Alberta's government is creating more than 600 new seats for nurse bridging programs and investing in a new bursary for internationally educated nurses.
Alberta has the best front-line health-care workers in the world. Alberta's government will work to have the right supports in place to ensure Albertans get the care they need, when and where they need it. Through Budget 2023, Alberta's government would invest more than $15 million to train and support more internationally educated nurses. This will ensure Alberta's health-care system remains strong now, and in the future.
"We are reducing barriers for internationally educated nurses to come to Alberta. This is truly a win-win' for our province, and will help us train more nurses to keep our health-care system strong now, and in the future."
Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education
"The costs of internationally trained nurses to get accredited to work in Alberta can be a hurdle for many looking to further their careers here. These bridging program bursaries remove the financial challenges and also help attract more health-care workers to the province to meet our growing needs."
Jason Copping, Minister of Health
Bursaries for internationally educated nurses
Under Budget 2023, Alberta's government would invest $7.8 million annually to fund non-repayable financial assistance for internationally educated nurses. This builds on last fall's $1.25-million funding announcement to fund new financial assistance for internationally educated nurses.
Eligible internationally educated nurses would be able to access as much as $30,000 over five years to help offset the costs of nursing bridging programs, tuition and living expenses. The bursary will be available in the 2023-24 academic year.
Bursary recipients are required to complete a year of nursing service in Alberta for every $6,000 disbursed. This will ensure Alberta patients and communities benefit by having more nurses start their careers in the province. A third party will oversee the program and disburse the assistance on behalf of Alberta Student Aid.
Any internationally educated nurse learner living in Alberta, who has successfully enrolled in an approved bridging program, will be eligible for the bursary regardless of their eligibility for any other federal or provincial student aid. The amount of each eligible bursary will be determined based on the individual's program of study, tuition costs, licensing and program fees, with a minimum of $8,000 awarded.
This fulfils one of the agreements in a recent memorandum of understanding between the governments of Alberta and the Phillipines to attract nurses to Alberta and keep them in the province.
"I welcome this new bursary program as an important step in the implementation of the Philippines-Alberta MOU on the recruitment of Filipino nurses. It will be of enormous help to the many Filipino internationally educated nurses who are now here in Alberta."
Consul General Zaldy Patron, Philippine consul general
600 new seats in Alberta's nurse bridging programs
An additional $7.3 million would be invested over three years to create more than 600 new seats for registered nurse and licensed practical nurse bridging and licensing programs, starting in the 2023-24 academic year.
This investment would create 256 new seats for the registered nurse bridging program at Mount Royal University. It would also fund 120 new seats at Bow Valley College and 250 new seats at NorQuest College for their licensed practical nurse bridging programs.
"MRU is proud to be a place where internationally educated nurses who immigrate to Canada integrate their cultural understanding, skills and knowledge into the Canadian context."
Tim Rahilly, president, Mount Royal University
"This support recognizes the talent and potential of nurses with foreign credentials who choose to make Alberta their home. We are proud to work with the ministry to remove barriers, empowering these health-care professionals to continue their studies and transition to a rewarding, in-demand field."
Michael Crowe, vice-president, academic, Bow Valley College
"NorQuest is ideally positioned to respond to provide quality nursing education to help deliver better health care to Albertans. This investment ensures more internationally educated nurses will have the skills required to better support our province's health-care needs."
Carolyn Campbell, president and CEO, NorQuest College
