American LPN moving to Ontario

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

I've fallen in love with a Canadian. :) I am currently working as an LPN in Arkansas. I went to a technical program to get my PN license. I have been working as an LPN for over 10 years and I'm currently going back to school for my ADN. I will have 39 credit hours of prerequisites by the end of this semester. I have done some research and found that Ontario has RPNs. I've not been able to determine if this is equivalent to an LPN or an RN with an ADN. How do I go about finding this out? Also, how likely is it that I would be able to transfer into the RN program at Queen's University? Will I have to start all over from the beginning? I would stay here and get my ADN, but it will be another two years. I'm not sure I can handle the distance that long. Also, I have considered doing online programs like Excelsior College. Kingston, ON is just an hour from Watertown and 2 hours from Syracuse, so I could commute to do the tests. I have googled my heart out the last few days and I'm only coming up more confused. Anyone have any advice? Thanks!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Minimum education for RN in Canada is BSN. You may be better to investigate getting your BSN up here if you are planning on working up here. What kind of visa where you planning on applying for? A TN visa requires a BSN.

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

Yeah, I know I won't be able to work as an RN without a BSN, but I was wondering about working as an RPN. I'm not sure what sort of visa I'll be applying for. I'm still exploring the options. I would definitely like to get a BSN sometime, not sure if any of my college credits here will transfer to Queen's University though.

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Specializes in ER / Critical Care.

The minimum education for an RN in Canada is not a BSN. I've been in contact with the CRNBC and they review each case individually. I'm currently in an ADN program and sent them the programs info (theory/contact/clinical hours) it satisfies the minimum requirements.

That being said, I am still completing my BSN before I move back to BC to make myself more employable :)

Never stop learning, knowledge is power!!

Best of luck to you!!

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Specializes in ER / Critical Care.

I'm a dual citizen (Canada/USA) so I don't have any visa issues.... And therefore, don't know the requirements pertaining to education for acquiring a visa.

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The minimum education for an RN in Canada is not a BSN. I've been in contact with the CRNBC and they review each case individually. I'm currently in an ADN program and sent them the programs info (theory/contact/clinical hours) it satisfies the minimum requirements.

That being said, I am still completing my BSN before I move back to BC to make myself more employable :)

Never stop learning, knowledge is power!!

Best of luck to you!!

That being said, here in Alberta, if you were an ADN graduate prior to 2009 (when degree became mandatory) they will grandfather you.

We have heard of ADN nurses being given RPN/LPN status in other provinces.

It is only in Quebec that the BScN in not required as they have their own educational requirements.

There is not a two year diploma RN course left up here. The two year diploma is for PNs.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I believe Ontario is the same.If you went to school after 2009 it has to be a BSN.

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Specializes in Home Care.

I went to school for LPN in Florida, I also finished an associates degree there and worked as an LPN. So when I applied to Alberta for my LPN license I was approved without requiring upgrades.

You really won't know if you'll be granted an ON LPN license until you apply.

Your college credits may or may not be transferable to another college. Theres no way to find out until you apply to the university and submit your transcripts for review.

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

Ok, I found the place online to go and apply for the licensing exam. The only problem is, it seems they require you to have a work permit before they will accept your application. How does one go about getting a work permit if you have no job offers due to not knowing what position you would be qualified to work in?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Most employers will not look at you if you do not have permission to sit the exam or have passed the exam. Even then hard to find employer currently willing to go through the long process of obtaining a LMO (labour marketing opinion) to prove that they can not employ someone already in Canada

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
Ok, I found the place online to go and apply for the licensing exam. The only problem is, it seems they require you to have a work permit before they will accept your application. How does one go about getting a work permit if you have no job offers due to not knowing what position you would be qualified to work in?

Were you on the CNO website?

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Specializes in Home Care.

The first thing to take care of is immigration and getting your work permit.

It took almost a year for my American DIL to process through immigration and get a work permit.

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