Health Care Education

You can find health care certificate, diploma and degree programs right here at home. Many health care occupations are currently in-demand across the province. The following section highlights health training opportunities available at Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions. Please note that the lists are not exhaustive; for a full list of offerings, please consult individual institution websites.

Programs identified as “Direct Entry” in the below tables require secondary or high school credits. “Non-Direct Entry” programs require some post-secondary credits.

Medicine Programs

Medical Doctor

Physician Assistant

Nursing Programs

Registered Nursing

Practical Nursing

Registered Psychiatric Nursing

Nurse Practitioner

Nursing Bridging Programs

Continuing Care Assistant / Health Care Aide

Diagnostic and Imaging Programs

Medical Laboratory Assistant

Medical Laboratory Technology

Medical Radiologic Technology

Combined Laboratory & X‑Ray Technology

Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Dentistry and Dental Assisting

Doctor of Dental Medicine

Dental Assisting & Dental Hygiene

Paramedicine and Emergency Services

Primary Care Paramedic

Advanced Care Paramedic

Therapy and Rehabilitation

Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Respiratory Therapy

Speech Language Pathology

Therapeutic Recreation

Public Health, Nutrition and Pharmacy

Public Health

Nutrition

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Technician

Social Sciences and Mental Health

Mental Health & Addictions Counselling

Social Work

Psychology (Undergraduate & Graduate)

Indigenous Health Programs

Bachelor of Health Studies

Indigenous Birth Support Worker Certificate

Indigenous Practical Nursing

General Health Studies and Kinesiology

Health Studies

Kinesiology

Gerontology

Interprovincial Health Sciences Training Agreements

Some specialized training is only available at select institutions in Canada. That's why Saskatchewan has agreements with other provinces to reserve seats for qualified Saskatchewan students in high-demand health science training programs.

Interprovincial agreement (IPA) programs offer opportunities for Saskatchewan students to train for health science occupations that are in high demand and training is not available in the province. Students complete the clinical portion of their program in Saskatchewan, making it easier to start their career at home.

Saskatchewan students enrolled in IPA programs may be eligible for Saskatchewan Student Aid and other financial incentives to support them during their studies and after graduation. Incentives include the:

• Interprovincial Agreement Incentive Program
• Graduate Retention Program

The following programs have seats reserved for Saskatchewan students:

Download the IPA Fact Sheet to learn more about IPA programs. For complete out-of-province program information and entrance requirements, please contact the educational institution directly through the website links provided.

Programs with reserved seats for Saskatchewan students are listed in the table below.

Please note: Programs identified as "Direct Entry" in the below tables require secondary or high school credits. "Non-Direct Entry" programs require some post-secondary credits. Students should confirm with the educational institution listed below if post-secondary credits gained in Saskatchewan can be transferred.

Cardiology Technology – British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Non-Direct Entry – Cardiology Technologists work in hospitals as well as specialty clinics and are the front-line workers for patients receiving care for heart disease. This virtual program teaches how to perform non-invasive diagnostic cardiology procedures, including electrocardiograms, ambulatory monitoring, and exercise stress testing. Students will be prepared to understand advanced concepts in cardiac devices and electrophysiology.

Radiation Therapy – University of Alberta (U of A)
Non-Direct Entry – Radiation therapists play a critical role in radiation treatment planning, treatment delivery and verification, patient care and support, and delivering safe and accurate treatment. Radiation therapists are also responsible for helping to manage the patient’s well-being throughout treatment and providing patient support as needed.

Nuclear Medicine Technology – Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Direct-Entry – Nuclear medicine technologists use radioactive drugs and specialized instruments to help diagnose and treat disease and injury, allowing evaluation of the function of various body organs. Through the nuclear medicine technology program, students learn the techniques of imaging, laboratory procedures and equipment operation.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Direct-Entry – Diagnostic medical sonographers work as members of patient care teams, applying high-frequency sound waves to assess patients and provide information to physicians for diagnoses and monitoring patients' health status. This program prepares students for general, cardiac and vascular certification by Sonography Canada.
Note: A general sonography certification program is also available at Suncrest College in Saskatchewan.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging – Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
1^st Discipline and 2^nd Discipline
Direct- and Non-Direct Entry – Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is used to image all parts of the human body using non-ionizing radiation that is safe for human tissue. A magnetic resonance imaging technologist is responsible for operating the MRI scanner, obtaining images, optimizing image quality and identifying pathology.

Cardiovascular Perfusion – British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Non-Direct Entry – Cardiovascular perfusionists, as key members of open-heart surgical teams, operate extracorporeal circulation equipment, such as heart-lung machines, during open-heart surgeries or other medical procedures requiring artificially supporting or temporarily replacing a patient's circulatory or respiratory function. They closely monitor the patient's blood flow and other vital signs during open heart surgery and are also responsible for administering intravenous fluids, blood products and anesthetic drugs.

Environmental Health – Concordia University of Edmonton
Non-Direct Entry – Public Health Inspectors deliver a wide variety of environmental health/public health programs through consultation, education, inspection and enforcement of legislation within an assigned geographical area.

Prosthetics and Orthotics – British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Non-Direct Entry – Orthotists and prosthetists perform detailed assessments to determine a patients orthopedic and prosthetic needs and assess functionality of muscle development, sensory function, range of motion, and joint stability. They also develop plans to address patient needs and goals, including pain reduction, stability and mobility.

Electroneurophysiology – British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Non-Direct Entry – Electroneurophysiology technologists work in hospital settings, operating electroneuro-diagnostic testing equipment used to test and assess the integrity of the peripheral and central nervous system.

Please note: Saskatchewan is no longer reserving first-year IPA seats for Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Therapy and Speech Language Pathology. These programs are now available in Saskatchewan. Learn more about each program at the links below:

• Speech Language Pathology – University of Saskatchewan
• Occupational Therapy – University of Saskatchewan
• Respiratory Therapy – Saskatchewan Polytechnic

The Government of Saskatchewan offers a variety of student financial supports to support secondary and post-secondary education.

Student support information and eligibility can be found at the website links below.

• Saskatchewan Student Aid
• Scholarships and Bursaries
• Final Clinical Placement Bursary
• Grants
• Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities
• Job Training and Financial Support Programs

Incentives are also available to support graduates of health care training programs who choose to work in Saskatchewan after graduation:

• Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive
• Interprovincial Agreement Incentive Program
• Graduate Retention Program
• Saskatchewan Student Loan Forgiveness for Nurses and Nurse Practitioners