Getting a US license?

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Anyone here have a Canadian and US license? Is it worth getting one to work in the US? Is the whole process worth the hassle? How difficult is it to maintain it?

Specializes in ICU, Trauma, Neuro, Informatics.

Good to see others insight in this. In my case it's just extra money for spending over there. But yeah in the ED I work at they don't take breaks at night. There are times when it isn;t so busy but then alot of times where it's full and you can;t keep up with the pt turnaround. The aids where I work used to do vitals but they stopped it. I don;t understand how they are able to do ekg's but can;t do vitals. They want vitals q2h which is sometimes very hard to accomplish. What I do like however is the medhost system they use which is all electronic. And they have IV tylonel. I plan on going back to full time in Canada in the near future though. It's a good experience I suppose. I heard it can vary from state to state.

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Hi, which state border are you referring to? I'm currently in Montreal my oil is under process. I'm planning to get my NY license since I passed nclex before. Just to keep my options open. But I'm on permanent resident at the moment here in Canada. Do u think it's possible for me to work let say, in Burlington or plattsburg ny since it's closer border? Thanks?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi, which state border are you referring to? I'm currently in Montreal my oil is under process. I'm planning to get my NY license since I passed nclex before. Just to keep my options open. But I'm on permanent resident at the moment here in Canada. Do u think it's possible for me to work let say, in Burlington or plattsburg ny since it's closer border? Thanks?

As a PR you will need a employer willing to sponsor you and that means a wait of over 2 years before you get a immigrant visa on current wait times. To qualify for NAFTA you need to be a Canadian or Mexican citizen

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Specializes in ICU, Trauma, Neuro, Informatics.

I'm sure you can. It didn't take me 2 years. I did the same as you and got my NY license just in case I was going to use it as I live on the Niagara border. I lucked out and just happened to browse thorough some postings and voila got an offer and letter for part time. I have a 3 year tn visa. The process was new to me as well. Maybe it takes 2 years if your going to reside there. I reside on the Canadian side and work on both sides. I like it. Taxes were even, got money back. Maybe took me a year to get all the paperwork, you need the cgnfs stuff going. NY is alittle harder to get than some of the other states. Harder I mean more painful process. I say go for it. It's a great experience and with the direction of the dollar in the future, could be lucrative. For ny you need nclex, verify credentials for ny state, then verify credentials for cgnfs. I got the nexus pass which helps at the border, less waiting. You need online infection control and child abuse course and i think that's it. You need an offer of ajob before you can get the visa. you need the visa screen as well. cgnfs,500.oo, visa screen 500.00 and ny license 200.00 for 3 years.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

fenders, please bear in mind that tosca rose is not a Canadian citizen. The process for her will in all probability take much longer than yours did by virtue of that fact. Permanent residents are not covered by TN visas. I'll admit I'm confused that she chose to move to Canada but wants to work in the US. I expect that border crossing on a regular basis for work for someone with a passport from a country other than Canada might be problematic as well. There's a 3 year residency requirement for permanent residents' eligibility for a NEXUS pass.

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Specializes in ICU, Trauma, Neuro, Informatics.

Your sooo right - not ready4primetime. That would take much longer and cause lots of problems with the Border. I thought she was a permanent resident. never mind then lol. Good luck with that.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Your sooo right - not ready4primetime. That would take much longer and cause lots of problems with the Border. I thought she was a permanent resident. never mind then lol. Good luck with that.

Permanent residents don't get passports they retain the passport from their country of citizenship. Only citizens are entitled to passports . TN visa is only for citizens of US, Canada, & Mexico

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Your sooo right - not ready4primetime. That would take much longer and cause lots of problems with the Border. I thought she was a permanent resident. never mind then lol. Good luck with that.

PR just gives them rights to live in Canada to use theTN option they must be a citizen. This is why I said it could take 2 plus years

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Thanks for the input guys. I'm actually processing my oiiq right now. I just want to get my US license too so not to waste my nclex pass and to keep my options open in the near future and new opportunities. And it's better that I know the steps now and could start gathering the requirements and saving for the processing fee.

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Specializes in MS, Emergency.

I have both Canadian and US (Washington state) license. If you intend to work in the US then it's worth getting one. I'm currently I Vancouver and planning of moving in the states in the next 2 years so I keep my licenses active.

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