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
To start this process, you must establish which nursing license you qualify for and the one that fits your experience. First, get a report from the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS). Then, apply and register with your provincial regulator. Send in all the needed documents and pay the licensing fee. Each province or territory may have different requirements to move to Canada as a nurse, but that’s the basic process. Regardless of the slight changes in the process from province to province, the following will be required:
- 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.
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Apply To Register As A Nurse In Your Province
To begin the registration process, you can contact your local provincial or territorial regulator and ask them to consider you for a provincial/national nursing license. Keep in mind that the regulator will only start the process for your license once they receive your file from NNAS. Pricing varies; it depends on the province and the type of nursing category you plan on entering.
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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Jane Katkova – Brown
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Providing Immigration Services In Canada Since 1995