I'm new to this wonderful forum. I'd like to begin my first post with expressing my gratitude and admiration to everyone who's shared their opinions and expertise here!
Presently, I have two specific questions. First, my situation: I'm a newly licensed RN in Boston, Mass. with no RN-work experience in US or Canada. I've a nursing diploma and 2,5 years of work experience from Russia. I need to get an RN job in Montreal, Quebec. Right now I'm actively involved in the process of: a) getting a job offer from a Montreal hospital; b) applying for a Canadian work permit; c) applying to the Order of Nurses in Quebec (OIIQ).
Questions:
1) Application process to OIIQ: could someone who's already went through it possibly give me a brief step-by-step description of this process and how long each step takes? I don't mean the requirements, fees, exams, etc. - they're outlined on OIIQ's website. What I'm talking about is what forms they send, what docs they request, how long they process your application, do they ask for everything at the beginning, or they have a time-frame for each mailing, etc. I'm particularly interested in how they check the equivalence of your nursing education. See, mine is from 3 different schools. 2 of those are in US, and I don't see any problems with them. But I received most of my nursing schooling and work experience in Russia, and I'm very interested to know how OIIQ is going to check those. Do they match the info in your application with their database? Or, do they expect you to provide some official letters from all your schools with your application? Or - the worst scenario - do they contact your school directly and expect them to answer by fax or mail directly back to OIIQ? See, recently I had to go through that last situation with CGFNS before I received my US RN license, and it turned into a year of bureaucratic hell because the Russian side kept ignoring official requests from the American organization. God, I really don't want to go through that again. Please, tell me what's the process like?
2) Do you have any advice about any of the English-speaking hospitals in Montreal? My everyday French is OK and is getting better, but my medical French is non-existent, and I dread the thought of having to work in a French-speaking medical environment (I'm currently watching "ER" with French subtitles - nothing's the same!). OIIQ told me that since I have 4 years of college French education I may be exempt from their French test - whew!
So, what's the best place where a trilingual young nurse with a US RN license but no US or Canadian experience would receive the most support, guidance, and professional growth opportunities? I got a list of all English-speaking hospitals in MTL. I've been checking them on the Web (whatever little info is there), and so far, Jewish General Hospital has appealed to me the most. What's your opinion? And how should I approach the hospital where I'd like to work? I understand it's similar to the US hospitals. But here in US I'm a citizen and a more or less confident licensed RN. In Quebec, I'll be a scared, wide-eyed CPNP with a work permit for quite some time. So, which employer, do you think, would be most tolerant and supportive of that?
Any advice and additional info is much appreciated!
And good luck to all of you in all your endeavors! :w00t:
I'm actually applying for my Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) in Hong Kong BIQ (and then afterwards to the Canadian Embassy here in the PI). ALL the information you need including some on how to register to the OIIQ are listed in the links that you'll find in there. I'm applying as a permanent worker. I also thought that I'll need a Temporary Resident Visa in order for me to apply as a nurse in Quebec but after reading the information in the website I found out that I'm already eligible to apply as a permanent worker.
Hi yoopian! great to hear from you again! how would you be eligible to apply as permanent worker then? you see, i have no relevant work experience... so does this mean to say, that all those who wanted to apply as nurses for quebec have to undergo CSQ and apply as permanent worker in order to get to quebec and do the nursing integration program? thank you for helping me figure these things out..i am hoping to hear from u soon.. have a great weekend! :)
hi yoopian, i am a fresh graduate from the phils too, no hospital experience. i graduated sept 2008. i came to quebec as a permanent resident though, so i have no idea how it works in your case -- if you're applying as a skilled worker to come to the country. you most likely have to go through immigration first..? but i do know that the order of nurses encourage international graduates to start application and assessment from their home country before coming here.
Hi MiaSAT,
My name is Pam from the Phils.. like you, i took and passed the NLE of 2008, i have no relevant work experience too.. I have received the application form from the OIIQ and i am currently gathering the necessary documents.. after the committee gives the decision whether i take the 40day integration program or enroll on a CEGEP.. what should i do to get to quebec? i mean, what type of visa should i apply to get to quebec?May i ask how you got to quebec as permanent resident? do u mean to say that for a nurse to get to quebec for the nursing integration program, he/she has to apply for permanent residency? on the other hand, do I have to pay any fees to the hospital if i get to do a 40day integration program? I will be very delighted to hear anything from you regarding my concerns.. thank you and be always blessed!
hi pam, i came to quebec as a permanent resident sponsored by my family. i didnt come here as a nurse. you can check the canadian immigration website, or there should be a thread here. :) best of luck!
Hi everyone! I did my 4 years Bachelor of Sci. in Nursing in the Philippines and I also did a 1 year nursing refresher course for IENs here in Vancouver. I passed the CRNE last october 2010 and I am now planning to apply for registration in quebec. Does that mean that I will end up being a CPN too? do you think I will have difficulties in applying for registration? I am on the final stage of the hiring process in a hospital in montreal.
Also, is there a difference in the payscale between nurses with BSN and nurses with diploma??? thankks!!
Hi yoopian! great to hear from you again! how would you be eligible to apply as permanent worker then? you see, i have no relevant work experience... so does this mean to say, that all those who wanted to apply as nurses for quebec have to undergo CSQ and apply as permanent worker in order to get to quebec and do the nursing integration program? thank you for helping me figure these things out..i am hoping to hear from u soon.. have a great weekend! :)
pam
I think it would be more convenient if you'll be a permanent resident before applying as a nurse in Quebec. If you have a TRV though I guess It would be a good option too but the length of stay you'll need if you'll take your CEGEP or a bridging program would be a problem. I think you'll also need to apply for a student visa for that. I have no specific knowledge about that course though since I am applying as a Quebec Skilled Worker now before I apply to the OIIQ to be a nurse in Quebec.
As for the work experience Quebec Immigration required at least 6 months of relevant work experience or more in order for me to qualify.
hi pam, i came to quebec as a permanent resident sponsored by my family. i didnt come here as a nurse. you can check the canadian immigration website, or there should be a thread here. :) best of luck!
hi mia! i am so glad to hear from you..happy new year! thank you for the useful information..i just have further concerns if you do not mind.. may i ask if you have paid any fees for your 40 day integration program at the hospital? because based on my research and reading on related posts, you are to pay for your tuition fees once you are to do a 5-month integration program in a CEGEP.. am i right? then what about the 40-day integration program? were you also paid by the hospital where you did this 40-day program? Thank you once again.. i look forward to hearing from you.
I think it would be more convenient if you'll be a permanent resident before applying as a nurse in Quebec. If you have a TRV though I guess It would be a good option too but the length of stay you'll need if you'll take your CEGEP or a bridging program would be a problem. I think you'll also need to apply for a student visa for that. I have no specific knowledge about that course though since I am applying as a Quebec Skilled Worker now before I apply to the OIIQ to be a nurse in Quebec.
As for the work experience Quebec Immigration required at least 6 months of relevant work experience or more in order for me to qualify.
Good luck!
hi yoopian, thank you very much for your reply.. i am seriously considering things right now.. how about you, may i ask how your application for CSQ went? do u have any results already? thanks once again,,, happy new year!
Hi. I'm here in the Philippines right now and I'm a registered nurse. I have a friend who referred me to this agency who claims can help us facilitate in getting a job their in Canada - Quebec in particular. As what I have understand, we must hold the recommendation from the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) to undergo the integration program, then they will help us go to Canada to take the professional integration nursing in Quebec. The representative from that agency told us that our visa will depend on the length of the integration program that the Order will require us to take. According to the agent minimum is 40 days to maximum of 5-6 mos. If we are given 3 mos. to take finish the integration program we would get a tourist visa, and a student visa if we will have to take it for 5-6 mos.
Now, I understand the whole process about taking the integration program for nurses who are internationally educated nurses, pass the integration program to be a CPN, take a French test, then take the licensure exam to be a registered nurse in Quebec.
I thought it would be a good thing to consult other people who might have enough idea or knowledge about the integration program for nurses in Quebec, Canada. My concerns and my questions are: 1.) Can I apply for the recommendation from the Order even if I'm not a Canadian Citizen nor a permanent resident of Quebec? (2.) Given that I can apply for the integration program, and If I get the recommendation from the Order to take the integration program, can I really be admitted for the attestation program under a tourist visa?(3.) How much is the fee for the integration program? (3.) Does the length of the program really depends on my qualifications? (4.) Am I the one who will have to find a school to be admitted for the prgram once I get in Quebec?
I would really appreciate all your replies and information that you can share with me. Those will be very helpful. Thank you! :)
Hi. I'm here in the Philippines right now and I'm a registered nurse. I have a friend who referred me to this agency who claims can help us facilitate in getting a job their in Canada - Quebec in particular. As what I have understand, we must hold the recommendation from the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) to undergo the integration program, then they will help us go to Canada to take the professional integration nursing in Quebec. The representative from that agency told us that our visa will depend on the length of the integration program that the Order will require us to take. According to the agent minimum is 40 days to maximum of 5-6 mos. If we are given 3 mos. to take finish the integration program we would get a tourist visa, and a student visa if we will have to take it for 5-6 mos.
Now, I understand the whole process about taking the integration program for nurses who are internationally educated nurses, pass the integration program to be a CPN, take a French test, then take the licensure exam to be a registered nurse in Quebec.
I thought it would be a good thing to consult other people who might have enough idea or knowledge about the integration program for nurses in Quebec, Canada. My concerns and my questions are: 1.) Can I apply for the recommendation from the Order even if I'm not a Canadian Citizen nor a permanent resident of Quebec? (2.) Given that I can apply for the integration program, and If I get the recommendation from the Order to take the integration program, can I really be admitted for the attestation program under a tourist visa?(3.) How much is the fee for the integration program? (3.) Does the length of the program really depends on my qualifications? (4.) Am I the one who will have to find a school to be admitted for the prgram once I get in Quebec?
I would really appreciate all your replies and information that you can share with me. Those will be very helpful. Thank you! :)
Hmm..the thing with the "integration process" is that the OIIQ gives you the option of finding a hospital that will admit you to be "integrated" into the quebec healthcare system. So from my own experience, I actually had to apply in hospitals and interviewed by human resources, just like any other job. Your agency's promise sounds plausible, in a way, so I cannot discredit their claim totally. But the granting of a "tourist visa" to be integrated sounds a little off.. because the hospital will require you to submit a social security number to be accepted. .. you cannot be "hired" if you're not eligible to work in the country...and i dnt think a tourist visa grants you that privilege.. Please ask your agency about this...or inquire at the canadian embassy in manila -- and ask your agencyif they have had any past clients who successfully went through the process they describe - and verify with the person, where this person is now, etc.. ...
Yes, you can apply from the philippines, the OIIQ and even the other canadian boards encourage application prior to arriving in the country. (It is not the boards' problem how you get here.. they're just concerned about assessing and validating your documents and earning money from the applications.. )
I didnt pay any fee for the integration program. :)
The OIIQ also sends a list of schools you can apply for... but most anglophones would go to john abbot cegep, because the instruction is in english. In fact, I believe it is the only school that gives the bridging program... but i'm not sure.
Why don't you apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate and then register to the OIIQ? If you have enough working experience then it would make sense to apply as a Quebec Skilled Worker first before registering to the OIIQ. You'll be granted permanent residency in Quebec and then register afterwards.
That's just me though because that's what I'm doing right now. Cheers!
Hmm..the thing with the "integration process" is that the OIIQ gives you the option of finding a hospital that will admit you to be "integrated" into the quebec healthcare system. So from my own experience, I actually had to apply in hospitals and interviewed by human resources, just like any other job. Your agency's promise sounds plausible, in a way, so I cannot discredit their claim totally. But the granting of a "tourist visa" to be integrated sounds a little off.. because the hospital will require you to submit a social security number to be accepted. .. you cannot be "hired" if you're not eligible to work in the country...and i dnt think a tourist visa grants you that privilege.. Please ask your agency about this...or inquire at the canadian embassy in manila -- and ask your agencyif they have had any past clients who successfully went through the process they describe - and verify with the person, where this person is now, etc.. ...
Yes, you can apply from the philippines, the OIIQ and even the other canadian boards encourage application prior to arriving in the country. (It is not the boards' problem how you get here.. they're just concerned about assessing and validating your documents and earning money from the applications.. )
I didnt pay any fee for the integration program. :)
The OIIQ also sends a list of schools you can apply for... but most anglophones would go to john abbot cegep, because the instruction is in english. In fact, I believe it is the only school that gives the bridging program... but i'm not sure.
Goodluck!
Cool! Thank you so much miasat. :)
Were you in Canada already when you applied for the attestation program? I just visited john abbot's website and it states on the page that I need to be a Canadian Citizen or a permanent resident to be admitted for the integration program.
) 
yoopian
62 Posts
I'm actually applying for my Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) in Hong Kong BIQ (and then afterwards to the Canadian Embassy here in the PI). ALL the information you need including some on how to register to the OIIQ are listed in the links that you'll find in there. I'm applying as a permanent worker. I also thought that I'll need a Temporary Resident Visa in order for me to apply as a nurse in Quebec but after reading the information in the website I found out that I'm already eligible to apply as a permanent worker.