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Each regulated health care profession has its own requirements for granting a licence to practice in Saskatchewan.  You must contact your regulatory body for the requirements specific to your profession.

The following guide provides you with a general idea of the types of activities that are normally part of getting a licence.  In some professions the activities may occur in a different order.  The description and the questions provided will give you an idea of what to look for as you do your research.  At the end of each section is a list of questions to ask your regulatory body.

You can also download the Guide for reaserching the Licensing Process that was designed to help you record your research results.  Throughout the Guide, you will find a list of questions to ask your regulatory body and spaces to write key information.

Each regulated health profession has a list of requirements for licensure and a specific application process.  Requirements include successful completion of a training program in the profession that is acceptable to the regulatory body.  You may need to complete one or several application forms, which are available either on the regulatory body's website or will be mailed to you upon your request. 

Documents:  Each regulatory body has a list of required documents.  Check with the regulatory body first.  These may include:

• Records from your secondary school, college or university such as notarized copies of degrees, diplomas and certificates.  Program descriptions, transcripts or detailed course information can also be useful.  In most cases, these records must be sent directly from the institution to the regulatory body or the credential assessment agency. 
• Documents that explain your past work experience, such as job descriptions, employment records, performance evaluations, letters from employers and work supervisors, résumés, and descriptions of training that you have completed. 
• A letter from your current licensing body verifying your registration and good standing.

Other IEHPs have found that gathering or arranging to send the required documents before leaving your home country can shorten the time it takes to get a licence.  Read more.

Translation:  If your documents are not in English, you will likely be required to provide an official translation.  You will have to pay for translation.  Usually translations must be done by a qualified translation service recognized by the regulatory body and the results are usually sent directly to the regulatory body.

Evaluation of Educational Credentials:  Some regulatory bodies evaluate your educational credentials themselves.  Others require you to have your educational credentials evaluated by one of the acceptable assessment agencies in Canada.  Usually you must arrange for the assessment agency to send the evaluation report directly to the regulatory body.  Your regulatory body can tell you which agency they require you to use to evaluate your credentials. 

English Proficiency:  If your professional training was in English, you may be asked to have confirmation sent from the training institution.  This may be accepted as proof of English language proficiency or you may be required to take a test. 

If your professional training was not in English, you will likely be asked to show proof of language proficiency.  Getting proof, such as language test results, will cost you money.  Some regulatory bodies only accept certain types of tests and may require that the results be sent directly from the testing organization.  Check with the regulatory body before you take a language assessment test.   

It is important to send all the necessary documents in the way they are required.  If you do not, the regulatory body may not be able to assess your application and the process will be delayed.  If you cannot get a specific document, contact your regulatory body to ask about other options.

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Assessment of professional skills usually involves one or more examinations.  Some exams are administered by a national organization for your profession and some by the provincial regulatory body.

In most cases, you will have to write one or more exams before you can work in Saskatchewan.  Usually, you must pass the "entry-to-practice" exams that all health professionals in your occupation in Saskatchewan are required to pass.  Some internationally educated health professionals find they need to write an examination more than once before they pass it.  Some reasons for this are:  unfamiliarity with the style of Canadian exams, insufficient knowledge of the Canadian health care system and culture, or not having the necessary English comprehension skills. 

If you have been working for several years, the exam may be challenging for you because your knowledge has likely become specialized (deeper but in a limited area) as opposed to the more general information you require for entry-to-practice.                      

You should not be discouraged if you have to write the exam more than once before you pass.  It is very common not to pass on the first attempt.  You must ask your regulatory body if there is a maximum number of times you are allowed to attempt your exams. 

Some professions require proof of a specific number of hours working in your field in the recent past.  You may need your past employers to verify these hours and the type of work you did.  Others require a clinical assessment of your skills. 

Some professions ask for a completed application form so that your documents and credentials can be assessed to determine if you are eligible to write the exam.  Others require you to pass the exam first and then submit the application form.  Check with your regulatory body.

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You may be required to take additional training to be eligible to take the exam and/or to qualify for a licence.  This will be based on the assessment done by your regulatory body.  Bridging or upgrading programs are available in some professions, but are limited in Saskatchewan.

Licences:  When you apply to your regulatory body for licensure, there may be a number of different licences for which you could apply (i.e., provisional, graduate, temporary, restricted, etc.).  The types of licences are specific to each profession.  Contact your regulatory body for details.

Fees:  Usually, you will need to pay a fee for your licence.  You will have to pay this fee every year to renew your licence.  In addition, you may be able to join a voluntary professional association.  You will need to pay a separate annual fee to join.

Appeal Process:  Each regulatory body has an appeal process that may be accessed by those who are unsuccessful in obtaining a licence and who disagree with the decision.