Updated on December 11, 2025 by canadian immigration experts
Recently, the U.S. government’s decision to refuse to recognize or treat nurses as a legitimate occupation has sent shockwaves throughout the industry. While their purpose is to reduce budgets and subsidies for trained nurses, this event has reiterated how much the Canadian government values US-trained nurses.
Over the last decade, Canada has been facing a progressive and significant shortage of nurses. Every province, from Ontario and British Columbia to Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba, continues to recruit qualified nurses at an accelerated pace.
This downfall has created havoc in hospitals across Canada, with patients deeply dissatisfied by long waits in the emergency department.
For U.S.-educated nurses in Canada, the opportunity now is exceptional:
Canada recognizes American nursing education as equivalent, regulated, and fully professional, at both the Bachelor’s (BSN) and Master’s (MSN) levels, with the licensing pathway being faster and more precise than for many other international applicants.
To assist foreign-trained, and specifically U.S.-trained, licensed nurses, Jane Katkova & Associates has developed a reputation for supporting and guiding nurses from abroad, assisting with the licensing and immigration process, and helping them transition into the Canadian healthcare system with ease and clarity.
Why Canada Needs U.S.-Educated Nurses in 2025-2026
The demand for nurses is driven by:
- Significant deficit of nursing professionals across Canada
- Grown population in Canada and its remote regions
- A rapidly aging population
- Expansion of long-term care and community health programs
- Significant post-pandemic staffing shortages
Considering all the aforementioned reasons, Federal and provincial governments have repeatedly confirmed that registered nurses (RNs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) remain priority occupations for both licensing and immigration.
This applies equally to nurses with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees and those with Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) qualifications.
How We Assist U.S.-Educated Nurses in Becoming Licensed in Canada
For many years, our office has consulted nurses across the United States in obtaining a nursing license in Canadian provinces.
The process of applying for and obtaining the license differs from province to province. But with the right guidance, it can be easily navigated and efficient.
1. Credential Assessment
All foreign-educated nurses must begin by properly assessing their educational credentials.
U.S.-educated nurses typically receive a more straightforward assessment because of curriculum alignment between U.S. and Canadian nursing education.
2. Regulatory Body Application
With an educational assessment report, you can apply to the provincial nursing regulator, an approved College of your choice, to pursue a nursing career in that province.
Here are some of the nursing Colleges across Canadian provinces:
- CNO — College of Nurses of Ontario
- BCCNM — British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives
- CARNA/CRNA — Alberta
- NSCN — Nova Scotia
- CRNM — Manitoba
To assist foreign-trained nurses with easier navigation of this process, we consult on:
- provincial application requirements
- regulators’ requests and processes
- bridging of educational credentials
Most U.S.-educated nurses do not require additional schooling; however, short-term training on the Canadian nursing standards is required by most provinces.
3. NCLEX-RN or Equivalent
Canada accepts the NCLEX-RN, which U.S.-licensed nurses already have, and which is necessary to get licensed and practice nursing in Canada. This significantly accelerates the licensing process timeline. For NPs, additional exams may be required depending on the requirements of the provincial College of Nurses.
4. Final Registration: License Issuance
After completing all the provincial college regulatory requirements, a foreign-trained nurse will receive:
- A Provincial nursing license (RN, LPN, or NP), depending on qualifications.
- Eligibility to work in the province where they are registered, provided you are authorized to work in Canada as a non-Canadian.
Immigration Pathways for U.S.-Educated Nurses
Canada offers several immigration routes tailored to healthcare professionals:
Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker / or Canadian Experience Class)
In light of recent developments, healthcare professional occupations are on the List of Occupations in Demand and therefore fall under priority selection for immigration to Canada.
If you are planning to immigrate to Canada, whether or not you have started your application for the licensing process, we recommend starting by creating your Express Entry profile. Right now is a very favourable time for nurses to immigrate to Canada, thanks to nursing being on the “Demand List” and priority selections.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Canada is known for the special agreement between its federal and provincial governments, which allows provinces to run their own immigration programs and select occupations they prioritize.
Currently, manyprovinces have nursing-specific streams that favour nurses among other occupations, and we therefore recommend making good use of such an opportunity if the province of your choice is in demand for nurses, which is reflected in the immigration program of the province.
Work Permit + PR Pathway
For nurses with job offers, there are separate, specific provincial programs that we recommend becoming familiar with and utilizing if they fit your credentials.
Why U.S.-Educated Nurses Choose Canada
With 30 years of experience, we have seen many reasons why US-educated nurses choose Canada. But the common thread is usually the following:
Recognition of BSN and MSN Degrees
The US and Canada share aligned educational standards. Therefore, Canada recognizes:
- The US granted a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- The US granted a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Advanced nursing credentials
Competitive salaries
RN salaries range from CAD $75,000–$120,000, with variation by province.
Strong regulatory environment
Nurses work under clear standards and safe-practice frameworks.
High quality of life
Stable, free healthcare system; safety and security; multicultural community.
Final comments
After years of consulting U.S.-trained nurses on licensing, credential assessment, and immigration strategy, we are confident that now is the Right Moment for U.S.-trained nurses to choose Canada.
Right now, it is the most advantageous time for U.S.-educated nurses to become licensed and immigrate to Canada. As Canada continues to face a nationwide nursing shortage, provincial regulators have streamlined pathways for U.S. and internationally trained nurses.
Provincial Licensing pathways are clearer than ever, immigration programs actively prioritize healthcare workers, and employers across the country are recruiting qualified nurses with urgency.
Combined with Canada’s stable, regulated healthcare system and competitive salaries, this opportunity is not only strong, it is timely.
If You’re a U.S.-Educated Nurse Thinking About Canada
Every U.S.-trained nurse’s situation is unique. For licensing purposes, choose a province that best fits your needs. For immigration purposes, Factors such as age, years of experience, education level, language proficiency, and work background all influence how a nurse is evaluated under Canada’s immigration system.
Because Canada selects applicants through a points-based, eligibility-driven framework, these individual elements directly affect an applicant’s score, available pathways, and overall chances of approval. For this reason, each U.S.-educated nurse must be assessed individually to determine the most suitable licensing route and immigration strategy.
General information cannot replace a personalized evaluation based on the nurse’s complete profile and circûmstances.
For U.S.-educated nurses exploring Canada, if you would like to understand what your own journey could look like, our specialists at Jane Katkova & Associates would be more than happy to assist you so you can make an informed decision.
