AAIP - (Worker) Alberta Advantage Immigration Program - Dedicated Health Care Pathway

Updated per Government of Alberta sources on October 6, 2026.

The Alberta Dedicated Health Care Pathway under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) provides a pathway to permanent residence for individuals with a job offer in Alberta in eligible health care professions. Candidates can apply for a nomination through two streams: Express Entry and Non-Express Entry.

Eligibility Requirements:

Candidates must have a job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible health care profession and meet established criteria.

Eligible Health Care Professions:

Eligible health care professions include:

• Physicians – College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)
• Registered Nurses (RNs) – College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA)
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) – College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA)
• Nurse Practitioners (NPs) – College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA)
• Physician Assistants – College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)
• Occupational Therapists – Alberta College of Occupational Therapists (ACOT)
• Physiotherapists – College of Physiotherapists of Alberta (CPA)
• Clinical Social Workers – Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)
• Psychologists – College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP)

Requirements for the Express Entry Stream:

• Job offer: Must have a valid job offer from an Alberta health care employer covered by the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) of Alberta.
• Express Entry profile: Candidates must have an active Express Entry profile and a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300.
• Licensure: Provide evidence of eligibility to practice in the health care profession in Alberta from the relevant regulatory body.
• Federal immigration requirements: Must meet the criteria for at least one of the federal immigration programs managed under the Express Entry system, such as the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Federal Skilled Worker Program.
• Language: Meet the corresponding federal Express Entry program requirements; CLB 5 does not apply as a general alternative for Express Entry.

Requirements for the Non-Express Entry Stream:

• Job offer: Must have a valid job offer from an Alberta health care employer.
• Licensure: Candidates must provide evidence of eligibility to practice in the health care profession as regulated.
• Language: Achieve CLB 5 in all skills or provide official language test results if not meeting language eligibility through the licensing process.
• Work permit: If working in Alberta at the time of application, a valid work permit or maintained status is required under the pathway conditions.

KeyApply Services:

KeyApply offers consulting and immigration support services through the Alberta Dedicated Health Care Pathway. Our team of lawyers and immigration specialists is committed to supporting you from eligibility assessment and document preparation to application submission and result monitoring. With in-depth experience in immigration, KeyApply helps you easily realize your dream of settling in Alberta.

Choosing the right option and language requirements

If you meet the requirements to create an Express Entry profile with a CRS score of 300 or higher, you must use the Express Entry option; Non-Express Entry is for those who do not qualify for the Alberta Express Entry stream. For Non-Express Entry, the language requirement is CLB 5 per skill or the level required to obtain professional licensure as per accepted evidence. Licensed Practical Nurses and Clinical Social Workers have specific language evidence requirements. IELTS General Training, CELPIP General, PTE Core, TEF Canada, and TCF Canada are accepted; test results must be less than two years old at the time of application. Not all health care professions fall under this pathway; you must cross-reference the occupation and the regulatory body.

Worker EOI, invitations, and government fees

Candidates must create a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI), be selected, and receive an invitation before submitting an AAIP application. The WEOI fee is 135 CAD as of April 7, 2026; the worker stream application fee is 1,500 CAD. These are government fees, separate from service and IRCC fees. A WEOI is valid for one year; updating information does not extend this validity. You must update salary and hours worked information when applicable. Meeting requirements or entering the pool does not guarantee an invitation or nomination.

The AAIP issues a provincial nomination; the IRCC makes the decision regarding permanent residence. A nomination does not automatically grant PR or a work permit.

Source: Alberta.ca – official requirements and AAIP updates.

AAIP 2026 Updates

All AAIP worker streams currently use the Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) before being invited to apply. From April 7, 2026, the WEOI submission fee is 135 CAD. A WEOI is valid for 12 months. Having a WEOI does not guarantee an invitation; the AAIP selects candidates based on score, labor market needs, provincial priorities, remaining nominations, and application volume.

As of February 25, 2026, the WEOI includes additional information regarding salary and hours worked for candidates with an Alberta job offer; these factors may be used in draw rounds.

Update source: Government of Alberta – AAIP Updates / How to apply to AAIP worker streams.

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