Do you intend to pursue a career as a medical radiation technologist? Navigate the Medical Radiation Technologist jobs in Canada as the MRT profession is highly in demand in the healthcare sector. You must learn about MRT job requirements, salaries, and career pathways.

As a Medical Radiation Technologist, employers typically demand workers to complete a two to three-year college degree or any other approved program. This could be in subjects like nuclear medicine technology, diagnostic or magnetic resonance imaging, radiation therapy, etc.

You must have graduated with a Bachelor of Health Sciences in radiography, radiation therapy, or nuclear medicine and completed specialized practical training under supervision.

In addition, licensing will be essential by a regulatory body in a few Canadian provinces. However, other provinces must provide you with a provincial association membership. Furthermore, MRTs must hold a certification from the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists in provinces except British Columbia and Quebec.

Canadian immigration as a Medical Radiation Technologist

First, you must navigate the Medical Radiation Technologist jobs in Canada and then understand the requirements before you immigrate to this country. This will make your career path more convenient when you arrive in Canada. Furthermore, you must take specific steps before moving to Canada, and they will enable you to expedite your job search. Moreover, these steps will ensure you successfully start practicing your profession in Canada.

Essential steps before you move to Canada for your MRT career

  • Research for a free webinar available about a Medical Radiation Technologist career in Canada. This will also help you understand the actual scenario of the Canadian labor market. 
  • Connect with the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists to learn about what process you must follow, the essential time and cost to acquire a license, and the licensing process steps before and after moving to Canada. 
  • You must contact the provincial regulatory body where you intend to settle to analyze the following:
  • The international education that the country considers. 
  • The language requirements. 
  • Documents vital for employment or go ahead with your Canadian education. Check properly if you need to translate any of the documents. If yes, then figure out the translation services available in Canada. 

Additional steps you will need to take

  • Self-evaluate your language abilities by undertaking an online assessment on the website Center for Canadian Language Benchmarks. 
  • Next, enhance your language skills by enrolling in language classes in your home country and continuing when you come to Canada. You must possess solid French or English language skills and be prepared to be examined. 
  • While in your home country, collect and arrange your formal education certificates and documents related to work and identity. 
  • Research thoroughly the salaries related to Medical Radiation Technologists’ jobs in different cities. The wages will also be different in each province. 
  • Understand the complete process of how the MRT profession is practiced in Canada. You must be well aware of the laws, regulations, and legislations that administer the profession in Canada, where you would like to settle. 
  • Be aware of the job titles prevalent in Canada for Medical Radiation Technologists.

What should you expect from a career in Medical Radiation Technology?

Medical Radiation Technologists need a license to work in provinces such as Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.

Therefore, you must register with the relevant provincial authority to practice this specific profession and access the professional designation. In addition, provincial association membership is essential in provinces, including Northwest Territories, PEI, Manitoba, Newfoundland, and Labrador.

The Canadian Association of Medication Radiation Technologists is the national certifying body and professional association. It represents the following four disciplines:

  • Radiological Technology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Magnetic resonance
  • Radiation Therapy

In order to enable internationally educated Medical Radiation Technologists to work in Canada, CAMRT offers online tools and resources to obtain your credentials and assist you in exam preparation.

Navigate the Medical Radiation Technologist jobs in Canada: Understand the employment scenario

Employment prospects for MRT jobs in Canada are excellent, particularly in the upcoming years. As the Canadian healthcare system is witnessing an acute shortage of workers, there is a massive scope for internationally trained professionals to carry out their MRT occupations in Canada. Based on your locations and qualifications, they can grab both part-time and full-time opportunities.

Conducting thorough research for Medical Radiation Technologist jobs in Canada

The best thing to do is to conduct a detailed research on your Canadian profession. The most appropriate way to do so is under the NOC. The National Occupational Code offers a standard definition for the role of MRT’s, along with the titles, chief roles and duties, and job requirements.

The information will also simplify your job search process in Canada.

Requirements for Canadian MRT jobs

MRT’s with international training and education will have to fulfill the Canadian licensing requirements if they intend to practice the profession in this country. In addition, international graduates will need to participate in a credential recognition process. A few can take advantage from bridging programs provided by colleges and universities.

Here’s a breakdown of the necessary steps you must take to start working as a Medical Radiation Technologist in Canada.

Credential Recognition for MRT jobs

The Credential Recognition process involves a thorough verification and evaluation of your skills, competency levels, and international credentials in a just and rigorous way. If you want to gain insights into this process, you will need to connect with the provincial or territorial regulatory body where you would like to settle. Furthermore, they must be able to provide you with the essential documents, licensing fees, and additional details. It is suggested that you take a step in advance concerning your departure from Canada to adequately prepare for your relocation. 

Your licensing process might require the following things depending on your preferred province where you would settle:

  • Language proficiency examinations. 
  • Credential recognition
  • Exams related to eligibility, program selection, qualification, and education. 
  • Postgraduate assessment and training 
  • Resuming the service agreements, such as dedication toward practicing in an underprivileged community for a specific period. 

You must know the licensure process and understand the regulatory body’s expectations before completing the application. The licensing procedure involves different stages and can appear to be complex. In addition, you will need considerable financial and personal dedication toward pursuing the process. Hence, financial preparation for this reality will be vital. 

Credential Assessment Services

You will have to acquire an educational evaluation, if you seek to enroll in a Canadian university or program. Connect with the school you intend to attend to find out the essential requirements and if there’s a certain credential assessment agency you must access to verify your international education.

You might consult the following sources:

  • Ontario – World Education Services
  • British Columbia – The International Credential Evaluation Services
  • The International Credential Education Service in Alberta

Your skills upgradation to fulfill MRT job requirements

Canadian employers prioritize soft skills, including personal characteristics, to enhance your communication, job performance, and MRT career prospects. This is contrary to your hard skills, including technical, analytical, and scientific skills. You must be able to enhance your soft skills.
Soft skills emphasize mainly communication, partnership, and interpersonal skills essential for Medical Radiation Technologists.

As a Medical Radiation Technologist, you must receptive toward the patient’s psychological and physical needs, including crucial technical skills. Your hard skills might help you get through an interview, but your soft skills will help you attain the job and be successful in the role.

Although it is not essential, boosting your education and skills through a bridging program or other educational courses can be crucial for your journey to work as an MRT in Canada.
In addition, you will consistently face technology updates and different types of demands from patients, the government, employers, and the public. Therefore, you must be prepared to keep upgrading and displaying your professional skills.

Language training for MRTs

Even though you have solid technical skills, you must upgrade your communication skills. Strong skills in either one or both Canadian languages, French or English, are crucial for your Canadian future. Whether you emphasize learning or enhancing English or French will mainly depend on which language you choose to speak in the region where you seek to reside. 

In addition, you must be eligible for the program called “Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada.” You might even access free or budget-friendly classes in English as a Second Language or French as a Second Language Classes via the settlement agencies or school boards. 

Language courses are also crucial for professional terminologies, including:

  • The job-specific language training in Ontario 
  • The Occupation-specific language training in Ontario 

Navigate the Bridging programs for Medical Radiation Technologist jobs in Canada

Bridging programs are crucial to help you shift to the Canadian labor market and adjust your international experience and training in the Canadian workplace. Most Canadian colleges, universities, and immigrant-serving agencies will provide you with the bridging programs you might be eligible for. You might choose from the following programs:

Toronto’s Michener Institute

This program assists internationally-qualified health care professionals to get the registration and certification done in Canada. It will help establish an individualized program to support MRTs with international training to take the CAMRT certification exam.

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton

The program offers resources to evaluate and improve the practical preparedness of internationally educated medical radiological (x-ray) technologists for the Alberta workforce.

MRT schools in Canada

Carrying out your Canadian education once you arrive in Canada will automatically enhance your career options. Medical Radiation programs are available at colleges and university-level schools. There are more than 20 colleges and universities in Canada that offer radiation technology programs.

Alberta 

  • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
  • Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

British Columbia 

  • College of New Caledonia
  • Camosun College
  • British Columbia Institute of Technology
  • Anderson College of Health, Business, and Technology

Manitoba 

  • Red River College Polytechnic

New Brunswick 

  • Horizon Health Network

Nova Scotia 

  • Dalhousie University

Newfoundland 

  • College of North Atlantic

Ontario 

  • Confederation College
  • College Boreal
  • Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
  • Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology
  • Mohawk College – McMaster University

The available immigrant networks for MRTs in Canada

  • Nova Scotia: The Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia is a great way to assist professionals to integrate socially and economically in this province.
  • Ontario: The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council enables new immigrants to extend their professional network and analyze the Canadian labor market.

Medical Radiation Technologist job salaries in Canada

The government of Canada Job Bank states that mostly the salaries for MRTs range between $25 to $50 per hour. The national average hourly MRT income is $36.22 per hour. In addition, if you have a full-time work experience and have of record of working 40 hours in a week, you could earn between $52,000 and $104,000 each year.

Also, whatever money you will earn as a MRT in Canada will also depend on other factors like your location, skills, work experience, specialization areas, and whether you hold full-time or part-time experience.

Median MRT salaries in different Canadian provinces

Average MRT salaries in Canada will vary depending on the province and your location. Given below are the details of the recent average salaries in Canada for MRTs in 2022:

  • Alberta: $44.00 per hour
  • British Columbia: $40.50 per hour
  • New Brunswick: $32.61 per hour
  • Manitoba: $36.21 per hour
  • Newfoundland and Labrador: $34.00 per hour
  • Nova Scotia: $33.50 per hour
  • Ontario: $40.00 per hour
  • PEI: $36.10 per hour
  • Saskatchewan: $38.00 per hour
  • Quebec: $31.00 per hour

Job search techniques for MRTs in Canada

Take a significant amount of time to establish a plan and get work done. There are numerous ways to enhance your job search in Canada’s healthcare industry. Consider the following tips for employment as a Medical Radiation Technologist:

  • Seek a mentor in the healthcare occupation industry to gain valuable insight and suggestions and expand your professional network.
  • Participate in industry job fairs and be regular with online job portals.
  • Access the CAMRT job bank and provincial regulatory bodies for the existing jobs.
  • Also, take part in job-search or networking groups via settlement agencies.

Given the promising prospects for Medical Radiation Technologist positions in Canada, coupled with comprehensive knowledge of job demands, career paths, salaries, and effective job search strategies, it’s opportune to begin strategizing your approach now!

Do you have any queries on Canadian immigration? Get in touch with our immigration representatives at NavaImmigration by writing to us at [email protected].