Hospice Toronto
Palliative Care Licensed Practical Nurses (Palliative Care LPNs), also known as Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) in Ontario, provide compassionate, person-centred nursing care to individuals living with life-limiting illness and those approaching end of life.
The profession is regulated provincially and territorially. Due to Canada’s rapidly aging population, rising rates of cancer and chronic life-limiting illness, growing public demand for dignified end-of-life care, and a critical shortage of nurses with specialized palliative training. Many Palliative Care LPN positions are LMIA-approved, allowing employers to hire foreign workers when no suitable Canadian candidates are available.
Key Facts
- NOC Code: 32101 (Licensed practical nurses)
- Work Settings: Inpatient palliative care and hospice units, residential hospices, palliative home care programs, long-term care palliative wings, acute hospital palliative consult teams, cancer centre palliative units, pediatric palliative care programs, community-based end-of-life care teams
- Regulation: Each province/territory has its own LPN regulatory body (e.g., CNO in Ontario, BCCNM in BC, CLPNA in Alberta)
Popular Canadian Cities & Regions Hiring Palliative Care LPNs
Demand for Palliative Care LPNs is strong and growing across Canada, with the highest concentration of specialized roles at residential hospices, cancer centres, and dedicated palliative units in urban centres. Rural and remote communities also have significant and often underserved palliative care needs, with provinces and territories increasingly investing in community-based end-of-life programs to meet these gaps.
Major hubs like Toronto (Greater Toronto Area) and Vancouver (Lower Mainland) are home to nationally recognized hospices and hospital-based palliative care programs with consistent LPN demand, while Calgary and Edmonton offer strong palliative care LPN opportunities through Alberta Health Services’ extensive hospice and community palliative networks.
Montreal requires French proficiency but has well-developed palliative care infrastructure with active LPN recruitment across its hospice and hospital palliative programs, whereas Ottawa provides stable palliative nursing roles at The Ottawa Hospital, Bruyere Continuing Care, and affiliated community hospice programs. Meanwhile, Winnipeg and Halifax show consistent demand, with Atlantic provinces supporting immigrant nurses through regional immigration programs that include palliative and continuing care settings.
Popular Companies & Healthcare Organizations Hiring Palliative Care LPNs
Hospices, cancer centres, palliative care programs, home care organizations, and long-term care operators are the primary employers of Palliative Care LPNs in Canada — many of which actively offer LMIA support for international hires given the persistent shortage of palliative-trained nurses.
- Hospice Toronto / Casey House — Toronto; residential hospice and palliative supportive care LPN roles
- Bruyere Continuing Care — Ottawa, ON; one of Canada’s leading palliative and continuing care providers with active LPN hiring
- BC Palliative Care Benefits Program / Fraser Health Palliative Care — Provincially coordinated palliative home and hospice LPN roles across BC
- Alberta Health Services Palliative Care Program — Province-wide community, hospice, and inpatient palliative LPN positions
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (UHN) — Toronto; palliative oncology and symptom management LPN roles
- Victorian Order of Nurses (VON Canada) — National palliative and end-of-life home care nursing; strong LMIA history for LPNs
- SE Health (Saint Elizabeth) — Palliative home care nursing programs nationally; one of Canada’s most active palliative home care employers
- Bayshore Healthcare — Palliative and end-of-life home care programs across multiple provinces
- Caritas Christi Hospice / Mount Saint Joseph Hospital (Providence Health Care, BC) — Residential and inpatient hospice palliative LPN roles in Vancouver
- Nova Scotia Health Palliative Care Program, Shared Health Manitoba Palliative Care — Publicly operated provincial palliative programs with ongoing LPN hiring
Salary and Employee Benefits for Palliative Care LPNs in Canada
National average hourly wage for Palliative Care Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) is around $31-$36 CAD, equating to $60,000-$75,000+ annually for full-time (higher with overtime). Entry-level Palliative Care LPNs start lower, while experienced nurses in specialized hospice and palliative programs and high-demand areas can exceed $80,000-$100,000 annually.
National Salary Overview
- Average hourly wage: CAD $31-$36/hr
- Full-time annual equivalent: CAD $60,000-$75,000+
- Experienced Palliative Care LPNs in high-demand areas: CAD $80,000-$100,000+
Evening, weekend, and statutory holiday shift premiums can significantly increase total annual earnings above base salary figures.
Qualifications and Skills Required
To work legally and competitively as a Palliative Care LPN in Canada, internationally educated nurses (IENs) generally need to meet the following requirements:
- Education: Completion of a recognized practical nursing diploma or certificate program (typically 2 years); international credentials must be assessed for equivalency; post-graduate palliative care or hospice nursing training is a strong asset.
- Credential Assessment: Apply through the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) for equivalency evaluation; this is the required first step for all internationally educated Palliative Care LPNs.
- Licensure: Registration with the provincial LPN regulatory body in the province where you intend to work, including: College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA), British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM), College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), or the equivalent body in other provinces. Each province has its own registration examination and requirements.
- Language Proficiency: Satisfactory English or French language skills demonstrated through IELTS, CELBAN, or TEF, as required for both licensing and immigration applications.
How to Apply for Palliative Care LPN Jobs in Canada (LMIA-Approved as a Foreigner)
As a foreign-trained LPN seeking palliative care roles in Canada, follow these steps to navigate the licensing and immigration process:
- Start NNAS Assessment Immediately: Submit your credentials to the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) as early as possible — this is the longest step in the process and typically takes 12-16 weeks.
- Complete Language Testing: Achieve the required IELTS or CELBAN scores; aim above the minimum thresholds to strengthen both your licensing and immigration applications.
- Research Provincial Requirements: Choose your target province and review its specific LPN registration pathway; some provinces such as Manitoba and Saskatchewan have expedited IEN registration pathways, and experience in palliative, hospice, or end-of-life settings significantly strengthens applications to specialized programs.