Bursaries / Incentives

The Department of Health and Community Services is committed to health human resource planning including the development of initiatives to assist with the recruitment and retention of health professionals to provide effective and sustainable services to the people of our province.

Effective recruitment is about building relationships with students, new graduates, and experienced professionals, regardless of whether they originate from within the province or elsewhere. The province currently offers a variety of recruitment and retention initiatives for students and experienced health professionals. Bursaries are effective for student recruitment, while signing bonuses are valuable for attracting experienced health professionals. Both incentives entice individuals to accept difficult-to-fill positions.

Listed below are the wide range of initiatives that are funded by the Department of Health and Community Services, as well as information on application forms and policies.  In addition to these incentives:

  • The Labrador Benefits Agreement provides employee and dependent allowances, travel allowances, and extra paid leave.  Please see an overview of this benefit and eligibility here
  • NL Health Services provide market adjustments that supplement salaries for selected health occupations including medical physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, cardiovascular perfusionists, medical flight specialists, clinical laboratory scientists, and for other selected positions
  • The Government of Canada provides student loan forgiveness for family doctors and nurses.  Please see an overview of this benefit and eligibility here

Bursaries / Incentives

Ukrainian Physician Licensure Support Program

The Department of Health and Community Services has launched the Ukrainian Physician Licensure Support Program to assist displaced Ukrainian physicians in obtaining licensure to practice medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador. Eligible Ukrainian physicians can receive up to $10,000 in funding to offset the costs associated with obtaining licensure in Newfoundland and Labrador, in exchange for a two (2) year provincial service agreement.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Applicants must have a medical degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
  • Applicants must have completed a discipline-specific post-graduate training program.
  • Applicants must have practiced a minimum of 120 days in the past 3 years.
  • Applicants must be residing in Newfoundland and Labrador.

For further information, please contact UkrainianPhysician@gov.nl.ca.

Program Application

Medicine

Physician Signing Bonus Program

The Department of Health and Community Services”) has launched the Physician Signing Bonus Program to attract and retain new, qualified physicians to practice medicine with the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NL Health Services). Funding is available to General Practitioner and Specialist physicians who have agreed to provide services to the NL Health Services in the practice of medicine.

Eligibility criteria includes:

  • Physicians who are new to practice (in the final three years of a residency program at a Canadian University); or
  • Physicians new to the province (have lived out of province for a minimum of 24 months); or
  • Physicians new to working with NL Health Services.

Funding is based on full-time practice for five years, however flexible service arrangements are available at the request of NL Health Services. Funding tiers are as follows:

  • $100,000 for physicians practicing on the Northeast Avalon
  • $150,000 for physicians practicing in rural Newfoundland or Labrador.

Candidates that sign on to work in “difficult-to-fill” positions within the province are eligible to top-up an additional $25,000 under this program.

Applications for the Physician Signing Bonus Program must be submitted with support from the NL Health Services. Interested applicants are asked to contact the NL Health Service recruiter for their region. Please refer to the Policy Manual for more information.

Family Practice Programs

The Family Practice Programs aim to attract and retain new, qualified family physicians to provide primary healthcare services in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Department of Health and Community Services provides funding to eligible family physicians to help alleviate the financial burden associated with opening or joining a fee-for-service family practice in the province. The Family Practice Programs consists of two incentives: the New Family Physician Income Guarantee and the Family Practice Start-up Program.

New Family Physician Income Guarantee

New family physicians accepted for funding under this program who open a new clinic or join an established clinic billing on a fee-for-services basis will have their income guaranteed to be at least equivalent to the minimum level paid to a salaried physician (Step 1 of the Family Physician Salary Scale under the Memorandum of Agreement between the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association and the Department of Health and Community Services) in exchange for a two (2) year provincial service agreement.

Family Practice Start-Up Program

Funding of $150,000 (up to $150,000 for current Medical Resident Bursary program recipients) will be available to new family physicians who open or join a fee-for-service family practice in exchange for a five (5) year provincial service agreement.

Application For Family Practice Programs

Eligibility criteria for the Family Practice Programs includes:

  • New family physicians practicing in Newfoundland and Labrador, including:
    • Physicians entering a FFS family practice for the first time
    • Physicians practicing family medicine in another province who intend to relocate to Newfoundland and Labrador to practice FFS family medicine
  • Medical residents can apply in any year of a residency program
  • Canadian citizen/permanent resident status
  • Full or provisional licensure under the Medical Act, 2011 (note: provisional licensure requires PHA sponsorship)

Family physicians can apply before opening/joining a family practice, or if they have opened/joined a family practice since November 2022. Family physicians currently completing a service agreement under the Medical Resident Bursary Program can apply to the Family Practice Programs, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

New – Family physicians accepted into the Family Practice Programs can choose to reduce their yearly service commitment in exchange for pro-rated funding. Please refer to the program manual for additional information.

Applicants are required to coordinate with the physician recruiter for the relevant regional health authority to apply. Completed applications and inquiries can be forwarded to MedServicesPrograms@gov.nl.ca.

Provincial Physician Bursary Program

Provincial Physician Bursary Program is designed to attract undergraduate medical students and medical residents to commence practice in designated areas of need in Newfoundland and Labrador upon obtaining full licensure in this province. The Department of Health and Community Services provides bursaries to eligible students and medical residents to assist with academic and living expenses during training.

The Provincial Physician Bursary Program consists of two incentives: the Undergraduate Medical Student Bursary Program> and the Medical Resident Bursary Program

Undergraduate Medical Student Bursary Program

The Undergraduate Medical Student Bursary Program provides bursaries to full-time students enrolled in the fourth academic year of the Undergraduate Medical Education Program at Memorial University in exchange for a twelve (12)-month provincial service agreement. Students enrolled in medical schools in other educational institutions are not eligible for these bursaries.

The amount of each bursary is $7,500 per student. These will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis up to a maximum of twenty-one (21) undergraduate medical student bursaries per fiscal year.

The deadline for the application is March 31st of the third academic year with payment being made at the start of the fourth academic year.

Medical Resident Bursary Program

The Medical Resident Bursary Program provides bursaries to medical residents who agree to provide service in a specific community in Newfoundland and Labrador upon obtaining full-licensure. Bursaries are available to medical residents who meet the following criteria:

  • Are medical school undergraduates from Memorial University completing the final two years of their post-graduate medical education in Newfoundland and Labrador or in other Canadian programs; or
  • Are medical school undergraduates from another Canadian jurisdiction completing the final two years of their post-graduate medical education in Newfoundland and Labrador; or
  • Are a Canadian medical school graduate, having completed undergraduate medical school or postgraduate residency training at Memorial University and are completing subspecialty training accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Recipients are eligible for only one (1) medical resident bursary. The service requirement for one (1) medical resident bursary is thirty-six (36) months.

The following table shows the medical resident bursary amounts by community level. Community levels increase from Level 0 (Labrador) to Level 3a (St. John’s) based on level of rural location and remoteness.

Community Level 0 1 2 3 3a
Family Medicine Funding Amount $90,000 $70,000 $60,000 $50,000 $40,000
Specialist Funding Amount

 

$90,000 $70,000 $60,000 $50,000 N/A

The deadline for requesting a medical resident bursary is January 31 of the academic year of application.

Travelling Residency Program

The Travelling Residency Program funds residency program costs for physicians training in medical specialties not offered at Memorial University. Applicants must already be accepted into a residency program at a Canadian institution through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) and must be transferring into an unfunded seat in a residency program not offered at Memorial University.

Recipients of Travelling Residency funding must commit to practice medicine in the province with the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Service once they have finished their residency training.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for consideration under the Program, the applicant must meet all of the criteria as indicated in the Policy Manual.

Application Process

Applicants must submit the following:

  • Travelling Residency Program application form.
  • Letter of support from the Director of the host institution residency program, indicating acceptance to the program.
  • Letter from the NL Health Services, confirming the future anticipated need for the specialty training and desire to recruit the recipient.
  • Two confidential reference letters sent directly to the Medical Services Division, Department of Health and Community Services at MedServicesPrograms@gov.nl.ca.

Applicants should contact the physician recruiters for the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services to obtain support for their application. Completed applications should be submitted electronically to the Medical Services Division at MedServicesPrograms@gov.nl.ca.

Traveling Fellowship Program

Funding is available for physicians to undertake training in specialty and sub-specialty programs that are not offered by Memorial University. A recipient’s salary (including cost of benefits) will be paid at the pay scale of the University offering the fellowship position. In return for this funding, it is required that the recipient return one year of service to the province within a Regional Health Authority for each year funding is received. Candidates must first seek to obtain regular funded positions in the out-of-province programs and possess qualifications at least equivalent to that expected for the funded positions.

Applications will be accepted throughout the year, provided that sufficient time is available to review the application.

For further information, please contact:

Department of Health and Community Services
MedServicesPrograms@gov.nl.ca

Lists of all vacant positions and related information:

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Physician Assistant Pilot Program

Physician Assistant Program:

Newfoundland and Labrador has launched a three-year Physician Assistant Pilot Program to integrate Physician Assistants into practice with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services.  There are multiple practice opportunities for Physician Assistants across the Province.  The goal of the pilot program is to see physician assistants practice medicine in collaboration with physicians working autonomously under the supervision of a licensed doctor to extend physician services and improve patient access to care across Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Incentives:

  • $30,000 signing bonus (requires three-year full-time service commitment, flexible service arrangements are available).
  • Up to $10,000 relocation assistance for Physician Assistants living outside the province.

Educational Requirements:

  • Completed training at an accredited Physician Assistant Canadian education program; and
  • Completed the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC) PA Certification Exam; and
  • Have current Canadian Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA) designation.

For more information on practice opportunities, please contact:  recruit@workinhealthnl.ca

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Signing Bonuses

Signing bonuses are available for selected health occupations, targeting difficult-to-fill positions, and tiered to address geographic considerations.

Amount:
$5000 to $10,000 is available per year (1950 hours) of service commitment, with the amount doubled for two years (3900 hours) service commitment.

 

Category Difficult-to-fill Position by Location One-Year

Service Agreement

Two-Year

Service Agreement

A Positions in communities on Trans-Canada Highway $5,000 $10,000
B Positions in communities not on Trans-Canada Highway and excluding C and D $7,000 $14,000
C Positions in Labrador-Grenfell Health Authority including those on the Trans-Labrador Highway excluding D $8,000 $16,000
D Positions on the coast of Labrador excluding C $10,000 $20,000

 

Eligibility:
Individuals not employed by NL Health Services, or any Government of NL Department, Agency, Board or Commission within the previous three months.

 

Provincial: Eastern Health, Central Health and Western Health Only:
Advanced Care Paramedic Electroneurophysiology Technologist (EEG)
Anesthesia Assistant Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Audiologist Orthopedic Technologist
Cardiology Technologist
Combined LX Technologist
Dietitian (Clinical)
Licensed Practical Nurse
Medical Laboratory Technologist
Medical Radiation Technologist Eastern Health Only:
Nurse Practitioner Orthopists
Occupational Therapist Prothetist/Orthotist Clinician
Personal Care Attendant Medical Physicist
Pharmacist Radiation Therapist
Pharmacy Technician
Primary Care Paramedic Dosimetrists
Psychologist (Clinical) Cardiovascular Perfusionists
Physiotherapist Medical Flight Specialist (Happy Valley-Goose Bay)
Recreation Development Specialist
Registered Midwife
Registered Nurse
Respiratory Therapist
Social Worker
Speech Language Pathologist

 

Deadline:
There is no set deadline for this incentive.

PLEASE CONTACT NL HEALTH SERVICES FOR SIGNING BONUS AVAILABILITY

Eastern Zone: employment@easternhealth.ca
Central Zone: opportunities@centralhealth.nl.ca
Western Zone: careers@westernhealth.nl.ca
Labrador Zone: hr@lghealth.ca

Careers in Health Care and Bursaries and Incentives for Health Care Professionals

Nursing

Bachelor of Nursing Bursary

Bachelor of Nursing Bursaries provide financial assistance to students of the Bachelor of Nursing (Collaborative) Program and students in the Centre for Nursing Studies (CNS) Re-Entry Program who agree to accept employment in a difficult-to-fill position and fulfill a service commitment as described in this policy.

Amount:

  • A $5,000 bursary is available per year (1950 hours) of service commitment, to a maximum of two years (3900 hours), or $10,000.

Eligibility:

  • Students enrolled in the third and final years of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Collaborative) Program in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Students enrolled in the third and final years of an approved Bachelor of Nursing program in another Canadian jurisdiction, with preference given to residents of NL.

For More Information, please contact NL Health Services:

Eastern Zone: employment@easternhealth.ca
Central Zone: opportunities@centralhealth.nl.ca
Western Zone: careers@westernhealth.nl.ca
Labrador Zone: hr@lghealth.ca

Careers in Health Care and Bursaries and Incentives for Health Care Professionals

Bachelor of Nursing Practice Course Grant

This grant provides financial assistance with tuition and practice related expenses for two clinical courses.

Amount:

  • $750 for each course

Eligibility:

This policy applies to students enrolled in the following courses in Newfoundland and Labrador:

  • NURS 3523 Extended Practice III
  • NURS 4516 Consolidated Practicum

Deadline:

  • One month prior to start of course

For More Information:

Nurse Practitioner Bursary

The purpose of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) Bursary is to provide financial assistance to nurses who are enrolled in a NP education program and agree to accept employment in a difficult-to-fill position and fulfill a service commitment as described in this policy.

Amount:

  • A $5,000 bursary is available per year (1950 hours) of service commitment, to a maximum of two years (3900 hours), or $10,000.

Eligibility:

  • Individuals enrolled in an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador who are enrolled in an accredited Nurse Practitioner Program in another Canadian jurisdiction.

For More Information, please contact the Human Resources Department at NL Health Services:

Eastern Zone: employment@easternhealth.ca
Central Zone: opportunities@centralhealth.nl.ca
Western Zone: careers@westernhealth.nl.ca
Labrador Zone: hr@lghealth.ca

Rural Nursing Student Incentive

The objective of the Rural Nursing Student Incentive Program is to provide travel-related funding assistance (up to $1,500) to nursing students in their fourth year of studies to undertake community placements in rural areas of the province during their four-week course: 4512 – Community Health Practicum. Funds are forwarded from the Department of Health and Community Services to the Memorial University School of Nursing; the Memorial University School of Nursing is responsible for the administration of these funds.

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Health Professionals

Health Professional Bursaries

The awarding of bursaries for difficult to fill Health Professional positions is based on vacancies that exist within each Regional Health Authority (RHA). Bursaries are available to students who sign a service agreement.

Below is a list of eligible Health Professional occupations*.

Audiologist Laboratory/x-ray Technologist Orthoptist
Behaviour Management Specialist Diagnostic Imaging Technologist Paramedic (Primary and Advanced Care)
Cardiology Technologist Dosimetrist Pastoral Care Clinician
Cardiopulmonary Technologist Electro Neurophysiology Technologist Personal Care Attendant
Cardiovascular Perfusion Technologist Genetic Counselor Pharmacy Technician
Child Management Specialist Laboratory Technologist Prosthetist-Orthotist Clinician/Technician
Clinical Dietitian Licensed Practical Nurse Radiation Therapist
Clinical Occupational Therapist Managers (clinical and non-clinical) Recreation/Development Special
Clinical Pharmacist Medical Physicist Respiratory Therapist
Clinical Physiotherapist Nuclear Medicine Technologist Social Worker
Clinical Psychologist Orthopaedic Technologist Speech-Language Pathologist

* Other Health Professional Occupations may be considered

The bursary is a maximum of $10,000 with a required service obligation of 3900 or 3640 hours (as applicable). A maximum of $5,000 with a 1950 or 1820 (as applicable) hour service obligation is also available. For Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy in St. John’s, the bursary is generally $3,000, with a 1950 or 1820 (as applicable) hour service obligation. Bursaries are available to students only.

For Licensed Practical Nurses and Personal Care Attendants:

The bursary is a maximum of $5,000 with a required service obligation of 3,900 hours. The service obligation requires the student to work as an LPN/PCA with a Regional Health Authority (RHA) in Newfoundland and Labrador upon completion of the program (last day of exams in academic calendar). Students must meet all conditions required by the RHA before being offered a bursary which includes meeting conditions of employment with the RHA offering the bursary. Students enrolled in the LPN Nursing program or the Centre for Nursing Studies (CNS) Re-Entry Program, or the PCA program are eligible.

Please contact NL Health Services for bursary availability.

Eastern Zone: employment@easternhealth.ca
Central Zone: opportunities@centralhealth.nl.ca
Western Zone: careers@westernhealth.nl.ca
Labrador Zone: hr@lghealth.ca

Careers in Health Care and Bursaries and Incentives for Health Care Professionals

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One-Time Health Professional Incentives

Long-term Care Recruitment Bonus

A recruitment bonus is available to attract registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and personal care attendants (including new graduates and retired employees) to work in long-term care, for a one-year return in service commitment.

Nurse Practitioner Recruitment Incentive for Family Care Teams

An incentive ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 is available to Nurse Practitioners who commit to work within a Family Care Team in the province, with the option of an additional incentive to provide coverage for select rural emergency departments, also known as Category B emergency departments for an additional $10,000. These incentives require one-year (1950 hours) return-in-service, with an option to extend for a second year.

Radiation Therapy

Eastern Health has partnered with the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences in Toronto Ontario, to place qualifying students from Newfoundland and Labrador in the Radiation Therapy Program. Radiation Therapists use advanced computer systems and radiation therapy equipment to design and implement treatment plans for cancer and other diseases. Funding support for tuition, books and bursaries may be available if a student is willing to sign a service commitment agreement to work in NL Health Services upon graduation. For more information on Radiation Therapy please visit Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists | Radiation Therapy 

Please contact NL Health Services for bursary availability.

Eastern Zone: employment@easternhealth.ca
Central Zone: opportunities@centralhealth.nl.ca
Western Zone: careers@westernhealth.nl.ca
Labrador Zone: hr@lghealth.ca

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Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy

Ten Physiotherapy and eight Occupational Therapy seats are reserved at Dalhousie University for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. When a student applies to Dalhousie University in the Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy programs, s/he will be advised by Dalhousie University of these seats. Students are encouraged, during their training program at Dalhousie University, to seek employment with NL Health Services in Newfoundland and Labrador and take advantage of available incentives.

Seat Purchase Program Dalhousie University: The Department of Health and Community Services provides funding for 18 seats at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to ensure access to the Occupational Therapy (8 seats) and Physiotherapy (10 seats) programs by Newfoundland & Labrador students. There is no associated return-in-service.

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Dentistry

The Department’s Dental Bursary Program has two components, the Rural Dental Bursary Program and the Specialist Bursary Program. Recipients of the Rural Dental Bursary are required to fulfill their practice commitment in a rural area determined by the province. For the Specialist Bursary Program, applicants are required to work in an in-need area upon graduation.

Each bursary is valued at $50,000. Students must apply annually for bursaries and are eligible to receive a maximum of three bursaries in each component of the Program for a total of $300,000. In exchange for each bursary received, bursary recipients are required to commit to one year of service in rural or in-need areas of the province.

Recipients will be determined through a competitive application process and while the program is open to Canadian citizens, preference is given to students from Newfoundland and Labrador. To be eligible, an applicant must be accepted into an accredited dental program or specialty program recognized by the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Licensing Board.

For More Information:

Dental Consultant
(709) 758-1503
Email: MichelleZwicker@gov.nl.ca

Department of Health and Community Services
Manager of Health Workforce Planning
1st Floor West Block Confederation Building
St. John’s, NL
(709) 729-1890

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Educational Salary Advance for Regional Health Authority Employees

The purpose of the Educational Salary Advance Program is to allow employees to finance a planned leave of absence, of between six and 24 months, to complete an education program on a full-time basis. Employees may advance a portion of their salary (before deductions) during the leave of absence, and repay the advance over a specified timeframe upon returning to work.

Eligibility:

Permanent employees with a minimum of 12 months’ continuous service with the RHA may apply for enrolment in the Educational Salary Advance Program. Employees must be enrolled in an education program on a full-time basis.

Amount and Disbursement:

A maximum of 66.6 per cent of an annual salary (before deductions) may be advanced directly to the Recipient on a bi-weekly basis for a period of six to 24 months depending on the length of the educational program.

NL Health Services employees are encouraged to speak with their direct supervisor and human resources to discuss opportunities to avail of the Education Salary Advance Program.

For More Information: Policy – Educational Salary Advance Program 2020 (347 KB)

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