The Alberta Government is trying to attract international health care professionals to the province.
By attracting health professionals to Alberta, it helps to add to the province's health care system and allow residents to access the care they need, when they need it, and where they need it.
To help attract these international health care professionals to Alberta and fill labour shortages, the Provincial government created a Dedicated Health Care Pathway under their Alberta Advantage Immigration Program in April 2023.
Under the Dedicated Health Care Pathway, those who work in nine different professions, such as doctors, nurses, psychologists, and physiotherapists, may be eligible to become a permanent residence, once they have been nominated by the province.
"I am proud of the incredible success of the Dedicated Health Care Pathway, and very pleased to see so many experienced health professionals going to areas outside of Calgary and Edmonton. With this program, we are increasing timely access to care for Albertans, no matter where they live," explained the Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism Muhammad Yaseen in a media release from August 8th.
Those who are authorized to work in Alberta and have a job offer in the province may be eligible for permanent residency under either the program's Express Entry option or their Non-Express Entry options.
Each option will help those in the appropriate health care professions to become permanent residents, but the processing time for the Express option will take roughly half the length of time as the Non-Express option.
So far this year, 258 health professionals have been nominated under the Dedicated Health Care Pathway, with 59 of those professionals working outside of Calgary and Edmonton.
To learn more about this program, click here.