Healthcare Connections supports internationally educated healthcare professionals (IEHPs) in securing non-licensed employment in the Canadian healthcare sector. Participants learn a range of sector-specific job seeking strategies, explore non-licensed career pathways and build the skillsets necessary to transfer their healthcare experience into non-licensed roles in the diverse Canadian healthcare sector. Participants are regularly connected with employers interested in hiring internationally educated healthcare professionals.
Healthcare Connections has the following streams:
Health Systems: Put your healthcare skills to use in healthcare administration, pharmaceuticals, clinical research and other fields.
To be eligible for the program, clients must meet residency, education and experience requirements. See the program eligibility tab for full eligibility criteria.
The program is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
VERA can help you register for an upcoming information session. Click the red chatbox in the bottom right corner to get started!
Program Components
- 6-week online program with in-person opportunities
- Develop effective job search strategies including market research techniques, resume development, interview skills and targeting your job search to companies that require your specific skills and experience
- Enhance communication skills needed in Canada’s diverse, interprofessional healthcare workplaces
- Free one-on-one and small group coaching support with coaches on your occupational transition
- Build your professional network and connections with other healthcare professionals and employers
- Access highly specialized trainings pertaining to healthcare employees, including:
- Interprofessional Healthcare Communications training from the Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare & Education (CACHE), offered collaboratively to Healthcare Connections clients and CARE Centre’s internationally educated nurses
- Healthcare sector-specific Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access (EDIA) training from the Bruyere Health Research Institute’s Equity in Health Systems Lab (EqHS)
- Mental Health in the Healthcare Workplace training from the Mental Health Commission of Canada
Program Benefits
- Develop sector-specific job search strategies to secure high quality non-licensed employment in healthcare administration, pharmaceuticals, clinical research and other fields
- Explore non-licensed career pathways and learn how to adapt your healthcare experience to the demands of the extended healthcare sector in Canada
- Receive regular referrals to job openings and connections to employers
- Invitations to attend recruitment and networking events
- Referrals to Speed Mentoring®, Health English Language Pro and Canadian Pharmacists Association’s IPG Mentorship and Integration Project
- Benefit from post-hire coaching that supports your job retention and workplace communication
- Access to in-demand clinical research training used by hospitals through the CITI program
Program Eligibility
- CLB 7+ in English preferred
- Completion of post-secondary education in a regulated healthcare profession outside of Canada
- Primarily designed for IEHPs in fields of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry or allied health professionals
- Permanent Resident or Convention Refugee
- Minimum 1 year of related work experience in healthcare from outside of Canada
- Little to no relevant work experience in the extended Canadian healthcare sector
- Must reside in Ontario
Program Dates
- July 14, 2025 to August 22, 2025 – Health Systems
- October 13, 2025 to November 21, 2025 – Health Systems
- January 19, 2026 to February 27, 2026 – Health Systems