Having work experience in a priority healthcare occupation can provide a significant advantage when applying for Canadian permanent residence (PR).

Discover your options for Canadian permanent residence

Graduates of healthcare programs have higher chances of securing jobs in their field post-graduation and are more likely to obtain permanent residence in the future.

While some healthcare roles demand extensive postsecondary education, there are others that only require short college programs, some as brief as six months.

Here are six priority healthcare occupations that typically necessitate two years or less of college education:

Occupation	Length of College Program
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations (33101)	1 year
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (33102)	6-12 months
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment (32109)	2 years
Paramedical occupations (32102)	1–2 years
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants (33103)	6–12 months
Pharmacy technicians (32124)	2 years

In many Canadian jurisdictions, these roles are regulated professions, requiring licensing by the governing body for practice.

Licensing often involves additional hands-on training, including work placements and passing a licensing exam.

Some programs may include the necessary hands-on training for licensing.

Licensing for most healthcare roles in Canada is typically overseen at the provincial level.

How are healthcare workers prioritized for permanent residence?

Canada gives priority to healthcare workers through its Express Entry system, the primary method for managing permanent residence applications.

To apply for permanent residence via Express Entry, applicants must:

• Take an approved immigration language test;
• Meet the minimum requirements for either the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Worker Program