1. Registered Nurses
Registered nurses are the largest healthcare occupation category for international migration in both countries, and both have active, well-defined pathways.
Australia: Registered Nurse pathway
- ANMAC skills assessment: The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council assesses overseas-qualified nurses. The assessment takes 3–6 months. Required documents include nursing degree/diploma transcripts, registration certificate from home country, IELTS OET results (minimum IELTS 7.0 in all bands, or OET B grade in each component), and employment references.
- AHPRA registration: After a positive ANMAC assessment, apply to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. AHPRA issues your registration number and defines any conditions on your registration (initial registration may include supervised practice requirements).
- SkillSelect / visa: Once ANMAC assessment is positive and AHPRA registration is in progress (or conditional approval received), lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect. RN (ANZSCO 254111) is on the MLTSSL, eligible for 189, 190, and 491. State nominations for nurses are widely available.
Canada: Registered Nurse pathway
- NCLEX exam: The NCLEX-RN (for RNs) or NCLEX-PN (for LPNs) is the standardised nursing registration exam used across most Canadian provinces. Internationally qualified nurses can write the NCLEX from their home country at authorised testing centres.
- Provincial college registration: Each province has its own nursing college (CNO in Ontario, BCCNP in BC, CARNA in Alberta, etc.). Nurses must apply to the provincial college in their target province. Requirements vary but typically include: NCLEX pass, nursing degree/diploma verification, English language evidence, and criminal record check.
- Express Entry / PR: RNs (NOC 31301) qualify for Express Entry FSWP and CEC. Healthcare category draws in Express Entry target this NOC code and typically have CRS cutoffs 30–60 points below general draws. Provincial nominee healthcare streams are available in most provinces.
2. Doctors and Physicians
Physician immigration is the most complex healthcare pathway in both countries and is managed through dedicated medical workforce frameworks rather than standard skilled migration.
Australia: Physician pathway
Overseas-qualified doctors (OQDs) face a complex assessment pathway managed by the Australian Medical Council (AMC). There are two primary pathways:
- AMC Computer Adaptive Test + Clinical Examination: Two-stage examination process. The CAT (multiple choice) tests medical knowledge; the Clinical exam tests clinical skills in an OSCE format. This pathway is long (1–3 years from first exam to registration) and expensive.
- Specialist pathway: Overseas specialists may apply for specialist recognition through the relevant specialty college (RACP, RACGP, RACS, etc.). The specialist pathway is highly competitive and requires a comparability assessment by the relevant college.
General practitioners (GPs) willing to work in rurally classified areas have access to the Area of Need pathway, which can enable provisional registration and work in remote areas while completing the full registration pathway.
Canada: Physician pathway
International medical graduates (IMGs) in Canada face one of the most competitive pathways in the migration system. The primary route to independent medical practice requires:
- Medical degree assessment and qualification verification through the Medical Council of Canada (MCC)
- MCCQE Part 1 and Part 2 examinations
- Residency matching through CaRMS (Canadian Resident Matching Service) — highly competitive with limited positions for IMGs
- Provincial licensing after residency completion
For physicians not able to enter residency through CaRMS, practice-ready assessment programs in some provinces provide an alternative pathway for GPs (and some specialists), though these are limited to specific provinces and require strong clinical assessment scores.
3. Physiotherapists
Australia
Physiotherapists are assessed by the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC). The APC assesses academic qualifications, supervised practice requirements, and English language competency. A positive APC assessment allows application to AHPRA for registration. ANZSCO 252511 (Physiotherapist) is on the MLTSSL — eligible for 189/190/491. State nominations are available in most states.
Canada
Physiotherapists are regulated provincially. The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) conducts a national credential assessment — a positive CAPR assessment is accepted by most provincial colleges. The provincial registration process varies: Ontario (CPO), British Columbia (CPTBC), Alberta (CAPTA). Most provinces require a practice-ready competency assessment or supervised practice period for internationally educated physiotherapists. NOC 31202 (Physiotherapists) qualifies for Express Entry and healthcare category draws.
4. Pharmacists
Australia
Pharmacists are assessed by AHPRA's Pharmacy Board of Australia. An overseas-qualified pharmacist must pass the KAPS (Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences) examination — a two-part exam covering pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy practice — before AHPRA registration. ANZSCO 251511 (Pharmacist) is on the MLTSSL.
Canada
The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) conducts the national pharmacist assessment. Internationally educated pharmacists must pass the PEBC Evaluating Examination and then the PEBC Qualifying Examinations (Part 1 and 2). Provincial pharmacy colleges require registration after PEBC completion. NOC 31120 (Pharmacists) is included in Canadian healthcare category draws.
5. Allied Health Professions
| Profession | Australia (Assessing Body) | Canada (Assessing Body) |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapist | AHPRA (OT Board) | CAOT / provincial OT college |
| Radiographer/Radiologist | AHPRA (Medical Radiation Practice Board) | CAMRT / provincial body |
| Dietitian/Nutritionist | Dietitians Australia (non-AHPRA) | CDRE / provincial dietitian college |
| Speech Pathologist | Speech Pathology Australia (non-AHPRA) | SAC-OAC / provincial body |
| Medical Lab Scientist | AIMS (non-AHPRA) | CSMLS (national body) |
| Social Worker | AASW (non-AHPRA) | CASW / provincial body |
6. Profession Comparison Table
| Factor | Nurses (AU) | Nurses (CA) | Physio (AU) | Physio (CA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment body | ANMAC → AHPRA | Provincial college + NCLEX | APC → AHPRA | CAPR → provincial |
| Assessment timeline | 3–6 months (ANMAC) | 2–4 months (NCLEX + college) | 4–8 months (APC) | 4–10 months (CAPR) |
| ANZSCO/NOC | 254111 | 31301 | 252511 | 31202 |
| Occupation list | MLTSSL | TEER 1 (EE eligible) | MLTSSL | TEER 1 (EE eligible) |
| Category draws | 190 healthcare states | CA healthcare EE draws | 190 some states | CA healthcare EE draws |
| Salary (major city) | AUD $75,000–$100,000 | CAD $70,000–$95,000 | AUD $75,000–$95,000 | CAD $65,000–$90,000 |
7. Regional Health Incentives
Australia: regional healthcare
Healthcare workers willing to work in regional, rural, or remote areas of Australia have significantly better immigration outcomes:
- 491 visa regional incentive adds 15 points to SkillSelect score — often decisive for healthcare workers in the 65–80 point range
- Area of Need provisions allow doctors and some allied health workers to work in regional areas with provisional registration while completing full qualification requirements
- State nominations (190) for healthcare workers willing to live regionally are available in South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and Western Australia
- Many regional hospitals and health networks provide settlement support, accommodation assistance, and sponsorship pathways via 482
Canada: regional healthcare
- Atlantic provinces have particularly strong healthcare demand — the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) provides an employer-linked PR pathway without requiring Express Entry score competitiveness
- Rural and Northern immigration pathways offer expedited PR for healthcare workers with qualifying job offers in participating communities
- Most provincial healthcare systems offer relocation allowances, tuition incentives, and retention bonuses for internationally educated healthcare professionals working in rural or remote areas
- Saskatchewan and Manitoba have healthcare-specific PNP streams with lower experience requirements for healthcare workers in designated shortage areas