There had been a series of proactive immigration initiatives made this April, which have made Alberta once again demonstrate its commitment to addressing the healthcare labour needs in the province. The Alberta Immigration Program (AAIP) has conducted three separate draws in the first half of the month. A total of 81 Invitations to Apply were send by AAIP after this draw. These draws are specifically targeted at skilled professionals in the healthcare sector, targeting both Express Entry and non-Express Entry Streams.
The AAIP recently released updates which outlined the three immigration draws which were held between April 1 and April 8, 2025. Invitations were offered by these draws to streams that focused on priority sectors and health care-specific pathways. The central theme of these immigration policies is to address labour shortages in specific sectors like healthcare.
Below is a breakdown of the recently conducted draws.
| Draw Date | Immigration Stream | No.of ITAs Issued | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2025 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway (Express Entry) | 34 | 60 |
| April 4, 2025 | Alberta Express Entry – Priority Sectors (Health Care) | 19 | 71 |
| April 8, 2025 | Dedicated Health Care Pathway (non-Express Entry) | 28 | 53 |
These three draws highlight the ongoing strategy of Alberta. This will easily bring in talent into the province for those working in critical health-related fields.
Dedicated Health Care Pathway - Express Entry
Alberta conducted its first draw of the month on April 1, 2025. This draw was conducted through the Dedicated Health Care pathway, which is linked to the federal Express Entry system of Canada. Totally 34 candidates who are working in healthcare were invited to apply for provincial nomination. To receive this invitation and be selected, applicants should have a minimum CRS score of 60.
This draw represents the continued use of nomination streams in Alberta. This also works in collaboration with the federal Express Entry system. This tandem allows faster processing and integration of the skilled workers into the workforce.
Healthcare Priority Sectors - Alberta Express Entry Draw
The second draw was held on April 4, 2025, was conducted under the Alberta Express Entry Stream. The draw targeted candidates who were employed in healthcare, one of the priority industry of the province.
Invitations to apply were sent to 19 healthcare professionals. Candidates with a minimum CRS score of 71 were considered. This draw targeted applicants who had an Express Entry profile and were also strongly aligned with the healthcare priorities of Alberta.
Dedicated Health Care Pathway - Non-Express Entry
The final draw of Alberta took place on April 8, 2025, which was conducted through the non-Express Entry version of the dedicated healthcare pathway. Under this stream, Alberta can invite healthcare professionals who do not align with the federal Express Entry system. They still become eligible as they have the required qualifications and employment opportunities within the province.
Overall, 28 invitations were issued in this draw for those healthcare candidates who were eligible. The stream showed its accessibility to mid-range, skilled professionals by sending an ITA to applicant who had a least score of 53.
Eligible Healthcare Professions and Regulatory Bodies
Some of the healthcare professionals that are eligible under both the Express Entry and non-Express Entry Dedicated Health Care pathways. Also, the corresponding regulatory organizations are also listed.
| Health Care Profession | Regulatory Organization |
|---|---|
| Physiotherapist | College of Physiotherapists of Alberta (CPA) |
| Clinical Social Worker | Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) |
| Registered Nurse | College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) |
| Physician | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA) |
| Nurse Practitioner | College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) |
| Physician Assistant | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) |
| Occupational Therapist | Alberta College of Occupational Therapists (ACOT) |
| Psychologist | College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) |
Eligibility Requirements for Alberta’s Healthcare Immigration Pathways
To become eligible under the non-Express Entry Dedicated healthcare pathway of Alberta, applicants should meet several criteria. Each applicant should hold a valid and verified job offer in an eligible occupation from an Alberta healthcare employer. The applicant should also meet the minimum CLB level 5 in all 4 language skills. As an alternative, they can also demonstrate that they have abilities which will help in licensure in Alberta.
Some of the profession-specific rules that apply are:
- Licensed Practical Nurses should explain how the language requirements for licensure were met. The applicant should still submit an AAIP-approved language test with a minimum CLB 5, if the licensure was based on the English language work experience.
- Clinical Social Workers should provide licence language exams or CLB 5 on any approved tests.
Applicants should also prove that they meet all the requirements set by appropriate regulatory bodies and have a valid work permit during the application process.
The Express Entry-aligned applicants should:
- Be eligible under the federal express entry system
- Have atleast 300 as the CRS score
- The applicant should have a primary occupation in Express Entry and it should be listed as an eligible healthcare occupation.
- Hold a valid job offer in Alberta which will be considered under the health care priority sector.