The return of service (ROS) agreement is an agreement between you and the Province of British Columbia that you will complete 1 year of full-time continuous service with a publicly funded health sector employer in BC. The ROS period is extended to two years if you obtain employment of 0.5 FTEs or less and the length of time will also be extended during absences.

Qualifying public sector employers will be outlined in your ROS agreement document. They include regional health boards designated under section 4(1) of the Health Authorities Act or Provincial Health Services Authority (collectively a “Health Authority”), ”), or First Nations Health Authority, or Providence Health Care or at a publicly funded long-term care or assisted living (AL) facility OR a publicly funded community lab provider (such as Lifelabs).

Qualifying Employers do not include contract agencies supplying temporary and/or short-term staffing solutions to eligible facilities.

The 1-year return of service period will take effect when you begin working with full licensure, or when the ROS is signed, whichever is later. The service period cannot begin before the ROS agreement has been signed.

As a bursary recipient, you must obtain employment with a Qualifying Employer within 6 months of obtaining full registration or certification in your profession, unless otherwise extended by the province. You will notify the Province that you have started employment with a Qualifying Employer by sending a completed Return of Service Commencement form to healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca

The ROS commitment will pause during any non-working periods (absences).

The goal of the bursary program is to support you to gain employment in your field of training. Bursary program participants must use their best efforts to promptly obtain registration or certification to practice in BC to obtain employment.

However, if registration is not possible with reasonable efforts made (i.e., by taking supplemental education), you may be eligible to complete the RoS in a different “qualifying position” within the health care system. Individuals must contact the Ministry of Health (email healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca ) to confirm approved eligible positions considered for the fulfilment of the ROS commitment.  The Ministry must review and approve alternative positions.

Yes, if you decide not to complete the process to become fully registered or certified to practice in BC, you will need to repay any funding received through the bursary program to the Province of British Columbia.

If you are unsuccessful in passing the exams required to become registered or certified to practice in BC, even after taking supplemental education, you can apply for an alternative job with a Qualifying Employer instead of paying back the funds. Individuals must contact the Ministry of Health (email healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca ) to confirm approved eligible positions considered for the fulfilment of the ROS commitment.  The Ministry must review and approve alternative positions. 

If you need to pay back bursary funds, follow the steps outlined on your Return of Service agreement or email healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca more information.

No, you only need to sign one ROS for the bursary program. That ROS applies to all bursaries amounts received.

If you leave your Qualifying Position(s) for any reason before the ROS period is complete, you will be required to repay the province the amount of the bursary that is proportional to the percentage of the ROS period that has not been completed. 

Recipients who do not meet the terms and obligations within the ROS agreement will be required to repay the bursary (or bursaries) as explained in the agreements. 

If you leave your job with a Qualifying Employer(s) for any reason during the ROS time period, you will need to notify the Province at least two weeks in advance of your end date by contacting: healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca

If you have a compelling reason for not completing the terms of the ROS, the Province may waive repayment on compassionate grounds.

No, employment with any qualifying employer within BC will qualify for your return of service.

There are many job opportunities available across the province. Once you are registered or certified to practice in BC, Health Match BC will assist you in finding a suitable position. You are required to make your best efforts to find a suitable position.

If it has been six months since registration or certification and you are still unable to find a job to meet the ROS requirements, please contact the healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca

Yes, however, if you leave your job with a Qualifying Employer(s) for any reason during the ROS time period, you will need to notify the Province at least two weeks in advance of your end date by contacting: healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca

You can concurrently hold and work in multiple, part-time Qualifying Positions, however casual employment does not meet the requirements of the ROS.

The FTE (full time equivalent) for each Qualifying Position will be added together to calculate the FTE.

“FTE” means full-time equivalent, which is defined as 37.5 hours of work each week.

If you are working 0.5 FTEs or less, your ROS period will be extended to 2 years.

Yes, however, your ROS period will be extended if a leave of absence is greater than 20 days (other than authorized vacation from your employer).

No, you must complete your ROS period with a publicly funded health employer in If you leave BC during your ROS period, you will need to repay the proportionate amount of the bursary based on the remaining time left.

Yes, upon completion of the ROS period, you will need to submit a letter to the Province from your employer(s) confirming that the ROS time period has been completed in full using the Return of Service Completion Form at healthbursaries@gov.bc.ca