Ontario Expands Fast-Track Licensing for 16 More Healthcare Professions

Ontario is taking another major step to reduce barriers for healthcare professionals moving from other provinces. The provincial government has proposed adding 16 more regulated healthcare occupations to its “As of Right” framework, which allows qualified professionals to start working in Ontario much faster.

What Is the “As of Right” Framework?

The As of Right rules allow regulated professionals who are already licensed in another Canadian province or territory to get authorization to work in Ontario without going through lengthy re-licensing processes.

Currently, obtaining authorization to practice in Ontario can take up to six months. Under the proposed update, qualified professionals could start working within just 10 days after their credentials are validated.

The government aims to implement these changes by January 1, 2026.

Who Will Benefit from This Update?

The list of 16 proposed healthcare professions includes:

These additions build upon the professions already covered under the original regulations, which include physicians, surgeons, nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and medical laboratory technologists.

Faster Licensing for Physicians and Nurses

Ontario also plans to further speed up the process for physicians and nurses. Registered and certified professionals from other provinces could soon receive authorization to work in Ontario within just two business days.

To achieve this, the province is collaborating with:

• The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and
• The College of Nurses of Ontario.
  
  

The goal is to:

• Reduce application fees;
• Simplify documentation requirements; and
• Streamline certification issuance within two business days.
  
  

Why This Matters

According to David Piccini, Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, this change will help “make it easier for workers from across Canada to get on the job faster,” boosting both healthcare access and economic growth.

Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, added that Ontario’s first-in-Canada approach will “make it faster and easier for clinicians to provide world-class care when and where Ontarians need it.”

Broader Impact

The As of Right framework covers certification across 50 Ontario regulatory bodies and includes nearly 300 regulated occupations. With this expansion, Ontario continues to lead in creating a more mobile and responsive healthcare workforce across Canada.

In Summary:
Ontario’s proposed update to the As of Right regulations will make it significantly faster for healthcare professionals from other provinces to start working in Ontario — with some able to get licensed in just days. This reform not only supports healthcare accessibility but also strengthens Ontario’s position as a national leader in interprovincial labour mobility.