Advice for anyone registering in Ontario from another province

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I have had such a frustrating time transferring my registration from BC to Ontario that I hope to save someone else the time and grief i've experienced.

Advice!

-If you are an RN coming from another province, the process will likely take several months. NOT 4 weeks as the CNO states. I started the process to register in July and am not yet registered (mid Oct).

-If your previous provincial license is expired or non-practicing, you will require: references from your previous job, DETAILED documentation from your nursing school and transcripts, information from every provincial college you have ever been licensed in. This will all be send by mail only. It will take weeks and weeks for them to be completed by all the difference bodies. And then the CNO will take 8 weeks (and counting...) to review it all.

-Reinstate your previous provincial license if you were non-practicing in another province!!! (this was the case for me). Despite having a BScN from the University of Alberta (2009) I have been required to provide them with course descriptions from my years in nursing school. Which they may not accept it seems!!! Despite my degree and transcripts AND passing the CRNE AND previous registration as a nurse in BC.

This process has been a nightmare. Be prepared for very little communication from the college and months of processing.

Hope no one else is in the same boat.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

A few months is the standard time frame most Provinces take to process the required documentation, especially ON. They have more RNS and RPNS to review in that Province.

When I moved to AB from ON, it took almost two months AND I had all the requirements in place. At least you are now aware for future moves.

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I share the same sentiment. Its pretty frustrating to seek licensure in Ontario. Not only that they are very slow but they are non accommodating too. I hope that they would realize that something is not right with their process and maybe they should try to improve it.

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Please tell me you are finally Registered now?!

I'm a BC RN currently working on my application for registration in Ontario, and can already see that its going to be a very slow and tedious process. Now that you've gone through the entire thing, any further suggestions?

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Have you received an offer from ON? If you haven't, the registration may not be worthwhile. The job market is terrible. Even with my connections, I'd have limited opportunities if I returned home. I decided to stay out west and tossed my application in the garbage.

That and the wages are low with a high cost of living. Just not worth it IMO.

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Really? Thats so frustrating to hear. I have a permanent full-time job here, and I really don't want to move to ON, but unfortunately my boyfriend is stuck out there doing his residency for 4 more years. I pretty much have to move there at some point! I've heard that there is a big difference in the wages too, which is really disheartening.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Yes really. ON has one of the worst markets going, especially if you're hoping to go to a city. There have been layoffs and cutbacks throughout ON since 2008. I was educated there and left right after school was out. That was 2010.

Think long and hard before giving up a permanent full time. You could always commute for a while. Lots of people do it.

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It's not easy moving provinces. I moved from AB to BC. Took four, long months, notarized copies of everything.

Never believe them when they say it's fast and easy!

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I am in the same boat.

I graduated out east and moved to Ontario. Been waiting for them to approve my licence since mid-October. Its been a gruelling process. Then to find out once I am here how hard it is to get a job. Seriously thinking of moving back out east. Not sure how long it would take to get registered in NS or NL.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Part of the reason why it takes so long to register in ON is that they have the largest group of nurses: RNS and RPNS are governed by one body. There are more nurses than jobs so the CNO has no reason to be speedy registering applicants.

You could try going in person to inquire if you live close to Toronto. The CNO is just north of the downtown core.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Cardiology, Gerontology, Occ. Health.

I'm an internationally educated nurse (US) and it took them 10 months from the time I applied to receive a rejection (RPN applicant). They asked me to do a competency assessment summary to explain my 'incompetencies' and I turned that in about a month ago. Who knows how long that will take. :p I worked as an LPN in the US for 12 years, but they didn't think my one-year program and experience was enough for Ontario. I did just get licensed in New York. I may have to commute an hour to work there instead. Or I guess I could get a job at McDonald's.

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How is the market in bc, alberta or edmonton for rpns? I have traveled to these provinces before, so just want to know how its like and if its worth the trouble.

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