News Immigration Recruitment
Saskatchewan’s call for unlicensed, internationally educated health professionals yields 400 applications

Nearly 400 people have responded to Saskatchewan’s call for unlicensed, international educated residents as it seeks to hire more health-care professionals.

The applications have flooded in since the program was announced in early September. It called on Saskatchewan and/or Canadian residents to apply, with the idea they may qualify for future training or employment in the provincial health system.

“Saskatchewan is a place of great opportunity for everyone, including internationally trained health care professionals, and I am pleased with the large number of applications this call-out has generated,” Minister of Health Paul Merriman said. “Our aggressive, nation-leading Action Plan to recruit, train, incentivize and retain health care workers will expand the workforce, stabilize health services across the province, and build a stronger health-care system ready to meet the needs of our growing province.”

Unlicensed Saskatchewan and/or Canadian residents who are internationally trained or experienced in health care were invited to fill out an assessment form to help identify supports that may be available for them.

Supports for eligible applicants may include referral to language classes, assistance navigating the licensing pathway, potential additional training, financial assistance to support the costs associated with the licensing process, and referral to other services, with the final goal of connecting them to employment.

The Ministry of Health is in the process of reviewing applications that were received and following up with applicants. Applications are still being accepted, it said. Four new health system navigators will come onboard this fall to assist in the recruitment and retention of internationally educated health care workers from home and abroad.