Nova Scotia Expands Immigration Path for Healthcare Careers

Immigration Path : In a significant move aimed at addressing the growing demand for healthcare professionals, Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has expanded its “International Graduates in Demand” (IGD) stream to include international students aspiring to become paramedics and pharmacy technicians.

This expansion, announced jointly by Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health, Michelle Thompson, and the Minister of Advanced Education, Brian Wong, is set to make immigration to Nova Scotia a reality for those pursuing careers in these vital healthcare fields.

Immigration Path -Eligibility Criteria for Healthcare Immigration to Nova Scotia

To be eligible for immigration through the IGD stream of Nova Scotia’s PNP, interested candidates must meet the following criteria:

1. Possess a full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer in an eligible occupation.
2. Be between the ages of 21 and 55.
3. Have completed at least a high school education.
4. Completed a course of study at least 30 weeks long within the last three years, with at least half of the qualifying educational program completed in Nova Scotia.
5. Possess the appropriate certifications required for the job.
6. Have official language proficiency equivalent to a level 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
7. Possess enough financial resources to settle permanently in Nova Scotia.

Application Process

Candidates looking to immigrate to Nova Scotia through the IGD stream can follow these steps:

1. Upload the required documents and submit a completed application on the government website.
2. If approved, apply for Permanent Residence (PR) directly with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within six months of receiving the provincial nomination certificate.
3. Applicants can also request a Letter of Support for a temporary work permit from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration (NSOI), allowing them to stay in Nova Scotia while their application is being processed.

Healthcare Demand

Nova Scotia‘s healthcare industry is witnessing a growing need for professionals, with the province’s Pharmacy Association indicating a requirement for approximately 200 pharmacy technicians in the coming years.

Furthermore, Charbel Daniel, the director of operations for ambulance services provider Emergency Medical Care Inc., highlights the potential availability of 150 to 200 paramedic positions for international students.

Beyond pharmacy technicians and paramedics, several other healthcare occupations are in high demand across Canada, including Registered Nurses, Personal Support Workers, and Healthcare Aides. Notably, Healthcare Aides are also eligible for immigration to Nova Scotia through the IGD stream.

According to the Government of Canada, between 2022 and 2031, there are expected to be significant job openings in these healthcare occupations:

• Registered Nurses: 155,400 job openings
• Personal Support Workers: 34,500 job openings
• Healthcare Aides: 191,000 job openings

These figures underscore the urgent need for healthcare workers in Nova Scotia and Canada at large.

Attracting Healthcare Workers to Canada

To address the shortage of healthcare professionals, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have initiated category-based Express Entry draws. These draws are designed to attract candidates with recent work experience in healthcare professions to help address labor market challenges.

In 2023, IRCC is conducting category-based draws for candidates with recent healthcare work experience. Two healthcare category-based draws have already taken place this year:

1. The first draw occurred on June 28, where 500 candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 476 received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian PR.
2. The second draw took place on July 6, inviting 1,500 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 463.

This strategic approach aims to welcome skilled healthcare workers to Canada and support the healthcare industry’s growth and stability.

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