Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most commonly asked questions surrounding licensing, financial supports, return of service and immigration.
Find answers to the most commonly asked questions surrounding licensing, financial supports, return of service and immigration.
Health Match BC (HMBC) is a free health professional recruitment service funded by the Government of British Columbia, Canada. HMBC facilitates the recruitment of health professionals on behalf of BC’s publicly funded health employers.
Health Match BC (HMBC), through its navigation team, supports internationally educated allied health professionals throughout their process to practise in BC. The team provides customized support in assisting candidates to navigate their credentials assessment, certification, and/or licensure.
HMBC also provides information and access to financial supports, in the form of bursaries, and guides candidates throughout the immigration process.
Through the HMBC recruitment team, IEAHPs are supported in accessing career opportunities with BC’s public health employers.
Yes! British Columbia offers a wide range of allied health jobs in large urban centres, medium and small cities, and rural and remote communities.
Opportunities exist for career development in acute care (hospitals), rehabilitation, long-term care and assisted living, community laboratories, and primary care.
The wide range of opportunities means that allied health professionals will be able to find the perfect fit for their career preferences, career growth, and family needs.
Health Match BC will:
In general, yes, most allied health professionals require licensure or certification with a provincial or national body to practise in BC.
Education, experience, and practice can differ between countries for the same profession. For most occupations, a credentialling organization will need to complete an assessment of your post-secondary credentials.
The exact process to become licensed or certified to practise in BC depends on your profession or field of training. Please see the FAQ for your occupation for more information.
To be able to practise in BC, your credentials from outside of Canada will need to be assessed. After the assessment, you may be directed to take a qualifying examination, or you may need to complete upgrading courses or supplementary education first.
The exact steps to become licensed or certified to practise in BC will depend on your profession or field of training. Please see the FAQ for your occupation for more information.
For financial support to complete this process, contact Health Match BC who will provide information about the bursary program and guide you through the bursary eligibility criteria and the bursary return of service commitment.
This will depend on the credentials assessment process for your occupation. For some occupations, the process may be started or completed from outside of Canada; however, we cannot reimburse you for your eligible expenses unless you have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN), a Canadian address and phone number, and a Canadian bank account.
Please see the FAQ for your occupation for more information or contact the credentialling body responsible for assessing your education and qualifications.
During the credential assessment process, you may be asked to provide the results from an acceptable English-language proficiency test – these may or may not be the same tests that are accepted for immigration purposes.
These tests can generally be booked online and are delivered in-person or online with frequent testing dates.
The IEAHP bursary program will reimburse for a maximum of two English-language proficiency tests for the purpose of your credential assessment.
The credentialling body for your occupation will provide you with information about which English-language proficiency test you need to take.
On July 19, 2022, the Province of British Columbia announced $4.5M in funding to provide bursaries to high priority internationally educated allied health professionals (IEAHPs) that want to work in BC’s health system.
Health Match BC, in partnership with the BC Ministry of Health, supports eligible IEAHPs who want to work in BC by offering financial support to help pay for many of the costs associated with credential assessment, English Language proficiency testing, and supplementary education, such as exam preparation and bridging or gap-filling education.
To be eligible, IEAHPs must sign a Return of Service (ROS) agreement with the BC Ministry of Health to receive financial support through the bursary program.
By reducing barriers to the assessment and licensing process, qualified IEAHPs will be able to enter the workforce sooner, so that people in British Columbia will have access to even more allied health professionals to support their healthcare needs.
The IEAHP bursary program offers bursaries to internationally educated physiotherapists, medical laboratory technologists, and occupational therapists.
The bursaries are for IEAHPs who currently live in British Columbia but are not yet licensed or registered to work in a health care role aligned with their international training. It is also for those not yet in British Columbia but are looking to relocate here.
Possible applicants also include IEAHPs who are already undertaking the credential assessment and licensing process.
IEAHPs who are eligible for the bursary can submit receipts for eligible expenses incurred on or after July 19, 2022. A valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), a Canadian address and phone number, and Canadian bank account are required for any eligible expense reimbursements.
IEAHPs who currently hold (or have previously held) licensure or certification in any province or territory in Canada, or those who have had their credentials assessed and it was determined they are not able to become licensed or certified in BC, are not eligible for the bursary program.
Please see the FAQ section for your occupation for more information on bursary program eligibility.
The IEAHP bursary program is budget dependent and is not attached to a specific number of bursary participants.
There is no fixed end date for the IEAHP bursary program. Financial support through the program will be available while the Province has the budget.
Further funding beyond the initial budget may become available for the bursary program in future years, but this is not guaranteed.
Through Health Match BC (HMBC), the Province of BC supports IEAHPs with financial support, in the form of bursaries, to offset some of the costs of becoming licensed or certified to work in BC.
The costs associated with the credential assessment, supplementary education, and licensing or certifying processes vary depending on your occupation.
Some IEAHPs may qualify for a travel stipend if they are currently residing in BC and need to travel to an in-person component of an eligible exam preparation or bridging education program.
Please see the FAQ for your occupation for more information or contact the credentialling body responsible for assessing education and qualifications for your occupation.
Yes, the bursary program was designed to be inclusive of taxes on eligible expenses.
Your credential assessment fee and all other eligible expenses incurred by eligible IEAHPs will be paid by a reimbursement process, by Health Match BC, up to the noted bursary maximum with proof of payment.
See the FAQ section for your occupation for more information.
A valid SIN is not required to apply for one of the IEAHP bursary programs, but you will need one and a Canadian bank account to receive bursary payments (reimbursement).
If you are not currently residing in Canada and are eligible for the bursaries, you will be reimbursed once you provide your SIN, a Canadian address and phone number, and Canadian bank account information for direct deposit.
Yes, if you currently receive EI, you may still proceed with a bursary application for financial support. You may want to confirm with Service Canada whether there is anything you should know about receiving bursary support while on EI or income assistance.
Note that you may not be able to collect EI payments while taking training. For more information, see: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/contact/ei-individual.html
Yes, bursary funding is taxable income. If you receive bursary funding, at the end of the tax year, the Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) will issue you a T4A and mail it to the address you provided on your application. Alternatively, you can retrieve your T4A directly on the CRA website.
For advice regarding tax implications of receiving the bursary and your specific circumstance, consult a tax specialist or qualified accountant.
Yes, in BC, physiotherapists must be licensed with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).
For IEPTs, the process begins with the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR). CAPR is the national organization responsible for assessing educational credentials and administering the Canadian Physiotherapy Examination (CPTE) required for licensure. All IEPTs must complete CAPR’s Educational Credential and Qualifications Assessment. There are two pathways for IEPTs, the Standard Pathway and the Pre-Approved Pathway.
All internationally educated physiotherapists must demonstrate proficiency in English or French as part of the credentialling process. If you were educated in a language other than English or French, you must achieve the minimum score in each language skill area on one of CAPR’s approved language tests. CAPR advises you meet the language proficiency requirements before applying for credentialling to avoid any delays in the process.
Health Match BC, in partnership with the BC Ministry of Health, supports eligible IEPTs who want to work in BC by offering financial support to help pay for costs associated with credential assessment, English language proficiency testing, and exam preparation.
IEPTs must commit to a Return of Service (ROS) agreement with the BC Ministry of Health to have their Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) Educational Credential and Qualifications Assessment fee and other eligible expenses reimbursed.
The ROS agreement states that you intend to complete the full credentialling and licensure process with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC) and will work in BC with a public sector employer for a specified length of time.
The bursary funding is available to IEPTs who commit to a Return of service (ROS) agreement and meet the following criteria:
IEPTs who meet these criteria may already be somewhere along the pathway to full licensure in BC.
For more information and to see if you qualify, visit the IEPT Bursary page or contact Health Match BC at PTbursary@healthmatchbc.org.
As an IEPT, you are not eligible for this bursary if you have:
Significant financial barriers exist for IEPTs to become fully licensed to practise in BC.
The application fee for the CAPR assessment is $1,486 CAD; however, with various fees to obtain and submit required documents, the cost can be as high as $3,000 CAD, depending on where you live and other factors.
For IEPTs who opt to take an exam preparation course and/or a bridging education program, the full pathway to licensure can cost over $20,000 CAD, not including expenses related to immigration or relocation (moving) expenses.
The maximum possible bursary amount for eligible IEPTs is $14,812 CAD. This includes the CAPR assessment fee, English Language proficiency testing, and exam preparation programs. Bursary program participants can apply for all, or a portion of this amount.
Although the bursary program covers a substantial amount of the overall costs that IEPTs pay to become licensed in BC, there are some costs that are not covered by the bursary.
Examples of costs that are not covered include transcript fees, document translation and notarization fees, regulatory college registration fees, and licensing exam fees.
The program will reimburse up to a maximum of $800 CAD for up to two eligible English Language Proficiency (ELP) tests (maximum of $400 CAD per test).
Bursary program participants are responsible for determining which ELP tests are accepted by CAPR as part of the credential assessment process.
Bursary program participants can be reimbursed for eligible ELP tests paid on or after July 19, 2022.
A reimbursement process will be used for the CAPR Educational Credential and Qualifications Assessment fee and other eligible expenses, including fees for English Language Proficiency testing and eligible exam preparation programs (and if eligible, an associated travel stipend).
Bursary payments will be provided after signing the ROS agreement and upon provision of proof of payment, and any other required documentation, to Health Match BC. A valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN), a Canadian address and phone number, and a Canadian bank account are required for reimbursement.
Some IEPTs may qualify for a travel stipend if they are currently residing in BC and need to travel to an in-person component of an eligible exam preparation program within BC.
The amount provided is based on estimated travel-related costs and fuel consumption based on distance travelled (kms).
Travel allowance amount is based on location of primary residence, up to the maximum values below:
If you are eligible for the travel stipend, you will be reimbursed when you can provide proof of completion of an eligible in-person exam preparation program, proof of address and positive CAPR result to Health Match BC, and after you commence your ROS with a Qualifying Employer.
For proof of residence, you can submit one of the following documents showing your full name and address:
The length of time for the full pathway to licensure depends on a variety of factors, including how quickly you can provide your documents to CAPR for the Educational Credential and Qualifications Assessment, and whether you need to take additional education to help you to pass the qualifying exams.
Immigration routes will also impact the time it takes to become fully licensed to practise in BC. Neither the Ministry of Health nor Health Match BC can provide you with immigration advice.
We recommend that you move through the pathway as quickly as possible to ensure that bursary funding remains available throughout your journey.
Visit the CAPR website for more information about the process to becoming credentialled and licensed to practise in Canada.
Visit the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC website for more information about becoming fully licensed to practise in BC.
Bursary participants who apply for the Educational Credential and Qualifications Assessment and are informed by CAPR that their education is substantially different to a Canadian-trained PT (i.e. must complete a full educational training program in Canada) will not be eligible for this bursary program.
Yes, in BC, occupational therapists must be licensed with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC).
For IEOTs, the process begins with the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO), the national credentialling body. You must apply to ACOTRO’s Substantial Equivalency Assessment System (SEAS) to evaluate whether your educations and competencies are substantially equivalent to those of a Canadian-educated occupational therapist.
If you were educated in a language other than English or French, you must achieve the minimum score in each language skill area on one of ACOTRO’s approved language tests. Language testing can also be completed prior to applying to SEAS. Language test results are valid for a period of two years from the date of the test.
Health Match BC, in partnership with the BC Ministry of Health and the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO), supports eligible IEOTs who want to work in BC by offering financial support to help pay for costs associated with credential assessment, English Language proficiency testing, exam preparation and gap filling courses.
IEOTs must commit to a Return of Service (ROS) agreement with the BC Ministry of Health to receive financial support through this program.
The ROS agreement states that you intend to complete the full credentialling and licensure process with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC (CHCPBC) and will work in BC with a public sector employer for a specified length of time.
You must also meet the following criteria:
IEOTs who meet these criteria may already be somewhere along the pathway to full licensure in BC.
For more information and to see if you qualify, visit the IEOT Bursary page or contact Health Match BC at otbursary@healthmatchbc.org.
As an IEOT, you are NOT eligible for this bursary if you have:
The full fee for the three phases of the SEAS program is $4,120 CAD, plus applicable taxes.
You may be required to take an English Language Proficiency (ELP) test, which is covered up to $400 CAD including taxes, or $800 if a second attempt is required.
For IEOTs who are required to take a gap-filling course and/or the optional UBC Program for Internationally Educated Occupational Therapists (PIE-OT) or the optional Canadian Association of Occupational Therapist (CAOT) Exam Prep course, the full pathway to licensure can cost over $11,009 CAD not including expenses related to immigration or relocation (moving).
The maximum possible bursary amount for eligible IEOTs is $11,129.00 CAD plus applicable taxes. This includes all SEAS program fees, English Language Proficiency testing, a gap-filling course, and optional supplemental education.
Bursary program participants may be eligible for all, or a portion of this amount.
Although the bursary program covers a substantial amount of the overall costs that IEOTs pay to become licensed in BC, there are some costs that are not covered by the bursary.
Examples of costs that are not covered include transcript fees, document translation and notarization fees, regulatory college registration fees, and licensing exam fees.
The program will reimburse up to a maximum of $800 CAD for up to two eligible English Language Proficiency (ELP) tests (maximum of $400 CAD per test).
Bursary program participants are responsible for determining which ELP tests are accepted by ACOTRO as part of the SEAS program.
Bursary program participants can be reimbursed for eligible ELP tests paid on or after July 19, 2022.
All funds are provided to the applicant through a reimbursement model:
A reimbursement process will also be used for all other costs, including the World Education Services (WES) assessment fee, fees for English language proficiency testing, and eligible supplemental education programs.
Bursary payments will be provided after signing the ROS agreement and upon provision of proof of payment, and any other required documentation, to Health Match BC. A valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN), a Canadian address and phone number, and a Canadian bank account are required for reimbursement.
IEOTs are not eligible for the travel stipend as each phase of the SEAS program can be completed online.
Required gap-filling courses and optional CAOT exam preparation courses are also available online.
The length of time for the full pathway to licensure depends on a variety of factors, including how quickly you can provide your documents to ACOTRO for the SEAS program, and whether you need to take additional education to help you to pass the qualifying exams.
Immigration routes will also impact the time it takes to become fully licensed to practise in BC. Neither the Ministry of Health nor Health Match BC can provide you with immigration advice.
We recommend that you move through the pathway as quickly as possible to ensure that bursary funding remains available throughout your journey.
Visit the ACOTRO website for more information about the process to becoming credentialed and licensed to practise in Canada.
Visit the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC website for more information about becoming fully licensed to practise in BC.
Bursary participants who have completed Phases 1, 2, and 3 of the SEAS program and are waiting for their Determination Report from the Determination Committee are eligible for reimbursement upon providing proof of payment to Health Match BC but must first receive a positive decision through the Determination Report.
Bursary participants who have completed Phase 1 or Phases 1 and 2 and have not yet completed Phase 3 are eligible for reimbursement upon providing proof of payment to Health Match BC. Participants who receive reimbursement and are also informed by the Determination Committee that their education is substantially different to a Canadian-trained OT will not be eligible for further funding under this bursary program.
The bursary funding cannot be used towards taking an occupational therapist degree from a Canadian institution.
You may still be able to fulfil the terms of the Return of Service agreement if you obtain another type of healthcare position with a public sector employer.
Health Match BC (HMBC), in partnership with the BC Ministry of Health, provides financial support to eligible IEMLTs seeking to work in BC. The bursary helps cover costs associated with credential assessment (CAMLPR account and Prior Learning Assessment), CAMLPR-approved credential evaluation services, English Language Proficiency (ELP) testing, and bridging courses required under a CAMLPR Education Plan. A travel subsidy may be available for in-person bridging courses. Recipients must sign a Return of Service (ROS) agreement with the Ministry.
To receive bursary support, you must sign a ROS agreement with the BC Ministry of Health prior to obtaining Registration in BC and meet all of the following:
Additional notes:
For details or to check eligibility, visit the IEMLT Bursary page or contact Health Match BC at MLTbursary@healthmatchbc.org.
You are not eligible if you:
Costs vary and are dependent on an IEMLT’s individual pathway. Typical cost components include CAMLPR account creation and PLA, credential evaluation, ELP testing, and Education Plan-required bridging courses.
For more information on the financial supports and to see if you qualify, visit the IEMLT Bursary page.
Although the bursary program covers a substantial amount of the overall costs that IEMLTs pay to become registered in BC, there are some costs that are not covered by the bursary.
Examples include transcript fees, document translation/notarization fees, courier, CSMLS PLA transfer fees, CAMLPR regulator registration fees, and CAMLPR MLT Fields-of-Practice (FoP) exam(s) (exam fees are not covered by this bursary).
For more information, visit the IEMLT Bursary page.
Up to $800 CAD total for up to two eligible ELP tests ($400 CAD per test maximum) accepted by CAMLPR for the purpose of the assessment process.
If you reside in BC and must travel to complete in-person bridging courses required under a CAMLPR Education Plan (e.g., at the Michener Institute), you may qualify for a travel subsidy of up to $1,000 CAD.
If you are eligible for the travel stipend, you will be reimbursed when you can provide proof of completion of an eligible in-person bridging course and commence your ROS with a Qualifying Employer, and after you submit proof of BC residence.
For proof of residence, you can submit one of the following documents showing your full name and address:
Timelines vary with how quickly you:
Immigration timelines can also affect overall duration. Neither the Ministry of Health nor Health Match BC can provide you with immigration advice.
Moving through steps promptly helps ensure funding availability. Visit the CAMLPR website for process details.
Yes, to practise as an MRT, you must be certified with the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT). CAMRT is the national professional association and certifying body for medical radiation technologists across Canada.
If you were educated and/or trained as a Medical Radiation Technologist outside of Canada, you must apply to the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) for an assessment to determine language proficiency, substantial similarity of qualifications, and work experience.
Internationally Educated MRTs that did not complete their education in English or French must provide proof they have passed a CAMRT-approved English test.
Yes. The CAMRT certification exam is required for all graduates of Canadian MRT programs and internationally educated MRTs who wish to practise in Canada. The exam is designed to assess how well candidates can apply their knowledge in the practise environment.
Graduates who obtained their pharmacy education in the United States are required to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and receive a National ID number before applying to the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC). The PEBC will not be able to process applications from U.S. graduates unless a National ID number is provided. This does not apply to U.S. graduates who initiated the certification process with the PEBC prior to August 20, 2014.
You are first required to register on the Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada and receive a National Identifier Number. You can then register with the Pharmacy Examining Board of BC (PEBC) for Document Evaluation, whereby your educational and professional credentials are evaluated. At this stage, PEBC will confirm whether you may be eligible for the Streamlined Pathway at this time, in which case you may be exempt from the Evaluating Exam.
No, you do not have to be in Canada to enrol in Pharmacists’ Gateway Canada. Enrolment can take place from anywhere in the world where there is access to the Internet.
International Pharmacy Graduates are required to take a Language Proficiency test. Graduates from a Canadian pharmacy program accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) or an American program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) do not have to submit documentation verifying their proficiency in English.
Yes. One of the requirements for initial registration and licensure is certification of an applicant’s knowledge, skills and abilities at entry to practice. This certification is granted by the PEBC to those who successfully complete the PEBC Qualifying Examination – Part I (MCQ) and Part II (OSCE).
Sonography Canada’s Alternate Pathway Application is available to you. Once your application is approved, you would then proceed to complete the two components of the credential: the written examinations and the clinical component called the Canadian Clinical Skills Assessment (CCSA).
To receive a Sonography Canada credential, you must successfully complete both the knowledge-based examinations and the Canadian Clinical Skills Assessment (CCSA). If you have completed both components, then you would be eligible to receive your credential.
For candidates who wish to write the Sonography Canada exams in English but for whom English is not their first language, Sonography Canada recommends candidates complete a language test. Sonography Canada does not require candidates to submit documentation of language fluency testing to be eligible for the exams. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure fluency prior to challenging the exams.
The return of service (ROS) agreement is an agreement between you and the Province of British Columbia that you will complete 1 year of full-time continuous service (i.e. not a casual position) with a publicly funded health sector employer in BC. The ROS term is extended to two years if you obtain employment of 0.5 FTEs or less. The length service will also be extended to account for leaves of absence, if applicable.
Qualifying public sector employers will be defined in your ROS agreement document. They include regional health boards designated under section 4(1) of the Health Authorities Act, Provincial Health Services Authority (collectively a “Health Authority”), First Nations Health Authority or Providence Health Care or at a publicly funded long-term care or assisted living (AL) facility OR a publicly-funded private lab provider that is approved by the Province in writing.
Qualifying Employers do not include contract agencies supplying staffing solutions to eligible facilities.
As a bursary recipient, you must obtain employment with a Qualifying Employer within 6 months of obtaining full licensure or certification in your profession, unless otherwise extended by the province.
Upon commencement of a Qualifying Position, you must submit a letter to the Province from the Qualifying Employer confirming the start date of the Return of Service Term, using the Province’s Return of Service Commencement Form . For more information and to obtain a copy of the form, please contact healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca.
The goal of the bursary program is to support you to gain employment in your field of training. Bursary program participants must use their best efforts to promptly obtain licensure or registration to practise in BC to obtain employment.
However, if licensure is not possible with reasonable efforts made (i.e., by taking supplemental education), you may be eligible to complete the ROS in a different “Qualifying Position” within the publicly funded healthcare system. Individuals must contact the Ministry of Health (email healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca ) to confirm approved eligible positions considered for the fulfilment of the ROS commitment. The Ministry must review and approve alternative positions.
Yes, if you decide not to complete the process to become fully licensed or registered to practise in BC, you will need to repay any money received, or fees waived through the bursary program to the Province of British Columbia.
If you are unsuccessful in passing the exams required to become licensed or registered to practise in BC, even after taking supplemental education, you can apply for an alternative job with a Qualifying Employer instead of paying back the funds. Individuals must contact the Ministry of Health (email healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca ) to confirm approved eligible positions considered for the fulfilment of the ROS commitment. The Ministry must review and approve alternative positions.
If you need to pay back bursary funds, email healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca for instructions.
No, you only need to sign one ROS for the bursary program. That ROS applies to all bursaries amounts received.
If you leave your Qualifying Position(s) for any reason before the ROS term is complete, you will be required to repay the province the amount of the bursary that is proportional to the percentage of the ROS term that has not been completed.
Recipients who do not meet the terms and obligations within the ROS agreement will be required to repay the bursary funds as explained in the agreement.
If you leave your job with a Qualifying Employer(s) for any reason during the ROS term, you will need to notify the Province at least two weeks in advance of your end date by contacting: healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca
No, employment in a Qualifying Position with a Qualifying Employer within BC will qualify for your ROS.
There are many job opportunities available across the province. Once you are licensed or registered to practise in BC, Health Match BC will assist you in finding a Qualifying Position. You are required to make your best efforts to find a Qualifying Position.
If it has been six months since licensure or registration and you are still unable to find a job to meet the ROS requirements, please contact the Ministry of Health at: healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca.
Yes, however, if you leave your job with a Qualifying Employer(s) for any reason during the ROS time period, you will need to notify the Province at least two weeks in advance of your end date by contacting: healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca
You can concurrently hold and work in multiple, part-time Qualifying Positions; however, casual, relief and temporary employment does not meet the requirements of the ROS agreement.
The FTE (full time equivalent) for each Qualifying Position will be added together to calculate the FTE.
“FTE” means full-time equivalent, which is defined as 37.5 hours of work each week.
If you are working 0.5 FTEs or less, your ROS term will be extended to 2 years.
Yes, however, your ROS term will be extended if a leave of absence is greater than 20 days (other than authorized vacation from your employer).
No, you must complete your ROS term with a publicly funded health employer in BC. If you leave BC during your ROS term, you will need to repay the proportionate amount of the bursary based on the remaining time left.
If you are licensed/registered or have ever been licensed/registered in your allied health occupation in another Canadian province or territory, you are not eligible for this program.
If you become licensed/registered in another Canadian province or territory after you sign a return of service (ROS) agreement, you will be withdrawn from the program and required to repay the Province any bursary amount(s) received, including any fees waived or reimbursed.
Yes, upon completion of the ROS term, you must notify the Province that you have completed the ROS term by having an HR representative send a completed IEAHP Return of Service Fulfilment Form to healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca.
Yes, however, you must be qualified for the offered position. For regulated health professions, you would normally require a license to practise in BC prior to being accepted into the BC PNP. You must also meet all other eligibility requirements of the program. This includes:
Health Match BC is not a legal representative for the BC PNP. Authorized representatives are immigration consultants who are full members in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, or lawyers who are members in good standing with the Law Society of BC or another law society in Canada. To apply to the BC PNP, you do not have to use an immigration consultant or lawyer.
The BC PNP reviews all applications equally, regardless of whether they were prepared with the assistance of a representative. Your application will not receive special attention or faster processing if it was completed using the services of a representative.
You should start your application as soon as you accept a job offer with an eligible BC employer, such as a BC public health authority.
Yes. If you are approved as a provincial nominee, you and your dependent family members can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to become permanent residents of Canada in the Provincial Nominee Class.
A nomination by the BC PNP does not allow you to work. However, if you are nominated, you may be eligible to receive a work permit support letter issued by the BC PNP to help you obtain or renew a work permit. Work permit support letters also allow you to apply for a work permit without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
You must apply and obtain a temporary work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). While the BC PNP will provide post-nomination support, it does not apply for a work permit on your behalf. Nominees who do not have a valid work permit must apply for one within three months of their nomination date.
Further information about immigration options is available online through the Government of Canada website.
For more information about the BC PNP, please refer to WelcomeBC.ca. The Skills Immigration Program Guide can be found on the Documents page.
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