ADN program in US = Diploma in Canada?

Published

Specializes in Med-surg.

Hi, everyone:

I am a pre-nursing student in the States. I am looking at and mostly interested in an Associate Degree in nursing at a community college at US-Canadian Border.

I plan to move to Canada permanently after I get US RN license. I looked at the website of nursing association of Alberta, the educaiton requirement for RN is diploma or BSN, and I heard in 2009 Alberta will require BSN to sit for license exam. Hopefully I can graduate in 2007. My quesiton is, do they consider ADN in US the same as diploma? Will I be able to sit for RN exam in Alberta?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I believe they will let you sit for the exam with an ADN if you have practised as a nurse, but you will be cutting it pretty close. I don't know about new grads. Have you contacted AARN? They are the only ones who will be able to tell you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-surg.

Thanks for the reply.

I guess I better call AARN to find out.

I believe they will let you sit for the exam with an ADN if you have practised as a nurse, but you will be cutting it pretty close. I don't know about new grads. Have you contacted AARN? They are the only ones who will be able to tell you.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Many of the provinces are changing over to a minimum of a BSN. Ontario has already done this. If you are definitely sure that you wish to go and remain in Cananda, then I suggest that you begin your studies as soon as possible so that you do not get caught without.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

"I looked at the website of nursing association of Alberta, the educaiton requirement for RN is diploma or BSN, and I heard in 2009 Alberta will require BSN to sit for license exam. "

I too am taking an ADN class (as we speak) and am moving back to Calgary after I am done. I am in a Fastrak course and my graduation is Dec 2005 (I am in 2nd semester now of this 16 month ADN course)

Last time I checked Alberta was changing the requirement (BSN) for sitting for the license exam to 2005 - (I read this mid last year) I was so upset that I had gone to school for 2 years for the pre-requisites and just before I started the actual nursing program here in TX, I wouldn't be allowed to take the boards in Canada as an ADN (diploma nurse in Canada) when I would graduate in fall 2005.

I e-mail the nursing association in Alberta and even if they were to change the dates where you had to be a BSN to sit for the boards before you finished school in the US, you would still be eligible if you take the NCLEX here in the US first. The person who e-mailed me back said that if I was to take the NCLEX (which I fully intended to anyway) then I would not be considered a "graduate nurse" with a Canadian equivilent diploma, but already an RN wanting to sit for the Canadian boards!

I hope you consider taking the NCLEX before you move up there too- since you are educated in the US- the boards would not be as challenging as they would be for someone who is educated somewhere else and moving to the US.

Also, I HEARD that the Canadian boards are easier (at least until Canada implemets the new test this year) and they focus on different things than the US test does. I don't know, but I will find out next year!

I hope this makes sense- I am taking a study break and my brain is numb!

Gail :confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

check out the canadian nursing board web site on how much it will cost us to have them review our records from the us and pay for the test there! it is ridiculous!

http://nurses.ab.ca/pdf/applic%20never%20reg%20in%20canada%20fchart%20lge.pdf

the yearly fees are higher if you are not an alberta graduate too...

now- i am confused about this salary chart- as a rn with a "diploma" (adn in the us) are we considered "registered nurse" or "undergraduate nurse" on this chart (after we take the canadian boards)??

http://www.una.ab.ca/conferences/nursing%20salaries/003b729c-000f7d10

more web sites:

http://www.phaa.com/bargaining/index.htm

http://www.hospitalsoup.com/

http://209.217.65.3/testbuild/index.html

gail

Up Vote Up Vote ×
now- I am confused about this salary chart- as a RN with a "diploma" (ADN in the US) are we considered "registered nurse" or "undergraduate nurse" on this chart (after we take the Canadian boards)?? http://www.una.ab.ca/conferences/nursing%20salaries/003B729C-000F7D10
once you've written and received a passing grade, you'll be on the RN payscale, regardless of whether you have a diploma or BSN... in my health region, they will allow you to work as an undergrad until you've received your grade, though, and then retro-pay you on the RN scale to the date of your exam...
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.
once you've written and received a passing grade, you'll be on the RN payscale, regardless of whether you have a diploma or BSN... in my health region, they will allow you to work as an undergrad until you've received your grade, though, and then retro-pay you on the RN scale to the date of your exam...

I appreciate the clarification!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion