Ontario supports health providers throughout their careers. Learn more about regulated health professionals who are not nurses or physicians in the Regulated Programs section.
This section provides information on some initiatives underway that will enhance education, recruitment and retention, and stability of other providers in the health workforce both now and in the future.
Physician assistants (PAs) assist in the delivery of medical services within patient care teams in various settings. Under direction of the supervising physician, these services may include conducting patient interviews, taking medical histories, performing physical examinations, performing certain controlled acts under delegation and counselling patients on preventive health care. Learn more about :
Internationally educated health professionals seeking information, advice and support on their path to professional practice in Ontario are encouraged to contact the HealthForceOntario Access Centre. The Access Centre provides a range of free services to support newcomers through the registration process for regulated health professions in Ontario. Services include :
Personal Support Workers (PSWs) provide personal support services to a wide range of clients, and are employed in the community sector, private homes and in institutional settings (for example, long-term care homes, private retirement homes and hospitals) across the province.
The Allied Health Professional Development Fund (AHPDF) provides financial support to nine allied health professions to provide continuing education opportunities that contribute to increased quality of patient care in Ontario, and to encourage allied health professionals to stay and work in the province.
Eligible allied health professions include audiologists, dietitians, medical laboratory technologists, medical radiation technologists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, speech-language pathologists. Practising members of nine regulated health professions can apply for up to $1,500 for professional development courses and programs.
The AHPDF has invested in a multi-year subscription to an electronic health library for practising members of the nine eligible health professions. The library provides access to the most recent health care literature to help allied health professionals determine the best approach to patient care.
The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences is a diploma, advanced diploma and certificate granting post-secondary educational institute exclusively dedicated to education of applied health science professionals. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care administers operations funding of The Michener Institute, which plays an important role in meeting current and future allied health human resources needs in Ontario, educating about 800 full-time students each year in diploma or certificate programs.
Call ServiceOntario, Infoline at :
1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only)
In Toronto, 416-314-5518
TTY 1-800-387-5559.
In Toronto, TTY 416-327-4282
Hours of operation : 8:30am - 5:00pm
Health Workforce Planning Branch
56 Wellesley Street West,
12th Floor
Toronto ON M5S 2S3
Health Care Professionals
