Alberta has the best front-line healthcare 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 healthcare system remains strong now and in the future.
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.
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.
