Great news for healthcare professionals across Canada! Ontario is taking groundbreaking steps to remove licensing red tape and make it significantly easier for out-of-province workers to join its healthcare system.

This move is part of Ontario's "As of Right" framework, designed to streamline labour mobility and get skilled professionals to work faster.

Key Changes at a Glance

Faster Licensing: Regulated professionals certified in other provinces could get their Ontario work authorization in as little as 10 days, down from the current six months.

Target Date: The new rules for the 16 professions are slated for January 1, 2026.

Even Faster for Physicians & Nurses: The province aims for an ultra-fast 2-business-day certification process for physicians and nurses in good standing from other regions.

Economic Growth: The initiative is designed to drive economic growth and help fill critical labour shortages in communities.

The 16 Healthcare Professions Joining the "As of Right" Framework
Here are the professions proposed for addition, along with their likely NOC codes for reference:

• Profession NOC Code Audiologists / Speech-Language
• Pathologist31112 Chiropodist31209 Dental Hygienist32111 Dental
• Technologist32112 Dentist31110 Denturist32110 Dietitian31121 Medical
• Radiation and Imaging Technologist32121 Midwife31303
• Occupational Therapist31203 Optician32100 Optometrist31111
• Pharmacist / Pharmacy Technician31120 / 32124Physician
• Assistant31303 Physiotherapist31202Psychologist31200

Note: This list expands the existing framework, which already includes physicians, surgeons, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and others.

What This Means for Healthcare Professionals

For any regulated healthcare professional in Canada, this signals a major shift towards seamless interprovincial mobility. Ontario is actively reducing barriers like:

• High application fees
• Cumbersome documentation
• Long processing times

This "first-in-Canada" approach not only benefits healthcare workers but also aims to strengthen Ontario's healthcare system by ensuring patients receive "world-class care... when and where they need it."

Source: Canada Republic immigration services