Re: Alberta: What the heck is this?? "Substantively Equivalent Competence assessment"
From what I understand, if one is required to undergo an SEC assessment, there is no chance of a temporary permit. Temporary permits are issued to those whose educations meet Canadian standards for the interim period while waiting for the CRNE. Obviously if you need SEC then your education doesn't meet requirements.
I'm not aware of any requirement that a person remain in Canada following their SEC, but it true that if you don't meet the standards of competence in any area, you have to take courses through Mount Royal College to upgrade your education. They're usually about 4 months in length and will include a clinical component. Clearly you could not do that with a tourist visa.
Coming to Alberta to work as a nurse is not easy or cheap for anyone, even for people from other Canadian provinces. CARNA has the highest standards in the country and is not interested in watering them down, so all applicants will have to meet the same challenges.
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