Priority Healthcare Occupations in Canada - Six Jobs That Require Only Two Years or Less of College Education

Healthcare is one of the top sectors in Canada facing a shortage of skilled workers. Hence, the government is taking different efforts to attract workers in the healthcare sector through Canadian immigration. Frequent Express Entry healthcare category draws are conducted. Further, the immigration selection prioritizes certain healthcare occupations. This brings in new opportunities for international students, temporary workers, and newcomers in the healthcare field.

Healthcare Jobs Prioritized For PR in Canada

The high demand Canada immigration healthcare jobs, that needs two years or less of college education:

1. Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates (33102) – The duration of the program required is between 6 to 12 months.
2. Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants (33103) - The duration of the program required is between 6 to 12 months.
3. Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations (33101) - The duration of the program required is 1 year.
4. Paramedical occupations (32102) - The duration of the program required is 1–2 years.
5. Pharmacy technicians (32124) - The duration of the program required is 2 years.
6. Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (32109) - The duration of the program required is 6–12 months.

The Express Entry System

The express entry is a primary system in Canada for selecting candidates for permanent residence. To apply for PR through the Express Entry system, applicants must

• Complete an approved immigration language test
• Qualify in one of the following programs: Canadian Experience Class (CEC); Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP); Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP
• Have an Express Entry Profile
• Get the Federal Government’s Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Candidates in the Express Entry Pool are invited based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, with the highest-ranking candidates receiving ITA.

In-demand healthcare jobs in Canada are prioritized for PR in Canada through the Express Entry system. In addition to the general draws, the government also conducts Express Entry healthcare category draws that target workers in high-demand fields, which includes the healthcare and social services category.

Eligibility for Category-Based Draw

• Candidates must have continuous full-time work experience for a minimum of six months or an equivalent amount of part-time work within the last three years in a single eligible occupation category.
• Targeted draws only consider applicants who meet the category requirements.
• ITAs are issued to the top-ranking candidates.

Note: The healthcare workers with a low CRS score have more chance of receiving an invitation than they would receive under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or general Express Entry draws. The cut-off scores for category-based draws are low when compared to other Express Entry draws such as CEC.

Provincial Licensing: What You Need to Know

The healthcare jobs are often regulated in most jurisdictions at the provincial level, which in turn means that you will have to:

• Pass an official licensing exam.
• Have work placements and hands-on training.
• Obtain the license from the provincial regulatory body.

 Note: There are study programs in Canada that incorporate a portion of the hands-on training necessary for licensing into the program schedule.

Read to know: Category-Based Selection: A Smarter Route to Canada PR