Ontario Accelerates Licensing Process to Welcome U.S. Doctors and Nurses Amid Healthcare Staffing Crisis
Ontario streamlines process allowing U.S.-licensed doctors and nurses to work up to six months to address staffing shortages.
In a significant move aimed at addressing persistent health-care staffing shortages, Ontario will soon allow doctors and nurses licensed in the United States to begin working in the province under a streamlined process. The provincial Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, announced today that these changes are designed to increase the number of health-care professionals available to serve communities across Ontario.
Under the new policy, qualified U.S.-licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses can start working in Ontario health-care settings before they complete registration with their respective regulatory colleges. Specifically, these professionals will be permitted to work for up to six months while they seek official registration with either the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the College of Nurses of Ontario.
This approach, officials say, will help fill critical gaps in hospitals and other health facilities, ensuring that patients receive timely care. While the expedited employment period is welcomed by many in the sector, the health ministry emphasized that all incoming professionals must still complete standard immigration procedures to work in Canada. Additionally, prospective candidates must hold an active license in their home jurisdiction in the United States, with no history of misconduct or incompetence.
The latest announcement builds upon previous measures taken by the government to streamline licensing for health professionals. Last year, the province made it easier for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and medical laboratory technologists registered in other Canadian jurisdictions to work in Ontario temporarily, while their applications for full registration were being processed.
With these new changes, Ontario is positioning itself to quickly boost health-care capacity, providing much-needed relief to staff and improving access to care for patients. The move is expected to be particularly impactful in regions of the province where recruitment and retention continue to present significant challenges.
