.
Family physicians tend to work long and irregular hours, especially those physicians who operate their own practices or work in small groups. General practitioners and family physicians may become specialist physicians with additional training.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Health
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
Northern
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Compared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
Northern
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health Care and Social Assistance
Educational Services
Other Industries
What is the age of Employment?
35-44
25-34
55-64
45-54
65+
15-24
Compared to: All Health
45-54
35-44
55-64
25-34
65+
Top levels of education
Master's degree
$107,583 median annual incomeDoctorate
$126,462 median annual incomeMedicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry
$107,549 median annual incomeBachelor's degree
N/AHigh school
N/ACompared to: All Health
College certificate or diploma
$36,693 median annual incomeBachelor's degree
$57,186 median annual incomeMedicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry
$83,000 median annual incomeHigh school
$24,119 median annual incomeMaster's degree
$87,808 median annual incomeEducation & training
Medical scientist (MSc, PhD)
This program is typically offered at the university graduate level (Masters, PhD)This instructional program class includes any undifferentiated clinical science program that prepares graduated physicians (M.D. or D.O.) as research scientists in various areas.
Institutions providing this program
Office of the Registrar
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
(902) 494-2450
Medicine (MD)
This program is typically offered by a university school of medicine.This instructional program class includes any program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of medicine, involving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses, injuries, and other disorders of the human body. These programs include courses in the basic medical sciences, clinical medicine, examination and diagnosis, patient communications, medical ethics and laws, professional standards, and rotations in specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, neurology, ophthalmology, radiology, clinical pathology, anesthesiology, family medicine, and psychiatry.
Institutions providing this program
Office of the Registrar
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
(902) 494-2450
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated and the job title is protected in Nova Scotia (you may not use this job title without holding a provincial licence). A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to work in this job.