Explore Our Resources
Explore accessible health care career pathways in Canada for newcomers, including support roles, bridging programs, licensing routes and training costs.
July 10, 2026
.webp)
Healthcare is one of Canada’s most important employment sectors, but for many newcomers, entering the field is not always simple. Some roles require a licence, years of education or a long credential recognition process. Others can offer a more accessible way to start working in the sector, gain Canadian experience and build toward a long-term career goal.
This is especially important for internationally trained medical professionals. Many arrive in Canada with education and experience in nursing, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, laboratory science, rehabilitation, public health or community care. But before working in a regulated profession, you may need credential assessments, licensing exams, bridging programs, supervised practice or additional training.
Health Canada has highlighted the need to strengthen Canada’s health workforce and better integrate internationally educated health professionals. Recent data also shows why this matters. In 2024, CIHI reported that 5.7 million Canadian adults did not have a regular healthcare provider and that Canada would need an estimated 49 per cent increase in family physicians to meet current demand.
For newcomers, the opportunity is real. The key is choosing a pathway that matches your background, province, timeline, budget and long-term career goal.
Canada’s healthcare sector continues to grow, but labour needs remain high. Statistics Canada reported that payroll employment in healthcare and social assistance increased by 14,900 jobs in July 2025. Since September 2022, payroll employment in the sector grew by 248,100 jobs, an 11.2 per cent increase. Even with that growth, healthcare and social assistance had one of the highest job vacancy rates in Canada at 3.7 per cent in July 2025.
Ontario shows the same pattern. Job Bank reported that healthcare and social assistance employed 1,007,100 people in Ontario in 2024, representing 12.4 per cent of the province’s total workforce. The sector grew by 2.7 per cent in 2024 and is expected to keep growing from 2025 to 2027, although labour shortages remain a limiting factor.
At the same time, Canada already has internationally educated health professionals who could help meet these needs. Statistics Canada estimated that 259,695 internationally educated healthcare professionals aged 18 to 64 were living in Canada in 2021. About 76 per cent were employed, but only 58 per cent of employed internationally educated healthcare professionals were working in health occupations.
That gap is why accessible pathways matter. Some newcomers may work toward full licensure in their original profession. Others may start in related healthcare roles while building Canadian experience, income and confidence.
When people think of healthcare careers, they often think first of doctors and nurses. Those careers are important, but they are not the only way to work in healthcare. The sector includes clinical, administrative, technical, community-based and support roles.
For an internationally trained nurse, a support role may provide Canadian patient-care experience while preparing for registration. For an internationally trained pharmacist, working as a pharmacy assistant may help build Canadian pharmacy experience while completing the licensing process. For someone trained in medicine, public health, dentistry or laboratory science, a related role can be a bridge while they explore a longer-term plan.
The goal is not to start over. The goal is to find the shortest realistic route between your international experience and Canada’s healthcare system.
Personal support workers, healthcare aides and continuing care assistants help people with daily care in homes, long-term care settings, hospitals and community care environments. Job titles and training requirements vary by province.
This pathway can be a strong option for newcomers who want patient-facing work and a faster entry into the healthcare sector. In Ontario, Job Bank lists many regions as having good or very good job prospects for home support workers, caregivers and related occupations.
This pathway may be a good fit if you:
Newcomers should still be realistic. This work can be physically and emotionally demanding. It may involve shifts, travel between clients, long-term care settings or personal care tasks. Before enrolling in a program, check what local employers require and whether the role has provincial training or certification standards.
Medical office assistants support clinics, hospitals, family practices, specialists and other healthcare settings. Their work may include scheduling appointments, managing patient records, billing, reception, referrals and communication with patients.
This can be a practical pathway for newcomers with experience in administration, healthcare, customer service, business, nursing or clinic operations. It can also help internationally trained health professionals understand Canadian healthcare systems, patient communication and clinic workflows.
This pathway may be useful if you:
Medical office assistant roles may not require the same licensing process as regulated clinical professions, but employers may still prefer training in medical terminology, privacy, billing systems or electronic medical records.
Pharmacy assistants support pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in community pharmacies, hospitals and other pharmacy settings. Duties may include preparing prescriptions for review, managing inventory, entering patient information, supporting customers and helping with pharmacy operations.
This pathway can be especially relevant for internationally trained pharmacists who are working toward Canadian licensure. It is not the same as working as a licensed pharmacist, but it can provide exposure to Canadian pharmacy workflows, patient communication, insurance processes and workplace expectations.
This pathway may be a good fit if you studied pharmacy, life sciences or healthcare, or if you want related experience while preparing for the pharmacist licensing process.
Newcomers should also check requirements if they are considering becoming a licensed pharmacy technician or pharmacist later. The steps, exams and regulators vary by province.
Medical laboratory assistants help collect, prepare and process specimens. you may work in hospitals, private labs, clinics or public health settings.
This pathway can be useful for newcomers with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, medical laboratory science, nursing or medicine. It may also be a practical bridge for internationally trained medical laboratory technologists who are working toward certification in Canada.
This role can help newcomers gain Canadian experience in laboratory environments, follow safety and quality standards and build confidence in a technical healthcare setting. For internationally trained lab professionals, Windmill also has a guide on the steps to certification for medical lab professionals in Canada.
Before choosing a program, check whether employers in your province prefer certification, practicum experience or training from specific institutions.
Community health workers support individuals, families and communities with health education, outreach, navigation and access to services. These roles may be found in community health centres, settlement agencies, public health programs, mental health organizations, non-profits and social service agencies.
This pathway can be a strong fit for newcomers because language skills, lived experience and cultural understanding can be valuable in community health settings. Many organizations need staff who can support newcomers, seniors, refugees, racialized communities and people facing barriers to care.
Community health roles may involve helping people understand health services, connecting clients with community resources, supporting health promotion programs, assisting with outreach and helping clients navigate appointments, forms or referrals.
This can be a meaningful option for people with backgrounds in nursing, social work, public health, psychology, education, settlement work or community service.
For newcomers who already trained in a health profession outside Canada, bridging programs for internationally trained healthcare professionals can help connect international experience with Canadian requirements.
Bridging programs may support internationally trained professionals with exam preparation, Canadian workplace communication, clinical or technical skills, supervised practice, placements, mentorship, professional terminology, job readiness and licensing preparation.
They can be especially useful for internationally educated nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical laboratory professionals and other regulated health professionals. However, not every bridging program leads directly to a licence. Some help with exam preparation, while others help people move into related healthcare jobs while they continue working toward full licensure.
Before applying, ask:
The federal government is also putting more attention on foreign credential recognition. Budget 2025 proposed $97 million over five years, starting in 2026-27, to create a Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund. The goal is to work with provinces and territories to make credential recognition fairer, faster and more transparent, with a focus on healthcare and construction.
This does not mean every international credential will automatically be accepted. Licensing decisions are still made by provincial and territorial regulators, professional bodies and employers. But it does show that Canada is trying to reduce barriers for qualified foreign-trained professionals in sectors facing labour shortages.
For newcomers, the practical takeaway is simple: do not wait for the system to become easier. Use the current attention on healthcare and credential recognition as a reason to plan early, understand your regulator’s requirements and prepare financially.
The best pathway depends on your background and goals. A faster-entry role may be right for one person, while another person may benefit from staying focused on full licensure.
Do you want to return to your original profession, or are you open to a related role? If you were a nurse, pharmacist, physician, dentist or physiotherapist before coming to Canada, do not assume you have to give up your profession. At the same time, be realistic about time, cost and licensing requirements.
Healthcare rules vary by province and territory. A program or certification that works in one province may not work the same way in another. Use official regulator websites or tools such as Job Bank’s information for foreign candidates before paying for an assessment or training program.
A program should help you move closer to work. Look for details such as placements, employer connections, graduate outcomes, exam preparation, career support and whether local employers recognize the credential.
Training and licensing costs can include tuition, credential assessments, exams, professional registration, textbooks, transportation, placements and living expenses while studying. Windmill’s guide on getting a loan for licensing in Canada can help newcomers understand the types of costs that may come up during a licensing or credential recognition pathway.
For many newcomers, the biggest barrier is not motivation. It is cost.
Windmill Microlending’s healthcare loans support eligible internationally trained health professionals with career-related costs. Depending on the pathway, a Windmill loan may help cover licensing exams, credential assessments, bridging programs, training or certification, professional registration fees, books, study materials, transportation for exams or placements and living expenses while studying.
Windmill also provides career coaching, mentorship and financial planning support to help clients move forward with more confidence. For newcomers working toward healthcare careers, this support can make it easier to move from planning to action.
Fraud alert: Beware of individuals or accounts falsely claiming to represent Windmill Microlending. We never request personal information or payments through social media or messaging apps. Please verify all communication via our official channels ending with "@windmillmicrolending.org", "@lemoulinmicrocredits.org" or contact us via verified information available on our website if you are unsure.