Moving from Quebec to Ontario (regarding license issues)

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I am currently a CPNP in Montreal Quebec.

I passed the OIIQ exam but I`m not an RN yet because I didn`t pass their French language exam.

I want to move to Ontario, and when I called the CNO, their first response was that since I`m not "registered", I can`t transfer my license from Quebec to Ontario.

But I`ve heard of many people who have passed their OIIQ exam but not the French exam move to other provinces and are now RNs, so I kept telling them that and after a few minutes, the guy on the line told me he would send me some papers that the OIIQ would have to fill out and send to the CNO, and then the CNO would do some assessments to see if I meet all the requirements to be considered an RN in Ontario. (The paper was basically about what program and in what school I graduated from and what exam I passed, and if I was registered or not, etc).

I recently handed in that paper and I`m waiting for CNO to assess it, but I can`t help but feel uneasy since they were so insistent in the beginning that I cannot be registered in Ontario unless I was registered in Quebec or if I pass the CRNE.

Is there anyone here that has or is going through the same situation as I am?

And if so, can they enlighten me with what exactly happened and what I am supposed to do?

Thanks ahead!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I have one question. Why did you decide to register in Québec to begin with? They've never made any attempt to conceal the requirement for fluency in French in order to be registered. A previous post you made revealed that you failed the OIIQ exam the first time and were hedging your bets by planning to write the CRNE if you failed a second time. Your status as a CPNP (candidate pending entry to nursing profession) can be maintained for up to two years while you continue to attempt the OLF exam. And CNO states very clearly on their website that if you have never been registered in another Canadian province, you're starting from the beginning. Their website also says : Practising nurses who qualify for registration in Ontario under the Ontario Labour Mobility Act are exempt from writing a registration exam. That requirement means nurses who are already registered somewhere else in Canada, including Québec. Which you say you aren't. Do you actually KNOW someone who passed the OIIQ exam but failed the OLF exam who then was given a pass by CNO to register in Ontario without writing the CRNE, or are you going only on hearsay? My best guess is that you'll be required to take the CRNE (or NCLEX-RN if it drags out long enough). Things are always a little convoluted when Québec is part of the equation, unfortunately.

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I was guaranteed a job in Montreal as long as I took the OIIQ, so I decided to take that exam since I heard many people were able to tranfer their license over to other provinces without having to pass the French exam. I know a few people who moved to BC and Alberta, but I wasn't too sure about Ontario.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

And that doesn't strike you as a little... umm... underhanded? To accept a job with every intention of leaving it at your first opportunity?

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hi, are u still in montreal? may I know if u were able to find a job in hospital or able to trabsfer ur license? thanks

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Hey! I was able to transfer my license after a long and painful process and recently got a job in Ottawa, it took a lot of work though, it was not an easy process

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hi sophie! congratulations, can you pls tell me about the process? because im also planning to get my temporary license here since I already started the process from oiiq but still waiting for the decision. I'm also going to French classes in the evening but its tiring and draining its 6-10pm mon-thurs. and im thinking to stop, its stressing me out already. I realize im not really interested in learning French. its hard to learn if you don't have interest but I tried.

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After I passed the OIIQ exam I called the CNO and explained to them my situation (on how I don't have the full RN license due to the French language law) and I wanted to transfer my license. The guy initially told me that it was not possible since it's not a full license but I told him that I knew other people that have done it before so he put me on hold for 20min and then told me that it was possible and that he will send me the papers for the transfer (I already had an account with the CNO because I registered myself in case I wanted to take the CRNE). So not everyone that picks up the phone at the CNO are aware of Quebecs laws and you may need to push your way into it. They will mail you application forms that asks for proof of education, some parts where the OIIQ have to fill out indicating that you passed an equivalent exam etc. after that they would want you to send a police criminal records form (which you have to pay and receive from the police department). I may be missing some parts out because I did this process quite some time ago but all in all it took several months because they don't send all the papers at once and OIIQ takes forever to fill the papers out too and my school took forever in sending the proof of education as well everything is just really really slow. And then you'll finally pay the registration fee to CNO then you're good to go.

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hi sophie, thanks for the info, did u need to take ielts too? and how is the working condtions in Ottawa/ im planning to take LPN in Ontario or Quebec, or just wait for oiiq results and go to john abbot. I don't know whats my plan really.. can u suggest?

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I don't know what ielts are so I'm assuming I didn't take it.

I really can't make any specific suggestions for you since everyone has their each way of doing things. For me when I was waiting for my OIIQ result I was half panicking and looking for other options in case nothing would work out. So opening your options and researching is important but I wouldn't dip my toes in every single option possible, you should make a decision on what your next step would be since the options you listed seem to be all very different

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Specializes in MEDICAL-SURGICAL icu.
On 6/10/2015 at 11:18 PM, Sophie0121 said:

After I passed the OIIQ exam I called the CNO and explained to them my situation (on how I don't have the full RN license due to the French language law) and I wanted to transfer my license. The guy initially told me that it was not possible since it's not a full license but I told him that I knew other people that have done it before so he put me on hold for 20min and then told me that it was possible and that he will send me the papers for the transfer (I already had an account with the CNO because I registered myself in case I wanted to take the CRNE). So not everyone that picks up the phone at the CNO are aware of Quebecs laws and you may need to push your way into it. They will mail you application forms that asks for proof of education, some parts where the OIIQ have to fill out indicating that you passed an equivalent exam etc. after that they would want you to send a police criminal records form (which you have to pay and receive from the police department). I may be missing some parts out because I did this process quite some time ago but all in all it took several months because they don't send all the papers at once and OIIQ takes forever to fill the papers out too and my school took forever in sending the proof of education as well everything is just really really slow. And then you'll finally pay the registration fee to CNO then you're good to go.

are you canadian citizen? or you waived your ielts which is an english lagnuage exam like oqlf

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