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Family Physician: Occupations in Alberta - alis
Are you a good student who is interested in lifelong learning? Do you have a strong desire to make a difference in the health and welfare of others? Then you may want to examine a career as a family physician.
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Occupations in Alberta
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Family Physician

Family physicians are licensed to diagnose and treat patients’ physical and mental diseases, disorders, injuries, and other health-related problems.

Contents Expand All
Also Known As

Doctor, Family Doctor, General Practitioner, Medical Doctor

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 3112: General Practitioners and Family Physicians

2006 NOC-S

  • D012: General Practitioners and Family Physicians

2011 NOC

  • 3112: General practitioners and family physicians

2016 NOC

  • 3112: General practitioners and family physicians

2021 NOC

  • 31102: General practitioners and family physicians

2023 OaSIS

  • 31102.00: General practitioners and family physicians
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2025

Family physicians are highly skilled generalists. They diagnose and treat patients’ physical and mental diseases, disorders, injuries, and other health-related problems.

In general, family physicians:

  • Take medical histories and examine patients
  • Order, perform, and interpret medical tests to screen, diagnose, or prevent medical conditions
  • Determine suitable treatments such as lifestyle change, surgery, medication, or more complex treatment or rehabilitation programs
  • Discuss health care and healthy lifestyle choices with patients, including diet and activity
  • Refer patients to specialist physicians as necessary
  • Take part in healthcare teams and work with other healthcare providers such as other physicians, nurses, and pharmacists
  • Teach and train students
  • Conduct research and integrate best evidence into practice
  • Advocate on behalf of patients
  • Help create, organize, and introduce changes to improve overall health in the community
  • Use technology to keep detailed medical records such as an Electronic Medical Record
  • Coordinate patient care across healthcare settings and with other healthcare providers
  • Adhere to established professional standards of ethical practice

Physicians who provide medical diagnosis and treatment services in specific areas are called specialist physicians. They specialize in practice disciplines within clinical medicine, laboratory medicine, or surgery. For a list of recognized practice disciplines in Alberta, visit the Physician Directory on the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) website.

Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2025
  • Strength Required Lift up to 10 kg

Family physicians may work in hospitals, clinics, offices, and community settings. As a result, their working conditions vary. Most days, family physicians see a stream of patients.

Sometimes they work at various locations including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or patients’ homes. This can involve a lot of driving. The work offers rewards and challenges. It is emotionally demanding.

Family physicians often work long hours. They may have rotating shifts or be on call. Most spend some time on their feet to examine or treat patients, and some time at a desk doing paperwork. Those in private practice manage their own careers, company finances, and human resources.

Work Personalities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

How This Occupation Compares to Your Work Personalities

Fit
Fit Guide
An occupation can be a great, good, fair, weak, or poor fit for you.
I
Investigative
This occupation
You
S
Social
R
Realistic
This occupation
You

To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities

General practitioners and family physicians
2023 OaSIS: 31102.00

Click or tap a personality type for its description.

  • 1
    Investigative

    Investigative jobs are about thinking deeply and solving problems. People in these jobs enjoy learning, asking questions, and doing research. They often study science, nature, or how things work. These jobs need a lot of thinking and often involve working with ideas instead of people. Examples include scientists, lab technicians, and researchers.

  • 2
    Social

    Social jobs are about helping and working with people. People in these jobs enjoy teaching, caring for others, or giving advice. They often work in schools, hospitals, or community centres. These jobs involve talking, listening, and supporting others. Examples include teachers, nurses, and counsellors.

  • 3
    Realistic

    Realistic jobs focus on working with your hands, tools, machines, or animals. People in these jobs often fix, build, or take care of things. They like clear tasks and working in a physical way. These jobs usually don’t need much paperwork or teamwork. Examples include mechanics, farmers, and builders.

Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.

Your Work Personalities

To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Quick Guide

Alis work personalities are based on Holland’s theory. It identifies 6 personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People with similar personalities and interests will tend to pursue similar careers. They are likely to create work environments that are favourable to their type.

Most people will identify with 2 or 3 dominant personalities. If the occupation’s personalities match your more dominant types, this occupation is more likely to be satisfying and rewarding to you.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities lists the personalities most likely to be found in that occupation. They are listed in order of importance, with 1 as the most important.

Your Work Personalities shows where the occupation’s personalities rank within your test results. Rank 1 is your most dominant type and 6 is your least dominant.

Learn about work personalities

Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

General practitioners and family physicians
2023 OaSIS: 31102.00

How This Occupation Compares to Your Abilities

The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.

The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.

The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Abilities Sets

The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.

Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.

This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Inductive Reasoning
Verbal Ability
Information Ordering
Categorization Flexibility
Deductive Reasoning
Fluency of Ideas
Problem Identification
Written Comprehension
Written Expression

Numbers and Patterns

Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.

This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Memorizing
Perceptual Speed
Pattern Organization Speed
Numerical Ability
Mathematical Reasoning
Multitasking
Pattern Identification
Spatial Orientation
Spatial Visualization
Selective Attention

Physical Activity

Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Stamina
Static Strength
Trunk Strength
Explosive Strength
Body Flexibility
Dynamic Strength
Gross Body Coordination
Gross Body Equilibrium
Multi-Limb Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Finger-Hand-Wrist Motion
Rate Control
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Control of Settings
Finger Dexterity
Manual Dexterity
Multi-Signal Response
Reaction Time
Speed of Limb Movement

Senses

Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Hearing Sensitivity
Speech Clarity
Peripheral Vision
Auditory Attention
Depth Perception
Far Vision
Glare Tolerance
Near Vision
Night Vision
Speech Recognition
Sound Localization
Colour Perception

Quick Guide

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Occupations use different combinations and levels of these abilities. The Abilities Quiz helps you learn more about your ability levels and which occupations match your strengths.

If you have completed the Abilities Quiz, you can compare the occupation’s ability expectations to your own ability scores. Your scores may be lower than, a match to, or higher than the occupation’s expected abilities.

Learn about abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2025

Family physicians need:

  • Emotional strength and maturity
  • Academic intelligence
  • The ability to continue lifelong learning
  • People skills
  • The ability to inspire confidence
  • Stamina to work long hours
  • Speaking and listening skills
  • Leadership skills
  • Teamwork skills
  • A commitment to high standards and professional ethics

They should enjoy:

  • Problem solving
  • Dealing with people
  • Coordinating the work of others

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

General practitioners and family physicians

2016 NOC: 3112

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 155 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Jul 01, 2025 and Oct 28, 2025.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Prescribe and administer medications and treatments
Tasks: Advise patients on health care
Tasks: Consult with other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health
Certificates, Licences, Memberships, and Courses : Licensure by provincial or territorial authorities
Tasks: Provide counselling and support to patients and their families on a wide range of health and lifestyle issues
Tasks: Co-ordinate or manage primary patient care
Tasks: Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals
Tasks: Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures to determine the most appropriate medical treatment
Tasks: Examine patients' health condition to identify diseases and injuries
Tasks: Help patients develop healthy habits, break old habits and reshape their approach to wellness
Tasks: Prescribe and administer medications and treatments 141
Tasks: Advise patients on health care 139
Tasks: Consult with other medical practitioners to evaluate patients' physical and mental health 135
Certificates, Licences, Memberships, and Courses : Licensure by provincial or territorial authorities 127
Tasks: Provide counselling and support to patients and their families on a wide range of health and lifestyle issues 123
Tasks: Co-ordinate or manage primary patient care 112
Tasks: Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals 110
Tasks: Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures to determine the most appropriate medical treatment 109
Tasks: Examine patients' health condition to identify diseases and injuries 106
Tasks: Help patients develop healthy habits, break old habits and reshape their approach to wellness 102
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2025
  • Minimum Education 8+ years post-secondary

Family physicians must successfully complete:

  1. Pre-medicine studies at the university level
  2. A 3- or 4-year medical doctor (MD) degree program at an accredited university
  3. A post-graduate training program in family medicine (minimum 2 years to complete)

MD programs in Canada are quota programs. This means many applicants who fulfill the entrance requirements do not get in. Successful applicants are selected based on:

  • Academic grades
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Interviews
  • The results of a Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), where applicable.
Required Education

The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.

University of Alberta
University of Calgary
Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

University of Alberta
University of Calgary

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2025
  • Certification Provincially regulated

Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.

The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.

Physician, Surgeon and Osteopath

Physicians and surgeons assess the physical, mental, and psychosocial condition of individuals to establish a diagnosis. They assist individuals to make informed choices about medical and surgical treatments. They treat physical, mental, and psychosocial conditions. They promote wellness, injury avoidance, disease prevention, and cures through research and education. They also engage in research, education, and administration with respect to health. Osteopaths use manual techniques to assess, diagnose, and treat diseases, disorders, and dysfunctions of the body’s structure.

Legislation

Under Alberta’s Health Professions Act [pdf], Health Professions Restricted Activity Regulation [pdf], and Physicians, Surgeons, Osteopaths and Physician Assistants Profession Regulation [pdf], registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) is mandatory. Only registered members may provide restricted activities specified in the Regulations. This includes those who:

  • Practice medicine
  • Meet identified competency requirements and provide professional services directly to the public
  • Teach the practice of the profession to members or students of the profession
  • Supervise registered members
  • Are students who provide services to the public
  • Use the titles and initials: doctor, Dr., physician, medical doctor, MD, osteopath, doctor of osteopathy, DO, or others listed in the Act

For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Physician, Surgeon and Osteopath.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2025

Many family physicians work in private practice clinics or for regional health authorities. Others work in:

  • Medical research
  • Public health
  • Occupational medicine
  • Health administration
  • Overseas service
  • Military service

Family physicians may obtain Certificates of Added Competence (CACs) after completing a 1-year enhanced skills residency program. Family physicians who hold CACs focus on certain domains of care such as emergency medicine, family practice anesthesia, or sports and exercise medicine. The scope of practice in that domain may be limited compared to specialty physicians. For example, they may practice in rural or hospital settings only or be limited in the types of procedures they can perform. For a current list of recognized domains of care, see the College of Family Physicians of Canada website.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

General practitioners and family physicians
2016 NOC: 3112

94.1% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Look for Work

Think Industries and Sectors When Planning Your Career

Jobs and occupations are changing every day. It can be hard to know what the future of work looks like—but not impossible. Look at industries and sectors for possible inspiration, insights, and opportunities.
3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

General practitioners and family physicians
2021 NOC: 31102
Hot
Job Market
10,000
Employed in AB

Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list
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iStock.com/filadendron
OCCinfo

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors. Learn how these factors can affect your career decisions.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

General practitioners and family physicians
2016 NOC: 3112
1.8%
Annual Growth
(Below average)
101
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Jun 05, 2025

Family physicians in private practice are self-employed. Their incomes vary a lot. Factors include location, number of patient visits, and the cost of running a medical office.

Related High School Subjects
  • English Language Arts
  • Health, Recreation and Human Services
    • Health Care Services
    • Human and Social Services
  • Mathematics
  • Science
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Health Care and Medical Sciences
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2025

Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) website: acfp.ca

Alberta Medical Association (AMA) website: www.albertadoctors.org

College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) website: www.cfpc.ca

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) website: cpsa.ca

Medical Council of Canada (MCC) website: mcc.ca

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) website: www.royalcollege.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2025. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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