Nova Scotia Graduate
What is this program?
The Nova Scotia Graduate stream is a tightly-scoped pathway for recent international graduates of Nova Scotia DLIs in four priority occupations: paramedics (NOC 32102), pharmacy technicians (NOC 32124), nurse aides / orderlies / patient service associates (NOC 33102), and early childhood educators / assistants (NOC 42202). You must have graduated within the last 3 years and have a full-time permanent NS job offer in your field. Other NOCs are not eligible under this stream.
Who is it for?
- You graduated from a Nova Scotia DLI within the last 3 years
- You have a full-time permanent NS job offer in one of the 4 eligible NOCs (32102 / 32124 / 33102 / 42202)
- Your field of study matches your job offer
- Your language ability is CLB 5+
- You are between 19 and 55 years old
What does it lead to?
Provincial nomination from Nova Scotia tied to your job in one of the 4 priority occupations. Separate federal PR application follows — currently about 13 months for that federal step (IRCC's estimate), after Nova Scotia's own step. The narrow NOC scope is the trade-off — if you don't match one of the four occupations, this stream isn't the right fit.
Primary requirements
- Full-time permanent NS job offer in an eligible NOC (32102, 32124, 33102, or 42202).
- Completed an eligible program at a Nova Scotia DLI within the past 3 years.
- Required credential type by NOC: 32102/32124 need a diploma; 33102 needs certificate/diploma/degree; 42202 needs diploma or degree.
- Field of study must correspond with the job offer NOC.
- Required certification from the relevant NS regulatory body (where applicable).
- Age 19–55.
- Language: CLB 5+ in all 4 abilities.
- Sufficient financial resources to settle in NS.
- Job offer is NOT commission-only and applicant is NOT self-employed.
What you'll need to apply
- Valid passport
- Nova Scotia DLI credential + transcripts (graduated within 3 years)
- Full-time permanent NS job offer letter in the eligible NOC
- Provincial regulatory certification (College of Pharmacists, paramedic licensing, ECE registration, etc.)
- Language test results (CLB 5+, within 2 years)
- Settlement-funds proof
Where to start
Check if you match this program (free)
Or visit the official nova scotia page for Nova Scotia Graduate to read the government's own requirements.
If you want professional advice before applying, work with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or a Canadian immigration lawyer.
How we keep this page current
- Hourly source check. A scheduled job checks the official source page above every hour and looks for changes.
- Change alert. When the page changes, we record it and review the program rules again.
- Human review.A person checks the change, updates this page if needed, and updates the “Page last edited” date.
- Limits. Some government pages are harder to check automatically. The official source link is still the final source. Open it before you act on anything important.
- Attribution. We write the summary above in our own words from the official government source. Short quotes used for comparison fall under fair dealing under the Canadian Copyright Act. Crown copyright in the underlying government text stays with His Majesty the King in Right of Canada and the province or territory — the government page remains the official version.
Informational only — not immigration advice. Always confirm requirements on the official government page.