Immigration Corner | Are physiotherapists in demand in Canada?

Dear Miss Powell,

I read your articles all the time but I don’t recall seeing anything about physiotherapists jobs in Canada. I have been a physiotherapist for the past three years and I would like to live in Canada. Is physiotherapist on the list of demand professionals for Canada? If so, which province has the highest demand?

I have a sister in Ontario and an aunt in Calgary who are willing to help me. I look forward to your response.

AM

Dear AM,

Due to Canada’s ageing population, there has been a greater demand for most healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, registered nurses, infection control professionals and nurses aids, to name a few. Although there is no specified list of professionals or skilled workers who can apply under the Express Entry System for permanent residence, you would need to ensure that you are able to qualify under one of the following programmes: Federal Skilled Worker Programme, Federal Skilled Trade Programme, Provincial Nomination Programme, or the Canadian Experience Class. Once qualified to enter the pool of candidates, then, depending on your comprehensive ranking score, you stand a good chance of being selected by Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and granted an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

QUALIFICATION

For your application to be admitted into the express entry pool, you will need to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with at least one year’s full-time work experience in a paid position as a qualified physiotherapist. If you received your degree at a university outside of Canada, you would first need to obtain an Educational Credential Assessment Report to prove that your degree is the equivalent to one being offered by a Canadian university.

Other factors that will be taken into consideration are your language ability, age, particulars about your spouse (if applicable), and evidence that you will be able to adapt quickly into the Canadian society. Since you have a sister living in Ontario and an aunt in Alberta, you could be a very strong candidate under the Express Entry System, and even receive a provincial nomination. You must also be able to show that you have the required settlement funds, depending on the number of people that are in your immediate family.

JOB BANK REPORT

A search of the Job Bank in June 2024 revealed that there are just over 400 vacant positions for physiotherapists in Canada. The provinces with the highest demand were Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador. If you get a provincial nomination from any of these provinces, then you will stand a good chance of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence shortly after you have been nominated.

For Ontario, you will need to wait to receive a Notice of Interest from the province after you have created an express entry profile. However, for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Programme, you can apply directly to the province and request that you be considered for nomination.

The jobs that are in demand in Alberta in June 2024 are jobs in the energy, technology, agriculture, tourism and health sectors. The in-demand list is always changing, and so you will need to keep checking the list that is being published on the province’s website. If you require additional information, you may request a Zoom/telephone meeting.

Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator, and notary public in Canada. Submit your questions via Facebook or call/ WhatsApp 613.695.8777.

A search of the Job Bank in June 2024 revealed that there are just over 400 vacant positions for physiotherapists in Canada. The provinces with the highest demand were Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador. If you get a provincial nomination from any of these provinces, then you will stand a good chance of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence shortly after you have been nominated.