Incentives for Health Care Professionals
Training, licensing and relocation supports are available for internationally educated health care workers arriving from overseas and those currently living in the province.
Incentives are available for working in high-priority health care occupations in a rural or remote community.
1. Saskatchewan Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive
An incentive of up to $50,000 for a three-year return-of-service agreement is available to new employees of the SHA or an Affiliate in nine high-priority positions in 54 rural and remote locations.
The incentive packages range from $30,000 to $50,000 depending on the position and whether you are in receipt of other incentives/grant programs. These amounts are paid over a three-year period with a matching return-of-service agreement.
This is one of the most generous incentive programs in Canada.
For more details and to see you if you’re eligible visit Saskatchewan Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive or contact HHR@health.gov.sk.ca.
2. Loans and Bursaries
The Student Loan Forgiveness Program encourages nurses and nurse practitioners to practise in rural or remote communities by forgiving up to $20,000 of their Saskatchewan Student Loans.
The Graduate Retention Program provides income tax credits of up to $20,000 to eligible graduates who live and work in Saskatchewan. Nurses and nurse practitioners who are eligible for the Student Loan Forgiveness Program may also qualify for the Graduate Retention Program.
The Final Clinical Placement Bursary is offered by the Ministry of Health to students in an eligible health discipline that requires the completion of a final clinical placement as part of training.
3. Incentives for Physicians
Information on incentives for physicians is available at Rural Physician Incentive Program and Partner Programs.
4. First Nations and Métis Recruitment and Retention
First Nations and Métis Relations (FNMR) branch within the Saskatchewan Health Authority focuses on promoting principles that support and guide successful engagement with First Nations and Métis people and communities.
Current recruitment and retention strategies as part of our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation - Calls to Action #23 include:
- Provide health career exploration learning opportunities for First Nations and Métis students.
- Continue to build on partnerships, through engagement with First Nations and Métis communities, educational and other key stakeholders.
- Develop a First Nations and Métis recruitment and retention strategy.
- Develop and implement a new onboarding/orientation plan, inclusive of a representative workforce.
- Streamlined provincial Cultural Awareness training as part of onboarding for all new staff and made available for current staff/teams.