Updated on November 12, 2024 by canadian immigration experts
Canada is an excellent choice for nurses trained in other countries, especially with a shortage of nurses in many provinces. If you’re interested in immigrating to Canada as a nurse, and have experience, it’s crucial to check if your current nursing skills match what Canada requires.
This article will help you understand what you need and the steps to get a nursing license in Canada. It will also tell you about specific things different provinces might ask for if you want to work in a particular space.
Process To Obtain A Nursing License In Canada
- Create your online account, pay the registration fee (USD 650 plus taxes), and complete the application. Choose your nursing category and the province where you want to work. You’ll have 12 months to complete your documentation after payment
- Provide two signed and notarized copies of your identity documents, one with a photo I.D. like a passport or driver’s license and the other document could be something like your birth certificate or marriage certificate
- Submit nursing education forms from each international institution you received accreditation from. Schools must also send completed forms, academic transcripts, and course descriptions directly to NNAS. No separate Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) is needed for internationally qualified nurses
- Send printed nursing registration forms to all licensing authorities where you were registered outside of Canada. Authorities complete the form and send it directly to NNAS
- Provide printed nursing employment forms to all former employers from the past five years. Employers complete and send the document directly to NNAS
- If your first language isn’t English or French, pass an approved language test (IELTS, CELBAN, or TEF). If you studied nursing in English or French in a country where these are the primary languages, you don’t need to submit language test results
After Submitting Documents For Canadian Nursing License
Once all the above documents are submitted to the NNAS, they will assess your credentials and compare them to Canadian qualifications to see your eligibility for a Canadian nursing license. Once everything has been considered, the NNAS will build a report on your nursing credentials, registration history, and experience and send all the information to the provincial regulatory authority.
Free Assessment
Apply To Register As A Nurse In Your Province
The provincial regulator will check all your documents. If your application doesn’t meet the requirements, you might need more education or evaluations before getting the license. To be eligible for general provincial nursing licensing, you must have or do the following.
- Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or be authorized to work in Canada
- Pass the Registration Examination for the nursing category you are entering to prove your competency. RN license applicants must take the NCLEX-RN exam (National Council Licensure Examination), and LPN applicants must complete the REx-PN test (Regulatory Exam – Practical Nurse)
- Complete the Jurisprudence Examination. This test evaluates your knowledge of the laws, regulations, standards, and guidelines that apply to nursing in your province or territory
- You must state if you suffer from any mental or physical condition or disorder that might impact your ability to practice nursing
- Submit a criminal background check report and declare any past offences or instances where you were refused registration as a nurse in any country
There are many advantages to coming to Canada as an experienced and qualified nurse. If you find the process overwhelming or have questions about the application or the right immigration process for you, our managers at Jane Katkova & Associates are here to assist and answer any questions you may have.
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